Statewide homelessness prevention strategy

The law shifts focus toward identifying housing instability early, coordinating existing state efforts, and targeting prevention resources. It does not require agencies to create programs, collect new primary data, or expand benefits.

What the law does ​

• Requires the California Interagency Council on Homelessness to publish and regularly update a statewide homelessness prevention strategy in its Action Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness.
• Requires baseline estimates of first-time homelessness, statewide goals and success measures, an inventory of prevention resources, and agency-by-agency roles, definitions, actions, gaps, and coordination opportunities.
• Requires prevention action plans for relevant state agencies, using their existing authority, activities, resources, data, and subject-matter responsibilities.
• Directs the council to identify evidence-based model practices, including early risk identification, targeted resources, emergency rental aid, eviction defense, legal services, case management, and coordinated financial, legal, and case-management support.
• Requires the council to offer model practices as guidance for local efforts and propose ways to incorporate them into state activities.

Who it affects ​

• People at heightened risk of homelessness, including people with prior homelessness, very low incomes, rent burdens, or other documented risk factors.
• State agencies and departments whose work affects housing stability or homelessness prevention.
• Local homelessness-prevention efforts that may use the council’s model-practice guidance.

Context ​

The strategy may recommend future funding priorities and authority changes, but agencies must operate within their existing powers and resources.