PART 3.9. The No Place Like Home Program
5849.1.
(a) The Legislature finds and declares that this part is consistent with and furthers the purposes of the Mental Health Services Act, enacted by Proposition 63 at the November 2, 2004, statewide general election, within the meaning of Section 18 of that measure.(b) The Legislature further finds and declares all of the following:
(1) Housing is a key factor for stabilization and recovery to occur and results in improved outcomes for individuals living with a mental illness.
(2) Untreated mental illness can increase the risk of homelessness, especially for single adults.
(3) California has the nation’s largest homeless population that is disproportionally comprised of women with children, veterans, and the chronically homeless.
(4) California has the largest number of homeless veterans in the United States at 24 percent of the total population in our nation. Fifty percent of California’s veterans live with serious mental illness and 70 percent have a substance use disorder.
(5) Fifty percent of mothers experiencing homelessness have experienced a major depressive episode since becoming homeless and 36 percent of these mothers live with post-traumatic stress disorder and 41 percent have a substance use disorder.
(6) Ninety-three percent of supportive housing tenants who live with mental illness and substance use disorders
voluntarily participated in the services offered.
(7) Adults who receive 2 years of “whatever-it-takes,” or Full Service Partnership services, experience a 68 percent reduction in homelessness.
(8) For every dollar of bond funds invested in permanent supportive housing, the state and local governments can leverage a significant amount of additional dollars through tax credits, Medicaid health services funding, and other housing development funds.
(9) Tenants of permanent supportive housing reduced their visits to the emergency department by 56 percent, and their hospital admissions by 45 percent.
(10) The cost in public services for a chronically homeless Californian ranges from $60,000 to $100,000 annually. When housed, these costs are cut in half and
some reports show reductions in cost of more than 70 percent, including potentially less involvement with the health and criminal justice systems.
(11) Californians have identified homelessness as their top tier priority; this measure seeks to address the needs of the most vulnerable people within this population.
(12) Having counties provide mental health programming and services is a benefit to the state.
5849.2.
As used in this part, the following definitions shall apply:(a) “At risk of chronic homelessness” includes, but is not limited to, persons who are at high risk of long-term or intermittent homelessness, including persons with mental illness exiting institutionalized settings, including, but not limited to, jail and mental health facilities, who were homeless prior to admission, transition age youth experiencing homelessness or with significant barriers to housing stability, and others, as defined in program guidelines.
(b) “Chronically homeless” has the same meaning as defined in Section 578.3 of Title 24 of the Code of Federal Regulations, as that section read on May 1, 2016.
(c) “Committee” means the No Place Like Home Program Advisory Committee established pursuant to Section 5849.3.
(d) “County” includes, but is not limited to, a city and county.
(e) “Department” means the Department of Housing and Community Development.
(f) “Development sponsor” has the same meaning as “sponsor” as defined in Section 50675.2 of the Health and Safety Code.
(g) “Fund” means the No Place Like Home Fund established pursuant to Section 5849.4.
(h) “Homeless” has the same meaning as defined in Section 578.3 of Title 24 of the Code of Federal Regulations, as that section read on May 1, 2016.
(i) “Permanent supportive housing” has the same meaning as “supportive housing,” as defined in Section 50675.14 of the Health and Safety Code, except that “permanent supportive housing” shall include associated facilities if used to provide services to housing residents.
(j) “Program” means the process for awarding funds and distributing moneys to applicants established in Sections 5849.7, 5849.8, and 5849.9.
(1) “Competitive program” means that portion of the program established by Section 5849.8.
(2) “Distribution program” means that portion of the program described in Section 5849.9.
(k) “Target population” means individuals or households as provided in Section 5600.3 who are homeless,
chronically homeless, or at risk of chronic homelessness.
5849.3.
(a) There is hereby established the No Place Like Home Program Advisory Committee. Membership on the committee shall be as follows:(1) The Director of Housing and Community Development, or his or her designee, who shall serve as the chairperson of the committee.
