Homeless population census information: collection and reporting.

(1) Existing law creates the California Interagency Council on Homelessness (council) and requires departments administering state programs created on or after July 1, 2017, to collaborate with the council for the purpose of adopting guidelines and regulations to incorporate core components of Housing First. Existing law defines "Housing First" as an evidence-based model that uses housing as a tool, rather than a reward, for recovery and that centers on providing or connecting homeless people to permanent housing as quickly as possible. Under existing law, Housing First providers offer services as needed and requested on a voluntary basis and do not make housing contingent on participation in services. This bill would require a local government entity to provide specified homelessness information for its jurisdiction to the council by January 1, 2025, including expenditures on homelessness programs and efforts provided to homeless persons within its jurisdiction, as well as related information regarding the funding of these services. The bill would specify how a local government would meet this requirement. This bill would require the council to develop and maintain a publicly available internet website homelessness dashboard for prescribed purposes. The bill would require the council to report to the Legislature, and post to its homelessness dashboard, information related to programs that the state has undertaken to reduce homelessness in California, including federal funding for state and local programs by January 1, 2026. The bill would require a state agency or office responsible for these programs to report data related to the programs, in a form prescribed by the council, to the council no later than January 1, 2025. The bill would require the council to perform a specified assessment of the success or failure of funded and implemented programs addressing homelessness. This bill would express that it is the intent of the Legislature that continuums of care collaborate with local government entities, state agencies, and the council to help collect the required information. The bill would repeal these provisions as of January 1, 2027. By increasing the duties of local government entities, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. (2) The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.