Report 2020-112 Recommendation Responses

Report 2020-112: Homelessness in California: The State's Uncoordinated Approach to Addressing Homelessness Has Hampered the Effectiveness of Its Efforts (Release Date: February 2021)

Recommendation for Legislative Action

To ensure that the State has access to comprehensive data about homelessness, the Legislature should require all state entities that administer state funding for homelessness to ensure that recipient service providers enter relevant data into their CoC's HMIS, as law allows, as a condition of state funding. The required information should include, at a minimum, the same or similar information that recipients of federal CoC program funding must enter.

Description of Legislative Action

AB 977 (Chapter 397, Statutes of 2021) requires, beginning January 1, 2023, that a grantee or entity operating specified state homelessness programs, as a condition of receiving state funds, to enter the Universal Data Elements and Common Data Elements, as defined in HUD's Homeless Management Information System Data Standards, on the individuals and families it serves into its local HMIS, unless otherwise exempted by state or federal law. These data entry requirements apply to all new state homelessness programs that commence on or after July 1, 2021. The homeless council is required to specify the format and disclosure frequency of the required data elements, and provide technical assistance and guidance to any grantee or entity that operates a program subject to these provisions, if the grantee or entity does not already collect and enter into HMIS the data elements required. Finally, the homeless council is required to provide the

aggregate data summaries specified state agencies or departments within 45 days of receipt.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Legislation Enacted


Description of Legislative Action

AB 977 (Gabriel) would require, on or before January 1, 2023, a grantee or entity operating specified state homelessness programs, as a condition of receiving state funds, to enter the collected data elements on the individuals and families it serves into its local Homeless Management Information System (HMIS), unless otherwise exempted by state or federal law. The bill would apply the data entry requirements to all new state homelessness programs that commence on or after July 1, 2022.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Legislation Introduced


Description of Legislative Action

AB 977 (Gabriel) would require each recipient of federal or state funds from specified homeless programs to provide data elements, including, but not limited to, health information, in a manner consistent with federal law, to the statewide Homeless Management Information System. The bill would require the homeless council to specify the form and substance of the required data elements.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: Legislation Introduced


All Recommendations in 2020-112