(2) The Director of Health Care Services, or his or her designee, and an additional representative.
(3) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, or his or her designee.
(4) The Director of Social Services, or his or her designee.
(5) The Treasurer, or his or her designee.
(6) The chair of the Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission, or his or her designee.
(7) A chief administrative officer of a small county or a member of a county board of supervisors of a small county, as provided by subdivision (d) of Section 5489.6, to be appointed by the Governor.
(8) A chief administrative officer of a large county or a member of a county board of supervisors of a large county, as provided by subdivision (b) of Section 5489.6, to be appointed by the Governor.
(9) A director of a county behavioral health department, to be appointed by the Governor.
(10) An administrative officer of a city,
to be appointed by the Governor.
(11) A representative of an affordable housing organization, to be appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly.
(12) A resident of supportive housing, to be appointed by the Governor.
(13) A representative of a community mental health organization, to be appointed by the Senate Rules Committee.
(14) A representative of a local or regional continuum of care organization that coordinates homelessness funding, to be appointed by the Governor.
(b) The committee shall do all of the following:
(1) Assist and advise the department in the implementation of the program.
(2) Review and make recommendations on the department’s guidelines.
(3) Review the department’s progress in distributing moneys pursuant to this part.
(4) Provide advice and guidance more broadly on statewide homelessness issues.
5849.4.
(a) The No Place Like Home Fund is hereby created within the State Treasury and, notwithstanding Section 13340 of the Government Code, continuously appropriated to the department for the purposes of this part. The department may use up to five percent of the amount deposited in the fund for administrative expenses in implementing this part.(b) There shall be paid into the fund the following:
(1) Any proceeds from the issuance of bonds by the Treasurer for the purpose of implementing the program.
(2) Any other federal or state grant, or from any private donation or grant, for the purposes of this part.
(3) Any interest payment, loan repayments, or other return of funds.
5849.5.
(a) The department may adopt guidelines or regulations, in consultation with the California State Association of Counties and other stakeholders, as necessary to exercise the powers and perform the duties conferred or imposed on it by this part. Any guideline or regulation adopted pursuant to this section shall not be subject to the requirements of the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code). The department shall consult with key stakeholders including, but not limited to, counties.(b) The department may adopt emergency regulations in order to expedite the award of moneys pursuant to this part.
5849.6.
For the purpose of administering Sections 5849.7 and 5849.8, the department shall organize counties into the following competitive groupings based on population:(a) The County of Los Angeles.
(b) Large counties with a population greater than 750,000.
(c) Medium counties with a population between 200,000 to 750,000.
(d) Small counties with a population less than 200,000.
The competitive program shall distribute funding among the groupings based on a calculation made by the department that shall include the number of homeless
persons residing within each county, as determined by the department, and considers minimum funding levels necessary for a permanent supportive housing development. The department, at its discretion, may consider other factors in the calculation if it supports the objectives of this part.
5849.7.
(a) The department shall administer a competitive program, pursuant to Section 5849.8, and distribution program, pursuant to Section 5849.9, for awarding a total of two billion dollars ($2,000,000,000) among counties to finance capital costs including, but not limited to, acquisition, design, construction, rehabilitation, or preservation, and to capitalize operating reserves, of permanent supportive housing for the target population.(b) For the competitive program established by Section 5849.8, the following shall apply:
(1) A county may apply as the sole applicant if it is the development sponsor or jointly with a separate entity as development sponsor.
(2) Funded developments shall integrate the target population with the general public.
(3) Funded developments shall utilize low barrier tenant selection practices that prioritize vulnerable populations and offer flexible, voluntary, and individualized supportive services.
(4) The guidelines may provide for alternative housing models, such as shared housing models of fewer than five units. Integration requirements may be modified in shared housing.
(5) Funds shall be offered as deferred payment loans to finance capital costs including acquisition, design, construction, rehabilitation, or preservation, and to capitalize operating reserves of, permanent supportive housing for the target population.
