FL S1500

Increases funding reservations for persons who are homeless and persons with special needs to at least 10 percent in the State Apartment Incentive Loan Program notices of fund availability.

Requires the State Office on Homelessness to establish a task force to develop recommendations for implementing a statewide Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) and a coordinated assessment system, with findings due to the Council on Homelessness by December 31, 2015.

Changes Challenge Grants program to require distribution based on lead agencies' performance and achievement of specific objectives, and adds local government funding as a requirement for preference consideration alongside federal and private funding.

Adds Rapid ReHousing as a component of local homeless assistance continuum of care plans, defined as a strategy using temporary financial assistance and case management to quickly move individuals or families from homelessness into permanent housing.

Prohibits counties and municipalities from expending local housing distribution funds for ongoing rent subsidies, with limited exceptions for security/utility deposits, eviction prevention (up to 6 months), and rent subsidies for very-low-income households with persons with special needs or homeless persons (up to 24 months).