More than $1.7B needed to remake state psychiatric hospital in Lakewood, new plan says

[TexasTowelie]

Plans to remake the state psychiatric hospital in Lakewood have become more clear, as has the price tag: Upwards of $1.86 billion.

The Department of Social and Health Services submitted plans last year to build a 350-bed forensic psychiatric hospital, an 18-bed residential cottage for the child treatment center and potentially a 48-bed residential treatment facility on the grounds of Western State Hospital by 2031.

Included in the renovations, the state has added security features like additional cameras, 24/7 locked buildings and walls for the psychiatric hospital. The master plan has been amended during a year-long public comment, which ended recently.

Washington is expected to pay between $1.76 billion and $1.86 billion for renovations in property, facilities and programs, according to the newly amended master plan. The master plan does not discuss how that money would be raised.

Read more: https://www.theolympian.com/news/local/article252693868.html

[Aristus]

1. Anyone who wants to see the homeless encampments go away needs to support this.

Mental illness is one of the prime causes of homelessness. And we have Ronald Reagan to thank for the huge homeless problem in this country, since he drastically slashed the Federal budget for subsidies for state-run mental health facilities in the early 1980's. State mental hospitals had to discharge their patients once there was no longer any funding for their care. And a lot of those patients had nowhere else to go but the street.

We need to rebuilt the mental healthcare infrastructure in this country. We need to ensure that people suffering from homelessness due to or exacerbated by mental illness can get the care they need. Shelter, food, a safe environment, and dedicated mental health care will significantly reduce the homeless population in Washington State, and the rest of the country.

If a patient is also suffering from substance addiction, they can get treatment for this, as well. Studies have shown that addiction treatment is much more successful when a patient already has his other needs met, food, shelter, and safety.

We need to get past the whole "They don't deserve any help", or "They ended up on the streets due to their own bad choices", or "It ain't coming out of my taxes!" mentality, and do something for these incredibly vulnerable people who suffer every day.

[Grins]

2. $4-million per bed?

Something really wrong with those numbers.

And only 18 beds for children? C’mon.

[SergeStorms]

3. Maybe Branson would like to....

do something worthwhile?

Billionaires and their money.....they just cant help buffing their egos instead of doing something socially responsible.