New Budget Trailer Bills Concerning Homelessness Were Recently Introduced by Assembly and Senate Budget Committees

New Budget Trailer Bills Concern the:

Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention Program
Housing and Disability Advocacy Program
Bringing Families Home Program
Home Safe Program

Trailer Bill Language is the implementing language of the California State Budget Bill. Trailer bills provide policy details that follow the main budget bill and details measures that direct how to actually spend funding. To learn more about trailer bills click here.

New Budget Trailer Bills concerning homelessness recently introduced by Assembly and Senate Budget Committees for this year’s budget beginning July 1 include:

Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention Program Round 5

As noted on the California Business, Consumer Services, and Housing Agency Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention Program (HHAP) web page,

HHAP provides 1) local jurisdictions with funds to support regional coordination and expand or develop local capacity to address their immediate homelessness challenges; 2) support to local jurisdictions to continue to build on regional collaboration; and 3) local jurisdictions, including federally recognized tribal governments, with flexible funding to continue efforts to end and prevent homelessness in their communities.

Trailer Bill states

“Round 5” of the program means the funding allocated under the program with moneys appropriated during the fiscal year beginning on July 1, 2023. 

For round 5 of the program, one billion dollars ($1,000,000,000) in the 2023-2024 fiscal year. 

The program shall provide grant funds to cities, counties, continuums of care, and tribes. 

Thirty percent of the funds described in this paragraph shall be available to continuums of care. 

Forty-two percent of the funds described in this paragraph shall be available to each city, or city that is also a county, that has a population of 300,000 or more, as of January 1, 2022. 

Twenty-eight percent of the funds described in this paragraph shall be available to each county. 

Not more than 2 percent of the funding available pursuant to this section shall be available to tribal applicants. 

The council shall make an application for round 5 program allocations available no later than November 30, 2023. 

Applications shall be due no later than 60 days from the date the council makes those applications available. 

To receive a round 5 program allocation, an applicant shall submit an application to the council. A complete application submitted pursuant to this section shall provide 

• A local homelessness action plan
• A local landscape analysis 

The following shall be prioritized for funding, in the absence of other resources and to the extent necessary: 

• Operating subsidies to support permanent and supportive housing sites, whether new or existing, to include programs such as Homekey.
• Operating subsidies to support new or existing residential care facilities, funded by the Behavioral Health Continuum Infrastructure Program and/or the Community Care Expansion Program.
• Sustaining interim and permanent housing funded by previous allocations of HHAP and various programs such as Project Roomkey.
• Supplementing resources to address housing placements and/or direct client services for eligible participants in the program known as CARE COURT.
• Street outreach to assist persons experiencing homelessness, including but not limited to persons experiencing homelessness from encampment sites and those transitioning out of encampment sites funded by the program known as the Encampment Resolution Grant consistent with Health and Safety Code 50251 to access permanent housing and services. (A) A program recipient shall not use funding from the program allocated under this section to supplant existing Encampment Resolution Grant funds provided under Health and Safety Code 50251.
• Establishing new and additional permanent housing units by means of master leasing of sites or capital expenditures, or as site conversion, renovation, and gap funding for other capital projects.

To read the entire trailer bill click here.

Housing and Disability Advocacy Program (HDAP) Technical Changes

As noted on the California Department of Social Services Housing and Disability Advocacy Program web page,

The Housing and Disability Advocacy Program (HDAP) was established in 2016 to assist people experiencing or at risk of homelessness who are likely eligible for disability benefits by providing advocacy for disability benefits as well as housing supports.  

HDAP has four core requirements: outreach, case management, disability benefits advocacy, and housing assistance.  Housing-related financial assistance and wraparound supportive services provided by HDAP include but are not limited to: interim shelter assistance, rental assistance, housing navigation, case management, security deposits, utility payments, moving costs, legal services, and credit repair. 

Trailer Bill states

Existing law waives the requirement to seek reimbursement of funds through June 30, 2024, and exempts a grantee from the requirement to match certain funds between July 1, 2021, and June 30, 2024. 

Existing law allows any changes made to the procedure for matching funds put in place by prior legislation to be made by all-county letters or similar instructions from the department. Existing law requires the department to adopt regulations regarding those specific changes by July 1, 2024. 

This bill would extend the reimbursement waiver and exemption for a grantee to match certain funds through June 30, 2025. The bill would require the department to adopt regulations for the Housing and Disability Income Advocacy Program as a whole by July 1, 2024.

To read the entire trailer bill click here.

Bringing Families Home Program Technical Changes

As noted on the California Department of Social Services Bringing Families Home Program web page,

The Bringing Families Home (BFH) Program was established in 2016 to reduce the number of families in the child welfare system experiencing, or at risk of homelessness, to increase family reunification and to prevent foster care placement.

BFH offers financial assistance and housing-related wraparound supportive services, including but not limited to: rental assistance, housing navigation, case management, security deposits, utility payments, moving costs, interim shelter assistance, legal services, and credit repair.

As of Fiscal Year (FY) 2021-22, there are 51 counties and one tribe operating a BFH program with each program tailored to meet the needs of the local community.

Trailer Bill states

To the extent funds are appropriated in the annual Budget Act, the department shall award program funds to counties and tribal governments for the purpose of providing housing-related supports to eligible families experiencing homelessness if that homelessness prevents reunification between an eligible family and a child receiving child welfare services, or where lack of housing prevents a parent or guardian from addressing issues that could lead to foster care placement. 

It is the intent of the Legislature that housing-related assistance provided pursuant to this article utilize evidence-based models, including evidence-based practices in rapid rehousing and supportive housing. 

Housing-related supports available to participating families shall include, but not be limited to, the following: 

• An assessment of each family’s housing and service needs, including a plan to assist them in meeting those needs, using an assessment tool developed in the local community or an assessment tool used in other jurisdictions.
• Housing navigation or search assistance to recruit landlords, and assist families in locating housing affordable to the family.
• The use of evidence-based models, such as motivational interviewing and trauma-informed care, to build relationships with a parent or guardian.
• Housing-related financial assistance, including rental assistance, security deposit assistance, utility payments, moving cost assistance, and interim housing assistance while housing navigators are actively seeking permanent housing options for the family.
• Housing stabilization services, including ongoing tenant engagement, case management, public systems assistance, legal services, credit repair assistance, life skills training, and conflict mediation with landlords and neighbors.

To read the entire trailer bill click here.

Home Safe Program (HSP) Technical Changes

As noted on the California Department of Social Services Home Safe Program web page,

The Home Safe Program was established in 2018 to prevent or address homelessness to support the safety and housing stability of individuals involved in Adult Protective Services (APS), individuals in the APS intake process, or who may be served by a Tribal social services agency and appear eligible for APS, and who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

Trailer Bill states

Eligible individual includes an individual that Is homeless or at imminent risk of homelessness as a result of elder or dependent abuse, neglect, self-neglect, or financial exploitation, as determined by the adult protective services agency or tribal agency.

It is the intent of the Legislature that housing-related assistance provided pursuant to this chapter utilize evidence-based practices in homeless assistance and prevention, including housing risk screening and assessments, housing first, rapid rehousing, and supportive housing. 

If the individual requires supportive housing, referral to the local homeless continuum of care for long-term services promoting housing stability.

Grantees shall coordinate with the local homeless continuum of care network.

To read the entire trailer bill click here.

Other Trailer Bills

Other trailer bills concerning homelessness may be introduced during the 2023 Legislative Session. Trailer bills can be introduced any time of the year if the Legislature is in session.