###

After securing $43.5 million in state grant funding last month, staff with the Humboldt County Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and Public Works are moving ahead with plans to relocate and rebuild Sempervirens Psychiatric Health Facility on a Fifth Street parking lot, directly across from the Humboldt County Courthouse in Eureka. 

The new inpatient facility is slated for completion in 2030.

For nearly 60 years, the 16-bed facility has operated out of the Clark Complex, the former Humboldt General Hospital campus built in 1907. Over the years, the building has fallen into disrepair with structural issues that have put the facility’s operations at risk.

Speaking at today’s Humboldt County Board of Supervisors meeting, DHHS Director Connie Beck underscored the importance of the project, emphasizing that “there haven’t been any significant improvements made to the facility over the last 45 years.”

“From Fiscal Year 2021 through 2024, maintenance, repair and project costs have exceeded $864,000,” she continued. “There have been 3,008 work orders in [those] five years. We have approximately $4.1 million [in] projects that are currently on hold, including full elevator retrofitting, replacement of a leaky window, tile and floor repairs, etc. We have another $2 million in additional recommended repairs and upgrades. … I think most of your board is aware that the Grand Jury has reported on the current facility every year since [Fiscal Year 2019-20].”

Plans for the new 21,000-square-foot facility include 16 inpatient beds, four crisis stabilization unit beds and expanded access for children and youth, as well as patients who are not ambulatory. Surely anticipating questions about expanding, Beck noted that Sempervirens is only permitted for 16 inpatient beds, due to federal rules surrounding Medicaid- and Medicare-certified facilities. 

The $43.5 million grant was awarded through Proposition 1, the Behavioral Health Services Act, passed by California voters in March 2024 to replace the Mental Health Services Act of 2004. After the county was notified of the conditional grant award in early May, staff had just 10 days to submit plans for a shovel-ready project. 

Over the next year, DHHS and Public Works staff will work with an outside consultant to finalize the design plans. On top of that, staff have yet to determine who will run the facility. 

“We may contract with another entity, or possibly continue to run as the county,” Beck said. “I know your board is aware that we have several contracts with doctors and nurses in order to provide the services at Sempervirens. So, that will be a work in progress over the next couple of years.”

Fourth District Supervisor Natalie Arroyo asked if DHHS would be able to expand outpatient services at the new Sempervirens facility.

“It’s not going to be incorporated into this facility,” said Paul Bugnacki, deputy director of Humboldt County Behavioral Health. “We’re not sure where we’re going to put outpatient services yet. You know, we could possibly continue to use some of that space at 720 Wood Street … for outpatient services and substance use disorder services. … We would definitely need to have discussions about where those staff are going to reside.”

Beck noted that the Hope Center, located at 2933 H Street in Eureka, currently provides a variety of outpatient services. She added that the county could restructure some of the services offered at the Hope Center once the new Sempervirens is up and running. “There’s a whole lot here still that we have to figure out,” she said.

First District Supervisor Rex Bohn spoke in favor of the project but expressed concern for the extended timeline and potential for “a lot of hiccups in the next four years,” seemingly referring to the county’s budgetary woes and rising construction costs.

“I don’t see anything going down in the next four years,” he said. “This is exactly what happened … with the jail [expansion project]. We didn’t deposit the million dollars or whatever, so we got put on the back burner. … If we don’t get it built, costs are going to go up some more, and then it’s going to be unattainable and we’re going to be sitting here with a lot of wasted effort.”

Third District Supervisor and Vice-Chair Mike Wilson echoed Bohn’s concerns, but emphasized the “extreme” importance of the project. “It took tons and tons of hard work to have the established facility that we have today, but I have to say, it is on its last legs and we really need to move forward with something.”

Speaking during the public comment portion of today’s meeting, Public Works Director Tom Mattson underscored his support for the project. “Sometimes you have to take risks to get great rewards.”

“Make no mistake, this is a critical medical care facility,” Mattson continued. “Most people think about critical medical as, you know, the hospitals [and] regular doctors, [but] mental health is also very, very critical in our community. … We believe we built a solid budget that will survive what’s coming at us, but there’s always a risk.”

After some additional discussion, Fifth District Supervisor Steve Madrone made a motion to receive and file the report, which was seconded by Arroyo. The motion passed 4-0, with Board Chair Michelle Bushnell absent.

###