Affordable Housing Advisory Board.
The Affordable Housing Advisory Board (AHAB) advises the Department of Commerce (Commerce) on housing and housing-related issues. The AHAB is comprised of 22 members representing public entities, local governments, housing industries, and other stakeholders.
Permanent Supportive Housing.
Permanent supportive housing is subsidized, leased housing with no limit on the length of stay that prioritizes people who need comprehensive support services to retain tenancy. Permanent supportive housing uses admissions practices designed to lower barriers to entry that would be typical for other rental housing, especially related to rental history, criminal history, and personal behaviors, and is paired with voluntary on or off-site supportive services.
The state provides funding for the construction, operations, maintenance, and service costs for permanent supportive housing through document recording surcharges and other appropriations. Commerce is the state agency primarily responsible for administering funding for permanent supportive housing.
Affordable Housing Advisory Board.
The AHAB is expanded by one representative of organizations that operate site-based permanent supportive housing and deliver onsite supportive housing services.
Permanent Supportive Housing.
An advisory committee on permanent supportive housing (advisory committee) is established to provide guidance and recommendations to Commerce on the administration of permanent supportive housing resources, including recommendations to ensure alignment of capital, services, and operating investments.
The advisory committee must meet no less than quarterly with its first meeting to be convened by Commerce no later than October 1, 2022. The Director of Commerce and the director of Commerce's Office of Supportive Housing must regularly consult with the advisory committee. Commerce will provide staff support to the advisory committee.
The substitute bill modifies membership of the advisory committee as follows:
The substitute bill also changes the appointment authority for members of the advisory committee from the Governor to the Director of the Department.
In addition, the substitute bill eliminates the provision that members of the advisory committee must serve without compensation, terminates the advisory committee's annual reporting requirement on December 31, 2027, and changes the date by which the Department must convene the first meeting from October 1, 2022, to November 1, 2022.
(In support) Permanent supportive housing is a key intervention to ending chronic homelessness. It is an evidence-based practice for ending homelessness for people living with behavioral health and other disabling conditions. Challenges exist in operating permanent supportive housing, but it is more cost effective than some of the other options, such as emergency rooms, hospitals, and jails. The Office of Financial Management estimates the need for permanent supportive housing in the state is 16,000 apartments. The advisory committee will help facilitate additional permanent supportive housing more quickly. The bill supports the current structure and strong investments the state is making. It will provide for the coordination of local, state, and federal funding and bring together key stakeholders to collaborate and share best practices. This coordination will help permanent supportive housing providers figure out how to put the puzzle of funding together, including in smaller and more rural communities.
(Opposed) None.
(Other) Most of the homeless community has disabilities, and the advisory committee needs to include additional representatives of the disability community, including representatives of the intellectual and developmental disability community. The language in the bill should be clarified to ensure the committee is advisory as opposed to providing formal oversight.