Vetoed by Governor Gavin Newsom

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes the right to safe and affordable housing.

Highlights:

• Establishes the policy of the state to be that every individual has the right to safe, decent, and affordable housing (Sec. 2).

• Requires this state policy to consider all of the following components (Sec. 2):

• Prevention of individuals from entering homelessness by providing assistance and services that include, but are not limited to:

• Payment of rent and utility arrearages;

• Legal support for individuals facing eviction; and

• Connection to services that would address factors that could lead to homelessness;

• If prevention assistance and services do not keep individuals from entering homelessness, emergency accommodation policies will consider how to provide a clean and safe environment where individuals may reside until they can be placed in permanent housing, in accordance with, but not be limited to:

• To the extent feasible, emergency accommodations will be in close proximity to the community where the individuals reside;

• Individuals shall be provided with access to supportive services;

• There shall be no preconditions for access to accommodations;

• Emergency accommodations shall be in compliance with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA); and

• Individuals shall be placed in permanent housing, in accordance with the core components of Housing First, and that is in compliance with the federal ADA.

• Requires all relevant state agencies and departments, including, but not limited to, the Department of Housing and Community Development, the Business, Consumer Services, and Housing Agency, the State Department of Social Services, the State Department of Health Care Services, and the Office of Emergency Services to (Sec. 2):

• Do the following:

• Consider the state policy established by this section when revising, adopting, or establishing policies, regulations, and grant criteria when those policies, regulations, and criteria are pertinent to advancing the guidelines listed as core components of Housing First;

• Commit to preventing homelessness and getting individuals into housing by coordinating resources and practicing evidence-based housing interventions;

• Revise existing programs and services to identify individuals who are experiencing homelessness or housing instability, and utilize this information to connect individuals with housing resources at the state and local level; and

• Ensure state-funded institutions do not discharge people without a temporary or permanent housing option, and support whatever it takes to make homelessness rare, brief, and nonrecurring;

• When implementing the policies, regulations, and grant criteria that are revised, adopted, or established in accordance with the other requirements, ensure that individuals be treated with dignity and respect so that trauma is minimized throughout the process for those who are on the verge of experiencing homelessness or are in fact experiencing homelessness, and recognize and address the fear and anxiety that individuals have when facing the prospect, or state, of homelessness; and

• Establish a set of universal reporting requirements amongst relevant state programs to track homeless outcomes and where feasible, maintain the information within the statewide Homeless Management Information System.

• Specifies that this section becomes operative on January 1, 2026 (Sec. 2).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes the right to safe and affordable housing.

Highlights:

• Establishes the policy of the state to be that every child and family has the right to safe, decent, and affordable housing (Sec. 2).

• Requires this state policy to consider all of the following components (Sec. 2):

• Prevention of children and families from entering homelessness by providing assistance and services that include, but are not limited to:

• Payment of rent and utility arrearages;

• Legal support for families facing eviction; and

• Connection to services that would address factors that could lead to homelessness;

• If prevention assistance and services do not keep children and families from entering homelessness, emergency accommodation policies will consider how to provide a clean and safe environment where children and families may reside until they can be placed in permanent housing, in accordance with, but not be limited to:

• To the extent feasible, emergency accommodations will be in close proximity to the community where the children and families reside;

• Children and families shall be provided with access to supportive services;

• There shall be no preconditions for access to accommodations;

• Emergency accommodations shall be in compliance with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA); and

• Children and families shall be placed in permanent housing, in accordance with the core components of Housing First, and that is in compliance with the federal ADA.

• Requires all relevant state agencies and departments, including, but not limited to, the Department of Housing and Community Development, the Business, Consumer Services, and Housing Agency, the State Department of Social Services, the State Department of Health Care Services, and the Office of Emergency Services, and local jurisdictions to (Sec. 2):

• Do the following:

• Consider the state policy established by this section when revising, adopting, or establishing policies, regulations, and grant criteria when those policies, regulations, and criteria are pertinent to advancing the guidelines listed as core components of Housing First;

• Commit to preventing homelessness and getting children and families into housing by coordinating resources and practicing evidence-based housing interventions;

• Revise existing programs and services to identify children and families who are experiencing homelessness or housing instability, and utilize this information to connect children and families with housing resources at the state and local level; and

• Ensure state-funded institutions do not discharge people without a temporary or permanent housing option, and support whatever it takes to make homelessness rare, brief, and nonrecurring;

• When implementing the policies, regulations, and grant criteria that are revised, adopted, or established in accordance with the other requirements, ensure that children and families be treated with dignity and respect so that trauma is minimized throughout the process for those who are on the verge of experiencing homelessness or are in fact experiencing homelessness, and recognize and address the fear and anxiety that children and families have when facing the prospect, or state, of homelessness; and

• Include metrics that establish the efficacy of the policies, regulations, and grant criteria that are revised, adopted, or established in accordance with the other requirements in furthering the state policy and to guide future decisions to improve that efficacy.

• Specifies that this section becomes operative on January 1, 2026 (Sec. 2).

Full Bill Text