MHCAN

09/05/2025

Greetings Community, MHCAN is temporarily closed. MHCAN and the County are working together to restore services asap. Thank you for your patience during this difficult time.

06/12/2025

Thank You for Helping MHCAN Secure County Funding

We’re proud to share that MHCAN has successfully secured funding from the county. This major milestone would not have been possible without the strength and support of our peer community.

This victory is a reflection of everything MHCAN stands for: empowerment through lived experience, mutual support, and the belief that recovery is not only possible, but powerful when it’s led by peers. Whether you advocated on our behalf, shared your story, or stood with us in spirit, your support helped make this happen.

With this funding, MHCAN will continue to provide essential peer-run mental health services, expand our reach, and build on the community-centered model that has helped so many find connection, healing, and hope.

To everyone who played a part we thank you. You’ve helped us take a bold step forward in sustaining the work we do and the people we serve.

In community and gratitude,
The MHCAN Team

05/05/2025

Hi everyone-
A sad thing happened:
April 24th, we received the budget proposal for this year from Santa Cruz County.
https://www.mentalhealthsigns.com/archives/2743

https://kion546.com/news/top-stories/2025/04/30/mental-health-programs-at-risk-of-cuts-in-proposed-santa-cruz-county-budget/

Funding for MHCAN was completely cut. In case you don't know, MHCAN is the Mental Health Client Action Network. Provides effective support to our people who suffer from mental health issues- Many are unhoused and desperately need the services that MHCAN provides. This is the only peer run mental health facility in the county of Santa Cruz. The "Clubhouse" of MHCAN is a keystone to any county’s mental health services especially Santa Cruz

And the budget for MHCAN for a whole year is only a bit more than $580,000.

Many people who have benefited from MHCAN went to the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday, April 29th and asked the Board members to reconsider- To try to find just a half a million dollars to keep MHCAN going.
Folks were there to support Gemma and a couple other important health programs that are also on the chopping block.

It felt like a Miracle when the Board of Supervisors unanimously voted to investigate whether they could find $0.5 million in their budget of over 1 billion dollars
($0.58 million is about 0.33% of the part of the budget designated for Behavioral Health- That’s less than 0.05% of the entire budget.)

But the Board of Supervisors only agreed to TRY to find the funds.

We need to call or email them to remind them that Funding MHCAN is a priority for many of our most vulnerable citizens in these uncertain times.

Please call or email the Supervisors (especially the one from your district)

Phone: (831) 454-2200
(you can leave a message with whoever answers the phone- They will keep track of how many people call in support)

Email the entire Board: BoardOfSupervisors@santacruzcountyca.gov

(Emails to this address will go into the Agenda Packet for the next Board meeting on May 6th)

Or go to this link to email your individual District's Supervisor
https://www.santacruzcountyca.gov/Government/BoardofSupervisors/ContactUs.aspx

If you don't want to write your own email, you could just copy and paste the following- or something like it:

(It's very simple- All they need to know is that you want them to find the funds somewhere- Like from the "Rainy Day" Fund if necessary)
_____________________

Dear Supervisor, _____

Please restore funding for MHCAN in the County budget for this year.
It is a small amount to pay for this extremely important and effective organization that helps so many people to reconstruct their lives after (or before) a debilitating mental health crisis. Think how much more it will cost our community if people don't have this lifeline, they will end up in the emergency room or in jail increasing costs to the county overall.

Sincerely,
(your name- and address if you like)
____________________

Thanks so much!

11/27/2024

Come join us for a Thanksgiving feast tomorrow at noon!

11/11/2024

Yes we are open on Veterans Day.

10/10/2024

Today is World Mental Health Day. Please take a moment today to acknowledge your current state of mental health; because mental health is health. No matter where you are along the journey of life, you are not alone. We, as peers are always here for you. Mental health is a human right for everyone. We all deserve the right to fair and equal treatment at home, in public or in the workplace. Disclosure is just the beginning. Imagine a world free to be yourself without fear of stigma or rejection.

08/05/2024

06/20/2024

This year MHCAN celebrated Cinco de Mayo on the 6th. In that spirit, today the 20th is our Juneteenth celebration♡!!
We will have a BBQ & good cheer.

06/04/2024

https://calmatters.org/housing/homelessness/2024/06/california-homeless-street-medicine-injections/

California doctors on the front lines of the homelessness and mental health crises are using monthly injections to treat psychosis.

06/03/2024

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1172113943824015?mibextid=9drbnH&s=yWDuG2&fs=e

05/27/2024

Of course we're open♡
Come spend Memorial Day with us at MHCAN♡