AB 2479: Housing First: core components.

Existing law requires agencies and departments administering state programs related to homelessness to adopt guidelines and regulations to incorporate core components of Housing First, as defined. Under existing law, Housing First includes time-limited rental or services assistance, so long as the housing and service provider assists the recipient, among other things, in accessing permanent housing. Existing law defines state programs for this purpose as any program a California state agency or department funds, implements, or administers for the purpose of providing housing or housing-based services to people experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness, except as provided. Under existing law, the core components of Housing First include, among others, services that are informed by a harm-reduction philosophy that recognizes drug and alcohol use and addiction as a part of tenants lives, where tenants are engaged in nonjudgmental communication regarding drug and alcohol use, and where tenants are offered education regarding how to avoid risky behaviors and engage in safer practices, as well as connected to evidence-based treatment if the tenant so chooses.

This bill would clarify, pursuant to that core component, that state departments and or agencies may allow programs to fund recovery housing, as defined, if the state program uses at least 75% of funds for housing or housing-based services using a harm-reduction model and the recovery housing complies with housing, as defined, that use substance use-specific services, peer support, and physical design features supporting individuals and families on a path to recovery from addiction that emphasizes abstinence, so long as the state program meets specified requirements. The bill would require the housing related to time-limited rental or services assistance to meet the core components of Housing First.