Homeless Trust seeks $2 million for housing acquisition, urges continued state grants and TANF flexibility

At the meeting, staff presented the Homeless Trust’s proposed 2026 state legislative priorities and the board adopted the list.

Key requests: staff said the trust will request $2,000,000 in state appropriations to acquire and renovate housing to serve disabled adults and seniors (staff noted the last appropriation acquired a property to serve families). The trust also seeks to maintain the current staffing grant (noted as roughly $181,000), continue the statewide challenge grant funding (the trust received $768,000 in the most recent cycle) and preserve flexible funding used for homeless prevention and rapid rehousing. Staff identified a small advocate program funded at about $31,000 and said the trust will seek increased funding and flexibility to access unobligated Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds at the state level for eviction prevention and short‑term rental assistance.

Staff also said the trust will continue to support revisions to the state mental health act to better address severe self‑neglect and related street‑level behavioral health issues. Members noted that previous appropriations were intended to leverage philanthropic grants: staff said the appropriation the trust received in the most recent session will be used in part to leverage $1.5 million previously provided by the Bezos Family Foundation to acquire and renovate property to serve families.

Board action: A motion to adopt the legislative priorities was made, seconded and adopted without recorded objection in the meeting.

Why it matters: the priorities affect the trust’s capital acquisition strategy and its ability to use state and philanthropic leverage to convert short‑term shelter placements into permanent or supportive housing.