Bill > AB20

This bill proposes significant changes to California's approach to homelessness by effectively ending the Housing First model and implementing more restrictive policies. The bill would prohibit homeless encampments within 500 feet of sensitive community areas like schools, open spaces, or transit stops, and prevent camping in public spaces if a shelter bed is available in the city. It removes previous requirements for state agencies to follow Housing First guidelines, which previously emphasized providing housing without preconditions. Instead, the bill now allows state programs to review applicants' "housing readiness" based on factors like sobriety, substance use, mental health, and treatment completion. The bill mandates that state homeless programs include work programs with paid or volunteer opportunities and prioritize funding for shelter beds over permanent supportive housing. Additionally, it requires local agencies to prioritize programs that include drug testing and mandatory treatment. The bill also introduces new regulations for motels receiving homeless assistance, such as requiring city council approval for motels that house more than 20% homeless individuals. Notably, the bill represents a significant shift from the previous approach, which focused on providing housing first and without preconditions, to a more conditional model that emphasizes treatment, work, and behavioral requirements before housing assistance.

Housing and Urban Affairs

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB20