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Committee hears bill to expand Housing and Essential Needs program, add cash assistance option
Summary
Senate Bill 5232 would extend a HEN pilot statewide, allow direct cash assistance, align administrative rates with other programs and remove a fixed 7% admin set-aside; Commerce and advocates supported the updates and said the bill carries no net cost under current funding formulas.
Senate Human Services Committee members heard Jan. 22 on Senate Bill 5232, sponsored by Sen. Claire Wilson, which would update the Housing and Essential Needs (HEN) program to extend the SSI-bridge pilot statewide, allow direct cash assistance for essential needs, and align administrative rates with other home-security-funded programs.
Allison Mendiola, committee staff, summarized the bill and said HEN provides essential items and housing assistance to low-income adults age 18-64 who are unable to maintain gainful employment for 90 days because of physical or mental incapacity or substance-use disorder. Mendiola said the 2019…
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