Interagency Task Force on Homelessness and Community Advisory Council on Homelessness; create within DHS.

HB 897 creates the Interagency Task Force on Homelessness within Mississippi’s Department of Human Services (DHS) to develop strategies reducing homelessness and unnecessary institutionalization. The task force, composed of state agency leaders and legislative members, must create a state plan to improve housing stability and health outcomes for people experiencing homelessness, recommend policy changes, and submit annual reports to the Governor and legislature. It also establishes a Community Advisory Council on Homelessness to advise the task force, with members including community advocates. The bill directly affects people experiencing homelessness by aiming to strengthen service coordination and housing support systems across state agencies.