Senate Bill 1585 Summary

• Establishes a pilot program for affordable housing opportunities for individuals experiencing homelessness, including leasing vacant commercial and hotel spaces for 36-48 months, with the program set to expire December 31, 2027.

• Creates a grant program through the Arizona Department of Housing to fund sanctioned facilities (transitional camping sites, shelters) for unsheltered individuals, requiring 24-hour access to sanitary facilities, water, security, and pet accommodations.

• Authorizes grants for multidisciplinary homeless outreach teams, mental health and substance abuse shelters, community homeless courts, and first care responder teams to provide services and move unsheltered individuals into housing and services.

• Establishes the Homeless Shelter and Services Fund and appropriates $145,000,000 from the state general fund for fiscal year 2023-2024: $70 million for sanctioned facilities, $25 million for homeless services programs with local matching requirements, and $50 million for the affordable housing pilot program.

• Appropriates an additional $10,000,000 to the Department of Economic Security for rental assistance and eviction prevention for persons age 65 and older.