BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 702
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Date of Hearing: April 22, 2015
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Jimmy Gomez, Chair
AB
702 (Maienschein) - As Introduced February 25, 2015
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Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: YesReimbursable:
Yes
SUMMARY: This bill deletes the requirement that the 16 days of
temporary housing assistance provided to homeless families
through the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to
Kids (CalWORKs) program be used consecutively. Instead, this
bill allows an eligible CalWORKs recipient to receive temporary
shelter assistance up to a total of 16 days, which may be used
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at any time while the recipient is receiving CalWORKs aid and is
homeless.
FISCAL EFFECT:
1)Potentially significant ongoing costs, in the range of $2
million (GF), for increased housing benefits. This bill would
likely result in additional benefits paid because recipients
who would have previously forfeited a portion of their
benefits by interrupting the consecutive 16-day period could
see their lifetime benefit increase. However, this may be
partially or completely offset by lower benefits paid to
recipients who choose to save a portion of their 16-day
benefit for future use and either do not subsequently use it
or no longer qualify.
2)Unknown, likely minor costs to the Department of Social
Services for automation modifications required to track this
information.
3)Ongoing, likely minor, state-reimbursable local costs (General
Fund) for county agencies to re-evaluate temporary housing
assistance applicants each time they apply for the benefit.
COMMENTS:
Purpose. The author contends that because temporary housing
assistance is only available for 16 consecutive days, a break in
assistance unduly punishes families who vacate their temporary
lodgings at any point during the 16 day period. In order to
avoid forfeiting the remainder of the one-time benefit, the
current rule serves as a disincentive for families to find
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alternative arrangements, seek prospective opportunities for
employment, or tend to other health or family obligations during
the 16-day period.
Background. In January 2015, counties throughout California
received 2,918 requests for temporary shelter assistance, 259 of
which accompanied requests for permanent housing assistance. Of
the 3,402 total requests received in January for temporary
and/or permanent shelter assistance, 614 were received from new
shelter assistance applicants. Six counties received over 80
requests for temporary shelter assistance in January, including
245 in San Bernardino County, 82 in Alameda, and 160 in
Sacramento.
CalWORKs temporary shelter assistance is provided to homeless
families for up to 16 consecutive days. Temporary shelter
assistance for a family of up to four people is $65 per day,
plus $15 for each additional family member. The maximum amount
of assistance any family can receive is $125 per day, and the
assistance can only be used to pay for housing provided in a
commercial establishment, a shelter, or an established rental
property.
The current 16 consecutive day limit is a lifetime limit for
temporary shelter assistance, provided that a family doesn't
meet criteria for an exception (domestic violence, a medically
verified physical or mental illness, or a fire or other natural
catastrophe.) Any break in the use of the assistance, including
one night spent with a friend or relative, automatically
terminates a family's ability to receive shelter assistance for
any days remaining within the 16 consecutive day limit.
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Housing Support Program: Established through the Budget Act of
2014, the CalWORKs Housing Support Program (HSP) allows counties
to provide housing and related supports to CalWORKs families
that are experiencing homelessness or housing instability that
is a barrier to self-sufficiency or child well-being. The HSP
was established as a means of expanding the minimal housing
assistance that was previously available to homeless families in
the CalWORKs program with the understanding that safe,
affordable and stable housing is a key element in facilitating
family stability and self-sufficiency. Forty-two counties
expressed an interest in implementing or expanding an existing
housing support program, requesting over $52 million in funding.
However, only 20 counties were awarded funds from the $20
million dollar budget amount available for the HSP to be spent
by June 30, 2015. It is not yet known how this program
interacts with temporary shelter assistance, i.e. whether they
overlap or meet different needs within the CalWORKs population.
Budget conversations are ongoing with respect to whether the
state will augment and continue the HSP.
Prior Legislation. AB 246 (Maienschein), 2014, is substantially
similar to this bill. It was held on the Senate Appropriations
Committee's Suspense File.
Analysis Prepared by:Jennifer Swenson / APPR. / (916)
319-2081
AB 702
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