ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Fifty-fifth Legislature First Regular Session
	Senate: APPROP DP 8-1-1-0 | 3^rd Read 27-3-0-0

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SB 1514: appropriation; emergency shelter beds; seniors

Sponsor:  Senator Livingston, LD 22

Committee on Appropriations

Overview

Appropriates $5,000,000 from the state General Fund (GF) in FY 2022 to the Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES) for emergency shelter beds in western Maricopa County to shelter and service homeless seniors who are at least 55 years old.

History

DES is required to establish an office to address homelessness and provide coordination and assistance to public and private nonprofit organizations that prevent homelessness or aid homeless individuals and families throughout Arizona. These activities must include: 1) planning for the prevention of homelessness and the development of services to homeless people; 2) identifying and developing strategies for resolving barriers in state agency service delivery systems; 3) assisting in the coordination of federal, state and local government activities that prevent homelessness or provide assistance to homeless people; 4) assisting in obtaining and increasing funding to prevent or alleviate homelessness; 5) serving as a clearinghouse on funding and services available; 6) developing an annual state comprehensive homeless assistance plan; and 7) submitting an annual report to the Governor and Legislature on the status of homelessness and efforts to prevent and alleviate homelessness (A.R.S. § 41-1954).

According to the 2020 Homelessness in Arizona Annual DES Report, DES's Homeless Coordination Office provided over 12,547 at-risk individuals experiencing homelessness with services and interventions through contracted vendors. DES has contracted homeless interventions in 10 Arizona counties.

Provisions

1. Appropriates $5,000,000 from the state GF in FY 2022 to DES for emergency shelter beds in western Maricopa County to shelter and service homeless seniors who are at least 55 years old. (Sec. 1)

2. Requires DES to distribute the monies to a single Arizona nonprofit provider that:

a) Has experience in sheltering 400 or more homeless individuals nightly in temporary shelter;

b) Has 10 years or more of experience working with the most chronically homeless individuals in Maricopa County;

c) Has experience in providing housing placement services under the housing first model; and

d) Participates in the coordinated entry system pursuant to the requirements of the Maricopa continuum of care. (Sec. 1)

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h)                         SB 1514

i) Initials EB/IR   Page 0 Appropriations

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