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House Finance hears about shelter funding, Waypoint youth shelter allocation and continuum‑of‑care spending
Summary
The Behavioral Health division told lawmakers it consolidates federal and state homeless services funding and that the governor’s budget continues a $500,000 per‑year allocation to the Waypoint youth shelter while preserving shelter rate increases from prior legislation.
Officials from the Division for Behavioral Health told House Finance members on Feb. 27 that the department consolidates multiple homeless‑services streams — HUD Continuum of Care awards, Emergency Solutions Grants, PATH outreach services provided by four community mental health centers, and state grants‑in‑aid for emergency shelter operations.
Katia Fox described how the point‑in‑time (PIT) homeless count and Continuum of Care data feed the department’s allocation formulas for shelter and winter emergency sheltering. She noted the department also funds prevention and rapid rehousing programs intended to keep people housed and reduce the need for emergency shelter.
On a specific policy question, committee members sought clarity about a previously filed bill and the governor’s budget treatment of Waypoint’s youth shelter. The division clarified that the governor’s recommended HB 1 contains $500,000 per year for the youth shelter program (the item also had been the subject of a separate bill); departmental staff said that funding is included in the budget line for shelter and that committee language (a class note) could be used if the committee wants to earmark the allocation explicitly to Waypoint.
The department also said it had implemented shelter rate increases (as directed in prior legislation, SB 406) and the governor’s draft continues $2.5 million in related appropriations so shelters could maintain higher per‑diem payments. Fox said the $27‑per‑day rate increase for winter emergency shelter operations helped providers offset rising operating and staffing costs.
Ending: Committee members and staff agreed the bill that had been filed could be retained pending the committee’s budget deliberations; staff offered to prepare crosswalks and further information about funding sources and carry‑forwards for the committee’s review.