(6) The department shall adopt guidelines establishing income and rent standards.
5849.8.
(a) One billion eight hundred million dollars ($1,800,000,000) shall be allocated from the fund for the purposes of the competitive program. The department shall develop a competitive application process for the purpose of awarding moneys pursuant to this section. In considering applications, the department shall do all of the following:(1) Restrict eligibility to applicants that meet the following minimum criteria:
(A) The county commits to provide mental health supportive services and to coordinate the provision of or referral to other services, including, but not limited to, substance use treatment services, to the tenants of the supportive housing development for at
least 20 years. Services shall be provided onsite at the supportive housing development or in a location otherwise easily accessible to tenants. The county may use, but is not restricted to using, any of the following available funding sources as allowed by state and federal law:
(i) The Local Mental Health Services Fund established pursuant to subdivision (f) of Section 5892.
(ii) The Mental Health Account within the Local Health Welfare Trust Fund established pursuant to Section 17600.10.
(iii) The Behavioral Health Subaccount within the County Local Revenue Fund 2011 established pursuant to paragraph (4) of subdivision (f) of Section 30025 of the Government Code.
(iv) Funds received from other private or public entities.
(v) Other county funds.
(B) The county has developed a county plan to combat homelessness, which includes a description of homelessness countywide, any special challenges or barriers to serving the target population, county resources applied to address the issue, available community-based resources, an outline of partners and collaborations, and proposed solutions.
(C) Meet other threshold requirements including, but not limited to, developer capacity to develop, own, and operate a permanent supportive housing development for the target population, application proposes a financially feasible development with reasonable development costs.
(2) The department shall evaluate applications using, at minimum, the following criteria:
(A) The extent to which units assisted by the program are restricted to persons who are chronically homeless or at risk of chronic homelessness within the target population.
(B) The extent to which funds are leveraged for capital costs.
(C) The extent to which projects achieve deeper affordability through the use of non-state project-based rental assistance, operating subsidies, or other funding.
(D) Project readiness.
(E) The extent to which applicants offer a range of on and off-site supportive services to tenants, including mental health services, behavioral health services, primary health, employment, and other tenancy support services.
(F) Past history of implementing programs that use evidence-based best practices that have led to the reduction of the number of chronic homeless or at risk of chronic homelessness individuals within the target population.
(b) The department may establish an alternative process for allocating funds directly to counties, as calculated in Section 5849.6, with at least five percent of the state’s homeless population and that demonstrate the capacity to directly administer loan funds for permanent supportive housing serving the target population and the ability to prioritize individuals with mental health supportive needs who are homeless or at risk of chronic homelessness, consistent with this part and as determined by the department. The department shall adopt guidelines establishing the parameters of an alternative process, if any, and requirements for local administration of funds, including, but not limited
to, project selection process, eligible use of funds, loan terms, rent and occupancy restrictions, provision of services, and reporting and monitoring requirements. Counties participating in the alternative process shall not be eligible for the competitive process and shall be limited to funds in proportion to their share of the percentage of the statewide homeless population, as calculated by the department in Section 5849.6. Funds not committed to supportive housing developments within two years following award of funds to counties shall be returned to the state for the purposes of the competitive program. The department shall consider the following when selecting participating counties:
(1) Demonstrated ability to finance permanent supportive housing with local and federal funds, and monitor requirements for the life of the loan.
(2) Past history of delivering supportive
services to the target population in housing.
(3) Past history of committing project-based vouchers to supportive housing.
(4) Ability to prioritize the most vulnerable within the target population through coordinated entry system.
(c) The department shall set aside 8 percent of funds offered in Rounds 1 through 4, inclusive, for small counties as provided in subdivision (d) of Section 5849.6.
(d) The department shall award funds in at least four rounds as follows:
(1) The department shall issue its first request for proposal for the competitive program no later than 180 days after any deadline for appeals as set forth in Section 870 of the Code of Civil Procedure.
