Status of AB-1845 Homelessness: Office to End Homelessness

The California State Assembly on Wednesday, June 10 passed AB-1845, which would create a State Office of Homelessness.

The California State Senate read the bill for the first time on Thursday, June 11 and the bill was passed to the Committee of Rules to be assigned to the appropriate policy committee for its first hearing, likely the Senate Housing Committee.

As noted in the legislation, “the office’s primary purposes are to do all of the following:

(1) Coordinate homelessness programs, services, data, and policies between federal, state, and local agencies;

(2) Coordinate the timing of release of funds and applications for funding for housing and housing-based services impacting Californians experiencing homelessness;

(3) Collaborate with local homeless continuums of care and jurisdictions receiving state funding;

(4) Coordinate with philanthropic organizations with the goal of seeding innovations in moving people experiencing homelessness into permanent housing; and

(5) Adopt a model of housing and services the state funds across agencies to serve Californians experiencing homelessness. 

State agencies and departments with representatives on the council, or work groups established by the council, shall report to and coordinate with the secretary and the office.

The office shall serve the Governor as the lead entity for ending homelessness in California. In this capacity, the office shall:

(1) Fulfill the duties and responsibilities of the council.

(2) Recommend to the Governor and the Legislature new state policies, programs, and actions, or amendments to existing programs.”

Click here to read California Legislative Information about the bill.