The county Board of Supervisors Tuesday unanimously approved the establishment a regional campus that will offer sober housing and behavioral health treatment at an existing facility in the city of Vista.
According to Supervisors Jim Desmond and Nora Vargas, Green Oak Ranch will feature round-the-clock security, job training, educational opportunities and recreational facilities.
Supervisors directed Sarah Aghassi, interim chief administrative officer, to negotiate with the owners of Green Oak Ranch. If those are successful, the county Department of General Services director will draw up a purchase agreement and pay an option deposit.
County officials would add the property to the 2025-26 capital improvement needs assessment, and develop a master plan based on mental health treatment services and substance use addiction treatment, including withdrawal management beds, recovery residences, and board and care. The CAO would also work to ensure that people would be placed in long-term housing once they leave the Green Oak campus.
According to information on the county meeting agenda, Green Oak Ranch is currently operated as a faith-based sober living program, and has been the site of an annual Stand Down event, which focuses on helping homeless veterans.
In a statement, Vargas said the community “is facing critical challenges with homelessness (and) mental health and addiction.”
“Hospitals are in desperate need of facilities where they can safely discharge patients and I’m proud to lead efforts for this first-of-its-kind home where people struggling can get the treatment they deserve as they rebuild their lives,” Vargas said.
Desmond thanked Vargas for partnering with him on the proposal.
“This item is a unique and extraordinary opportunity for a future regional behavioral health site in San Diego County,” he said before the vote on Tuesday. “We need sites for healing, for people to be safely discharged to free up our hospital beds.”
Those fighting addiction “should not be in our jails, or trauma hospitals,” he added.
Desmond described the facility as an oasis in North County, adding the region is a “is now a board-and-care desert.”
The owner of Green Oaks Ranch recently died, but his family’s wish is for it continue to be a rehab site, Desmond said.
City News Service contributed to this article.