CHAPTER
2.7. California Housing Security Act
50489.
This chapter shall be known, and may be cited, as the California Housing Security Act.50489.1.
For purposes of this chapter, the following terms have the following meanings:(a) “Adult with a disability” means an individual or head of household who is 18 years of age or older and is experiencing a condition that limits a major life activity, including, but not limited to, one of the following:
(1) A “developmental disability,” as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 4512 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.
(2) A “medical condition,” as defined in subdivision (i) of Section 12926 of the Government Code.
(3) A “mental disability,” as defined in subdivision (j) of Section 12926 of the Government Code, except it shall also include a substance use condition.
(4) A “physical disability,” as defined in subdivision (m) of Section 12926 of the Government Code.
(5) A chronic illness, including, but not limited to, HIV.
(6) A traumatic brain injury.
(b) “Department” means the Department of Housing and Community Development.
(c) “Eligible population” means a low-income person that meets at least one of the following criteria:
(1) A
former foster youth who qualifies for the Independent Living Program, established pursuant to the federal Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (Public Law 99-272).
(2) A former foster youth, who is 18 to 24 years of age, inclusive, as defined in Section 50807.
(3) An older adult.
(4) An adult with disabilities.
(5) A person experiencing unemployment.
(6) An incarcerated person with a scheduled release date within 60 to 180 days and who is likely to experience homelessness upon release.
(7) A person experiencing homelessness, including
a homeless youth as defined in Section 8260 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.
(8) A “veteran,” as defined in Section 980 of the Military and Veterans Code.
(d) “Grantee” means any of the following entities that administer housing subsidies pursuant to this chapter:
(1) A city, including a charter city.
(2) A city, including a charter city, and a county.
(3) A housing authority.
(4) A nonprofit corporation.
(e) “Housing authority” means a housing authority created pursuant
to the Housing Authorities Law (Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 34200) of Part 2 of Division 24).
(f) “Low-income person” has the same meaning as “lower income households” as defined in Section 50079.5.
(g) “Nonprofit corporation” means a corporation organized under the Nonprofit Corporation Law (Division 2 (commencing with Section 5000) of Division 2 of Title 1 of the Corporations Code).
(h) “Older adult” means a person 55 years of age or older.
(i) “Program” means the California Housing Security Program established pursuant to this chapter.
50489.2.
(a) Upon appropriation by the Legislature pursuant to Section 50489.6, the department shall establish the California Housing Security Program pursuant to the requirements of this chapter to provide counties with funding to administer a housing subsidy to persons who meet the definition of eligible population to reduce housing insecurity and help Californians meet their basic housing needs.(b) By January 1, 2026, the department shall do the following to create the program:
(1) (A) Establish a two-year pilot program in eight counties.
(B) The department shall select two counties from the northern, four counties from the southern, including at least the County of Los Angeles, San Diego, or Orange, and two counties from the central regions of the state to participate in the pilot program and shall take into account representation of urban, rural, and suburban areas.
(2) Issue suggested guidelines establishing the program. The guidelines shall include all of the following:
(A) Criteria for program eligibility.
(B) Duration of the subsidy.
(C) (i) Amount of the subsidy.
(ii) The amount of the subsidy
shall be the amount necessary to cover the portion of a person’s rent to prevent homelessness, but the subsidy shall not exceed a total amount of two thousand dollars ($2,000) per month or as a one-time subsidy during the period of the pilot program, or for two years, whichever is longer.
(c) By January 1, 2026, the department shall provide each county selected to participate in the pilot program with funding for the purposes of administering the housing subsidies in an amount equal to the ratio of the total number the county’s proportionate share of the total population of the
counties participating in the pilot program compared to the total amount of funding available. program.
(d) By July 1, 2026, a county participating in the pilot program shall, in consultation with the cities located in the county and any nonprofit organizations or housing authorities partnering with the county or those cities for purposes of administering the housing subsidies, perform both of the following duties:
(1) Review the department’s suggested guidelines and develop final guidelines for administering the housing subsidies based on the needs of the county.
(A) The final guidelines shall address all of the information described in the department’s suggested guidelines.
(B) The final guidelines shall be subject to the requirements described in clause (ii) of subparagraph (C) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (b).
(2) Develop program applications for persons who meet the definition of eligible population to apply for a housing subsidy.
(e) By January 1, 2027, a county participating in the pilot program shall administer housing subsidies to persons who meet the definition of eligible population.
(f) A county participating in the pilot program may administer housing
subsidies through a grantee described in subdivision (d) of Section 50489.1.
(1) Housing subsidies administered pursuant to this subdivision may be administered through an existing housing program that is operated by the county or the grantee that has the same or similar purpose as the pilot program.
(2) Housing subsidies administered pursuant to this subdivision shall be subject to the final guidelines described in paragraph (1) of subdivision (d).
50489.3.
(a) (1) To be eligible to receive program funding to administer housing subsidies pursuant to this chapter, a county shall enter into a written agreement with the department to use the funds in a manner consistent with this chapter.(2) The written agreement required by paragraph (1) shall include terms and conditions consistent with the requirements set forth in this chapter.
(b) The department shall not provide program funding to a county that refuses or otherwise does not agree to administer the program funds in a manner consistent with this chapter.
(c) (1) The department may require a county to pay back program funds that are administered in a manner inconsistent with this chapter.
(2) The department may reallocate any program funds paid back pursuant to paragraph (1) for purposes of administering this chapter.
(d) A county shall be solely responsible for compliance with all applicable requirements set forth in this chapter.
50489.4.
(a) Notwithstanding any other law, and to the extent allowable under federal law, assistance, services, or supports received pursuant to this chapter are not income of the participant for purposes of determining eligibility for, or benefits pursuant to, any public assistance program. Participation in other benefits or housing or housing-based services programs shall not disqualify an individual or household from being a participant for a subsidy pursuant to this chapter.(b) The Legislature finds and declares, within the meaning of subsection (d) of Section 1621 of Title 8 of the United States Code, that an undocumented person who meets the definition of eligible population,
as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 50489.1, shall be eligible to receive a subsidy under this chapter.
50489.5.
(a) The department shall, beginning January 1, 2028, and annually thereafter for the duration of the program, include programmatic performance metrics for program funds administered pursuant to this chapter within the annual report required by Section 50408. The information shall include, at minimum, all of the following information:(1) The amount of program funds dispersed by any county or grantee providing housing subsidies pursuant to this chapter.
(2) The amount of program funding used by eligible persons pursuant to this chapter.
(3) Demographic information, including household income, of eligible persons that received program funding pursuant to this chapter.
(b) A county or grantee that administers housing subsidies pursuant to this chapter shall provide information necessary for the department to comply with the reporting requirement described in subdivision (a).
50489.6.
This chapter shall become operative only upon appropriation by the Legislature of sufficient funds for the purposes of the program.