This session, the Legislature focused on stemming the tide of those who are vulnerable to entering a state of homelessness. To do so, it passed bills relating to reducing the discharge of youth from publicly funded systems of care (such as the child welfare, behavioral health, and juvenile justice systems) into homelessness, and reducing the discharge of adults from inpatient behavioral health settings into homelessness. In addition to that progress, the biggest impact on our homelessness crisis will be due to the historic budget investments.

For instance, over $430 million dollars was provided for the rapid acquisition of housing and associated services, as well as the state Housing Trust Fund. This landmark investment was supported and advocated for by a large coalition that included AWC, individual local governments, homeless service providers, and for the first time, most of the state’s largest businesses. These funds will be used to construct and acquire affordable housing for people who are currently homeless and living on the streets of our communities.

A component of the $430 million will come from the new Apple Homes and Health Act (HB 1866) which builds upon the Medicaid transformation waiver process. The state has undertaken this effort for the last several years—to utilize Medicaid dollars for housing-related services when it can be tied to better health outcomes.

Finally, although the policy bill died, the Legislature funded a new program in a budget proviso to help state agencies better coordinate with local governments to transition people living in state rights-of-way to permanent housing.