CalWORKs: homeless assistance.

Existing law provides for the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) program, under which each county provides cash assistance and other benefits to qualified low-income families and individuals. Existing law provides for homeless assistance to a homeless family seeking shelter when the family is eligible for CalWORKs aid, including a nonrecurring special needs benefit of $85 a day to families of up to 4 members for the costs of temporary shelter, and a nonrecurring special needs benefit for permanent housing assistance to pay for last month's rent and security deposits if these payments are conditions of securing a residence, or to pay for up to 2 months of rent arrearages, if these payments are a reasonable condition of preventing eviction. Existing law prohibits the last month's rent or monthly arrearage portion of the payment from exceeding 80% of the family's total monthly household income without the value of CalFresh benefits or special needs benefit for a family of that size, and requires it be made to families that have found permanent housing costing no more than 80% of the family's total monthly household income without the value of CalFresh benefits or special needs benefit for a family of that size. This bill, beginning January 1, 2025, or when specified automation processes are available, and for purposes of determining the family's total monthly household income for the permanent housing assistance, would require the county human services agency to include any amount that is regularly received from other government and nonprofit housing and homeless subsidy programs and any regularly received private support intended or designed to help the family with housing. The bill, beginning January 1, 2025, or when specified automation processes are available, upon application for temporary or permanent homeless assistance, would require the county to refer the assistance unit to any other homeless assistance services provided under the CalWORKs program and would authorize the county to give priority to the assistance unit for those services. The bill would also require the department to, on or before January 1, 2025, and among other things, collect specified statewide data relating to the provision of these homeless assistance benefits, and establish a statewide stakeholder advisory group, or modify the responsibilities of an existing advisory group, to develop specified recommendations relating to these homeless assistance benefits. By imposing additional duties on counties, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. Existing law continuously appropriates moneys from the General Fund to defray a portion of county costs under the CalWORKs program. This bill would instead provide that the continuous appropriation would not be made for purposes of implementing these provisions. 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.