Homelessness reporting mandate targets 165 mid-sized cities

By Caroline Grinder, legislative advocate (community services)

A high-profile bill that mandates homelessness-related data collection, SB 866 (Blakespear), went from bad to worse last week. Over 60 cities have joined Cal Cities in opposing the measure; Cal Cities is urging all cities to call their assembly members and submit letters of opposition as the bill moves forward.

SB 866 requires cities that do not receive state homelessness funding to collect and provide extensive homelessness data in their housing element. Last week, in light of overwhelming city opposition, the author committed to new amendments to pass the bill off the Senate floor. The changes exempt cities with populations under 50,000 from the bill’s requirements. This means the measure would only apply to 165 cities with populations between 50,000 and 300,000.

Gov. Gavin Newsom’s recently released Homeless Housing Assistance Program (HHAP) trailer bill further exacerbates the inequity at the heart of SB 866. The budget trailer bill details how the next round of HHAP will be implemented. The proposal exempts the largest cities, counties, and Continuums of Care — which receive millions of dollars in HHAP funding and represent more than 70% of California’s unhoused population — from the same extensive data collection mandate required for cities between 50,00 to 300,000 in SB 866. 

The original intent of including homelessness-related data collection as a requirement to receive HHAP funding was to ensure accountability for jurisdictions that receive direct state funding for homelessness. However, SB 866 applies the data collection outlined in the Governor’s trailer bill to smaller cities that do not receive HHAP funding. Between SB 866 and the HHAP trailer bill, only a random assortment of 165 cities with populations between 50,000 and 300,000 would need to collect extensive homelessness data.

Even with strong local efforts, many cities may be unable to collect the required data. For example, the bill requires cities to report on the number of people who become homeless in their city after exiting prisons, jails, and hospitals — systems operated by counties, the state, and private entities. Under SB 866, an inability to collect this type of data could result in a non-compliant housing element.

Requiring extensive reporting without funding for homelessness programs does not help communities address homelessness. Instead, it diverts already limited local resources from reducing homelessness. And since only 165 cities would be required to report this information through the housing element, it raises questions about how the state would even use data from a random selection of cities to make meaningful statewide policy. 

What can my city do?

The Assembly Housing Committee will hear SB 866 sometime before July 2. Cal Cities is urging cities to call their assembly members and urge them to vote no on the measure. Cities should also continue to submit letters of opposition. For more information about how to engage on SB 866, reach out to your regional public affairs manager.