NLIHC, the National Alliance to End Homelessness (The Alliance), and the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) hosted a webinar, “Preventing and Ending Homelessness through Innovative State and Local Legislation,” on October 8. Anna Bailey, senior policy analyst at CBPP, moderated the webinar, which was also joined by Audrea Rease, executive director of Star-C in Atlanta, Georgia, and Leepi Shimkhada, deputy director of the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services Housing for Health division.
Anna opened the webinar by discussing how state and local governments can play a powerful role in preventing and addressing homelessness if they adopt and prioritize the evidence-based approach we know works: affordable housing and voluntary supportive services. Yet too many states have introduced laws that punish people experiencing homelessness, particularly after this summer’s Supreme Court decision in Grants Pass v. Johnson. Anna highlighted a new resource for advocates and policymakers that outlines examples of affirmative state and local policies that can help address homelessness and advance housing equity.
Audrea spoke about Star-C’s Eviction Diversion Program, which helps keep families in the Metro Atlanta region stably housed. She provided an overview of the program, including its funding mechanisms, and emphasized the importance of building partnerships and ensuring funders know who you are.
Leepi shared about the Flexible Housing Subsidy Pool that was launched in 2014 as a public-private partnership led by the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services Housing for Health division and operated by nonprofit partner and supportive housing provider Brilliant Corners. She provided an overview of the Flex Pool, which coordinates available funding sources to house individuals experiencing homelessness.
During the panel discussion, Audrea and Lippi discussed the importance of both long-term rental assistance and short-term eviction prevention assistance, described how a focus on racial equity has informed the need for their programs and how they are being implemented, and shared their thoughts on opportunities to replicate or build on the programs, among other topics.
We have uploaded a recording of the call, as well as the presentation slides.