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Assembly committee advances bill to prioritize single mothers, women and children in homelessness services
Summary
The Assembly Human Services Committee voted unanimously to pass AB 790 as amended, requiring jurisdictions that receive state homelessness funds to develop targeted systems serving women and families with children. Supporters said the bill would close service gaps for single mothers and survivors of domestic violence.
Assemblymember Avila Farias presented AB 790 on behalf of the author and asked the committee to accept staff amendments. The committee voted to pass the bill as amended; the final roll call recorded a unanimous outcome in committee.
Supporters said the bill would require cities, counties and continuums of care that receive state homelessness funding to develop systems that specifically serve women and families with children, a group advocates say is often overlooked in current funding and intake structures. "New Economics for Women is a proud sponsor of AB 970, which requires cities, counties, and continuums of care that receive state funding to address homelessness ... by including single women with children within the vulnerable populations for whom specific support systems are developed to maintain homelessness services and housing delivery," said Beatrice Olvera Stotzer, pro‑board president of New Economics for Women.
Proponents described single mothers as disproportionately at risk of homelessness and of lacking access to services tailored to their needs. "A person who is unhoused and has diagnosed mental illness ... often receives immediate housing and supportive services than a mother living in a car with her 4 children, fleeing an abuser," Stotzer said, arguing the bill would bring accountability and targeted prevention to those families.
Committee members who spoke in favor described local experience with the sponsor organization and said the bill would help close persistent gaps. Assemblymember Celeste Rodriguez asked to be a coauthor and then moved the measure; a colleague seconded. The motion carried and the clerk recorded the committee’s action. The bill was reported out of committee with committee amendments.
Action details and vote tally are recorded in the committee minutes below.
