The homelessness policy debate is heating up with a flurry of
hearings, legislation, and advocacy opportunities occurring in
the last two weeks. Rest assured that your input is helping
create progress, and we have much to look forward to as the year
unfolds.
Legislative Hearings
The Legislature is approaching the homelessness crisis with
several informational hearings to explore the topic. These
include a February 6 Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee
hearing, a February 15 joint hearing of the Assembly Committees
on Housing and Community Development, Accountability and
Administrative Review, Health, and Human Services, and an
upcoming February 22 Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 6. on
Budget Process, Oversight and Program Evaluation. Resources
presented at these hearings include the
Cal ICH Statewide Homelessness Assessment and Legislative
Analyst’s Office (LAO) handouts on
Housing and Homelessness Challenges and
Housing and Homelessness Augmentations and Oversight. At each
of these hearings, CSAC is providing public comments to highlight
the need to develop a comprehensive homelessness system that
includes defined roles, accountability, and sustainable funding.
Legislation
On February 14, Assembly Member Luz Rivas and a number of
coauthors introduced
AB 799 (Homelessness Accountability and Results Act). CSAC
CEO Graham Knaus was quoted in this Capitol Public Radio
interview regarding the bill. As introduced, AB 799
would aim to create an ongoing state-funded program to meet
identified goals for the existing Homeless Housing, Assistance
and Prevention (HHAP) program. The bill would modify some of the
HHAP allocations to emphasize performance and collaboration. For
accountability, it would require participating entities to set
specific outcomes goals with the potential for corrective action
plans and reallocation of funding for entities not achieving half
of their goals.
Following up on the Governor’s January budget proposal related to
homelessness accountability, the Department of Finance recently
released trailer
bill language on Round 5 of HHAP funding. Significant changes
from the current HHAP funding include required collaboration and
joint applications, stating intent to tie homelessness funding
with the submission of a compliant housing element, and limiting
the flexibility of spending by creating two tiers of eligible
spending categories. CSAC is engaging with the Newsom
Administration, legislative leaders, and bill authors on these
proposals and to advocate for a comprehensive system with clear
responsibilities for all levels of government.
