HB 163 - Homelessness Summary

• Increases Council on Homelessness membership from 17 to 19 members and expands the State Office on Homelessness duties to coordinate statewide homeless programs and collect data from entities receiving state funding.

• Creates new continuum of care framework requiring each designated catchment area to have a single lead agency serving as collaborative applicant, with required components including coordinated entry systems, emergency shelter, supportive services, and permanent housing.

• Establishes grant-in-aid program to help continuums of care prevent and end homelessness through competitive awards, with maximum administrative costs of 10 percent and 25 percent local matching fund requirements.

• Increases minimum unit reservation period for homeless housing assistance grants from 10 to 20 years and reduces maximum project funding cap from $750,000 to $500,000.

• Repeals previous sections on local coalitions for the homeless (s. 420.623-420.625) and revises discharge procedures for hospitals and institutions to reduce homelessness; effective July 1, 2020.