(Sacramento, CA) – Assemblymember James C. Ramos (D-Highland) has co-authored a bill to create a Flexible Housing Program (FHP) that will provide regional funding to address homelessness. The FHP will pool funding resources into a single program that regional homelessness agencies can access for a variety of housing options such as rental assistance, operating subsidies for housing developments, re-housing, case management and wrap around services. A single funding source will allow for cities, counties, and Continuums of Care greater flexibility to address the needs of their homeless population.
The bill, AB 816 authored by Assemblymember Sharon Quirk-Silva (D-Orange County), is supported by Housing California and Corporation for Supportive Housing. The measure aims to reinforce recent proposals by Governor Gavin Newsom to support efforts made at the local level to address the homelessness crisis. It will streamline obtaining funds by use of a single application and will mandate uniform reporting requirements and quality standards for all participating agencies throughout the state.
“At the local level, flexible funding demonstrates a regional approach that gives us the ability to provide resources to programs that are showing a positive impact” said Assemblymember Ramos. “It’s important to be responsive to the needs of the community and weigh the input from those who are working on the ground to address the homelessness crisis. Flexible funding gets us to our goals of solving homelessness through regional approaches by letting local governments pursue what’s effective.”
Assemblymember James C. Ramos, joined by Assemblymembers Sharon Quirk-Silva and Todd Gloria, addresses media at the State Capitol on regional funding legislation addressing homelessness.
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Assemblymember James Ramos proudly represents the 40th Assembly district which includes Highland, Loma Linda, Mentone, Rancho Cucamonga, Redlands, and San Bernardino.
For Immediate Release
Wednesday, February 20, 2019
Contact: Brendan Wiles (909) 476-5023