Healthcare & Housing, not handcuffs: It's time for a Diversion Center & CAFA

Colleagues - I believe in the science that shows timely and continued access to healthcare and housing can disrupt the cycle of jail-street-hospital and provide stability for people living with mental illness, additiction and a history of homelessness and incarceration. Over the last decade, I have attended hundreds of hours of community meetings where local experts, advocates and family members including representatives from both healthcare and law enforcement agree that our community will be safer for everyone when people access the care they need in the community, not in jail.  I support the creation of a Travis County Diversion Center that will offer an array of services that helps people acheive stability and  connection instead of incarceration and isolation.  I commit to working with stakeholders to help answer the many questions about size and scope of services, points of entry, eligibility and equity, partnerships and funding details.  Also, the time seems right for Travis County to tackle a new central booking facility that's compatible with a diversion center and that accomodates counsel at first appearance.  I look forward to being involved in these large projects.  I am posting several edits to the resolution consistent with my comments here.