(2) The second round shall be completed no later than one year after the completion of the first round.
(3) The third round shall be completed no later than one year after the completion of the second round.
(4) The fourth round shall be completed no later than one year after the completion of the third round.
(5) Subsequent rounds shall occur annually thereafter in order to fully exhaust remaining funds and the department may discontinue the use of the competitive groupings in Section 5849.6, the alternative process in subdivision (b) for any funds not awarded by the county, and the rural set aside funds as set forth in subdivision (c).
(e) (1) Any loans made by the
department pursuant to this section shall be in the form of secured deferred payment loans to pay for the eligible costs of development. Principal and accumulated interest is due and payable upon completion of the term of the loan, which shall be established through program guidelines adopted pursuant to Section 5849.5. The loan shall bear simple interest at a rate of three percent per annum on the unpaid principal balance. The department shall require annual loan payments in the minimum amount necessary to cover the costs of project monitoring. For the first 15 years of the loan term, the amount of the required loan payments shall not exceed forty-two hundredths of 1 percent per annum.
(2) The department may establish maximum loan-to-value requirements for some or all of the types of projects that are eligible for funding under this part, which shall be established through program guidelines adopted pursuant to Section 5849.5.
(3) The department shall establish per-unit and per-project loan limits for all project types.
(f) (1) The department may designate an amount not to exceed four percent of funds allocated for the competitive program, not including funding allocated pursuant to subdivision (b), in order to cure or avert a default on the terms of any loan or other obligation by the recipient of financial assistance, or bidding at any foreclosure sale where the default or foreclosure sale would jeopardize the department’s security in the rental housing development assisted pursuant to this part. The funds so designated shall be known as the “default reserve.”
(2) The department may use default reserve funds made available pursuant to this section to repair or maintain any rental housing development assistance pursuant
to this part to protect the department’s security interest.
(3) The payment or advance of funds by the department pursuant to this subdivision shall be exclusively within the department’s discretion, and no person shall be deemed to have any entitlement to the payment or advance of those funds. The amount of any funds expended by the department for the purposes of curing or averting a default shall be added to the loan amount secured by the rental housing development and shall be payable to the department upon demand.
(g) (1) Prior to disbursement of any funds for loans made pursuant this section, the department shall enter into a regulatory agreement with the development sponsor that provides for all of the following:
(A) Sets standards for tenant selection to ensure occupancy of assisted units
by eligible households of very low and low income for the term of the agreement.
(B) Governs the terms of occupancy agreements.
(C) Contains provisions to maintain affordable rent levels to serve eligible households.
(D) Provides for periodic inspections and review of year-end fiscal audits and related reports by the department.
(E) Permits a developer to distribute earnings in an amount established by the department and based on the number of units in the rental housing development.
(F) Has a term for not less than the original term of the loan.
(G) Contains any other provisions necessary to carry out the purposes of this
part.
(2) The agreement shall be binding upon the developer and successors in interest upon sale or transfer of the rental housing development regardless of any prepayment of the loan.
(3) The agreement shall be recorded in the office of the county recorder in the county in which the real property subject to the agreement is located.
5849.9.
(a) In addition to the competitive program established by Section 5849.8, the department shall distribute two hundred million dollars ($200,000,000) from the fund on an “over-the-counter” basis to finance the construction, rehabilitation, or preservation, and to capitalize operating reserves, of permanent supportive housing for individuals in the target population with a priority for those with mental health supportive needs who are homeless or at risk of chronic homelessness. Funds to be awarded pursuant to this section shall be available to all counties within the state proportionate to the number of homeless persons residing within each county as calculated in Section 5849.6 or in the amount of five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000), whichever is greater.(b) Funds not awarded within 18 months following the first allocation of moneys in accordance with subdivision (d) shall be used for the purposes of the competitive program.
