A Different Kind of Mobile Crisis Response
When a mental health or substance use crisis happens, the response matters. Bonita House operates two different mobile crisis programs in Alameda County, available around the clock and without judgment.
Bonita House operates two mobile crisis response programs in Alameda County, built on the belief that a crisis is a moment for care, not enforcement.
The Community Assessment and Transport Team (CATT) provides 24/7 countywide response, while the Alternative Response Unit (ARU) program serves the city of Pleasanton in partnership with local law enforcement. Both teams are focused on de-escalation, dignity, and connecting people to the right level of support. Whether responding to a 911 call in the middle of the night or conducting proactive outreach in a neighborhood, the goal is always the same: reduce fear, protect dignity, and find a path forward.
Community Assessment and Transport Team (CATT)
CATT is Alameda County’s 24/7 mobile crisis response program, launched in 2018 as the first of its kind in California. Teams are dispatched in response to 911 calls, police requests, and calls to the 988 mental health crisis line. Each team pairs a Behavioral Health Clinician with an Emergency Medical Technician.
The goal at every call is the same: reduce fear, protect dignity, and find the most appropriate path to care.
Contact Us
24/7 Crisis Line (510) 899-7445
Alternative Response Unit (ARU)
In Pleasanton, Bonita House partners with the City of Pleasanton Police Department to operate ARU. A clinician and a plain-clothed officer respond to 911 calls and conduct proactive outreach throughout the city five days a week. Since launching, ARU has placed more than 50% of unhoused participants it has encountered into permanent or long-term housing, earning the 2024 Helen Putnam Award from the League of California Cities.
ARU received 2026 Alameda County Emergency Medical Services Program of the Year Award.
Contact Us
Community members can contact ARU by calling the Pleasanton PD non-emergency dispatch at (925) 931-5100. Teams are available 5 days a week, Monday – Friday, 7am – 8pm.
Who We Serve
Bonita House serves people regardless of documentation status, language, or prior history with the system. Our Crisis programs are designed for residents of Alameda County experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis, including:
- Individuals experiencing acute mental health episodes, including psychosis, severe depression, or mania
- Individuals in substance use crisis or at risk of overdose
- People experiencing homelessness who are in distress
- Anyone whose situation has been referred through 911, 988, or a law enforcement partner
Crisis incidents responded to in 2025
Reduction in repeat crisis visits since the program launched
Reduction in involuntary psychiatric holds countywide
Reduction in involuntary holds in Pleasanton alone
Get Help Now
If someone is in immediate danger, call 911. For a mental health or substance use crisis, you can also call 988, the national crisis line, which dispatches our teams throughout Alameda County.
