Committee advances bill to create state homelessness-prevention program under DCA

Chairman Carpenter told the State Planning & Community Affairs committee that House Bill 689 "seeks to establish a homelessness prevention program under the direction of DCA," a mechanism intended to continue emergency rental-assistance activity once federal ARPA funds expire.

Carpenter said the measure would create a state grant program that partners with local organizations and leverages private and local government contributions to ensure geographic distribution of funds. "Emergency rental assistance has helped over 61,000 people remain in their homes between the years of '21 and '23," he said, arguing the bill would provide a statutory vehicle for the state to support similar work if appropriations are approved.

The bill does not itself appropriate money: Carpenter and others emphasized that any state funding would require a separate request through the Appropriations process. The committee voted "do pass" by voice vote and sent the bill to Appropriations, where members will consider whether to fund the program and at what level.