Committee debates removing three housing-related SIF items from HB1012

The committee considered amendments to remove three housing-related items from HB1012 that are funded from the State Infrastructure Fund (SIF): $10 million for housing assistance to people at risk of instability, $3.5 million for an eviction-prevention program, and $1 million for home-renovation accessibility incentives.

Jessica, a department program lead, explained those dollars were designed as flexible, last-resort resources for people receiving care coordination or case management services who cannot secure housing through other streams. "The idea is that you'd have some flexible resources when you can't already, when you can't use Medicaid dollars, money follows a person dollars, whatever other resource there might be available to make home modifications, particularly for accessibility that you would have another resource to fill that gap," she said.

Why it matters: Committee members argued about where the housing dollars best fit in the budget and whether the funds should remain in the HHS section or be placed elsewhere. Representative Steven and Representative Wagner indicated they wanted the three SIF line items removed for further consideration or placement in a different part of the budget. Supporters said the funds bridge gaps that impede transitions from institutional care and allow people to age in place.

Ending: Committee staff recorded proposed removals so staff can draft amendment language. Jessica and staff noted existing programs in aging and developmental disabilities already handle environmental modification work and that the Housing assistance lines were intended to supplement those efforts.