Homelessness programs: funding.

Existing law establishes various programs, including, among others, the Emergency Housing and Assistance Program, to provide assistance to homeless persons. Existing law requires a state agency or department that funds, implements, or administers a state program that provides housing or housing-related services to people experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness to revise or adopt guidelines and regulations to include enumerated Housing First policies. Existing law establishes the Multifamily Housing Program administered by the Department of Housing and Community Development. Existing law authorizes specified funds that are appropriated to provide housing for individuals and families who are experiencing homelessness or who are at risk of homelessness, and who are impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, to be disbursed in accordance with the Multifamily Housing Program, including as grants to cities, counties, and other local public entities, for enumerated uses, including acquisition or rehabilitation of motels, hotels, or hostels, and conversion of units from nonresidential to residential. This bill would require specified state entities to, not later than January 1, 2023, develop a streamlined funding program that meets specified criteria, to support the state's policy goal of reducing homelessness statewide by providing funding opportunities for local governments, as defined, to increase their capacity to respond to local homelessness needs through providing housing, emergency shelters, or other assistance to homeless individuals and families, or those at risk for homelessness, as defined, designed to reduce homelessness in their local areas. The bill would require, not later than January 1, 2023, the state entities to prepare and submit to the Legislature a report on their proposed programs, as provided.