(c) The moneys described in subdivision (a) shall be administered either in accordance with the procedures for awarding funds to local agencies established by the existing Mental Health Services Act housing program administered by the Department of Health Care Services and the California Housing Finance Agency or alternative procedures developed by the department for distributing these moneys that enhance the efficiency and goals of the distribution program.
(d) The department shall make the first allocation of moneys pursuant to this section no later than 60 days after any deadline for appeals as set forth in Section 870 of the Code of Civil
Procedure.
5849.10.
(a) The sum of six million two hundred thousand dollars ($6,200,000) is hereby appropriated from the Mental Health Services Fund to the department to provide technical and application preparation assistance to counties.(b) Eligible use of technical and application preparation assistance shall include, but is not limited to, assistance in performing one or more of the following activities:
(1) Applying for program funds.
(2) Implementing activities funded by moneys distributed pursuant to this part, including the development of supportive housing for the target population.
(3) Coordinating funded activities with local homelessness systems, including coordinated access systems developed pursuant to Section 578.7(a)(8) of Title 24 of the Code of Federal Regulations, as that section read on May 1, 2016.
(4) Delivering a range of supportive services to tenants.
(5) Collecting data, evaluating program activities, and sharing data among multiple systems, such as the Mental Health Services Act, enacted by Proposition 63 at the November 2, 2004, statewide general election, the Medi-Cal Act (Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 14000) of Part 3 of Division 9) and implementing regulations, and homelessness systems.
(c) The department shall provide funds to a county upon application as follows:
(1) To a large county and to the County of Los Angeles, the department shall provide one hundred fifty thousand dollars ($150,000).
(2) To a medium county, the department shall provide one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000).
(3) To a small county, the department shall provide seventy-five thousand dollars ($75,000).
(d) If a county does not expend the moneys allocated pursuant to subdivision (c) by June 30, 2020, those moneys shall be used to augment the funding pursuant to subdivision (e).
(e) The department may contract for expert technical assistance and application preparation assistance. The department shall deploy such assistance to counties based upon a process to be defined in
guidelines.
(f) The department may establish a unit for the purpose of providing technical assistance to counties.
5849.11.
(a) The counties shall annually report to the department on activities funded under this part, including information on the funded supportive housing development. Reported information shall include location of projects, number of units assisted, occupancy restrictions, number of individuals and households served, related income levels, and homeless, veteran, and mental health status.(b) The department shall submit a report on the program to the Legislature by December 31 of each year, commencing with the year after the first full year in which the program is in effect. The report shall contain the following:
(1) The processes established for distributing funds.
(2) The distribution of funds among counties.
(3) Any recommendations as to modifications to the program for the purpose of improving efficiency or furthering the goals of the program.
(c) The report required to be submitted by subdivision (b) shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.
5849.12.
(a) Upon an appropriation of funds for the purpose of this section, the department shall contract with a public or private research university in this state to evaluate the program. The department shall develop the research design and issue a request for proposal for a contract for the evaluation, with the assistance of the Legislative Analyst’s Office and the Department of Finance.(b) The department shall submit the final research design and request for proposal required by subdivision (a) to the Chairperson of the Joint Legislative Budget Committee no more than 30 days prior to executing a contract for the evaluation.
5849.13.
An action to determine the legality of any action by the department pursuant to this part may be brought pursuant to Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 860) of Title 10 of Part 2 of the Code of Civil Procedure.5849.14.
The Department of Finance may authorize a loan from the General Fund to the No Place Like Home Fund for cashflow purposes in an amount not to exceed one million dollars ($1,000,000) subject to the following conditions:(a) The loan is to allow the department to begin program implementation activities, including, but not limited to, drafting program guidelines and regulations.
(b) The loan is short term, and shall be repaid within 30 days after the deposit of bond proceeds into the fund pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) of Section 5849.4.
(c) Interest charges may be waived pursuant to subdivision (e) of Section 16314 of
the Government Code.