Homelessness Policy Watch

National Policy Updates

• 🔥 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act: The Act became Public Law 119-101 on July 11, 2026, with provisions including...

• Essex County council voted to redirect surplus funds from its residential services program, covering a $140,000 shortfall at the homelessness hub...

Portland's largest overnight shelter under Mayor Wilson's plan to end unsheltered homelessness will shut Sept. 18, nearly a year after opening, due to neighbor complaints.

Mayor Bass's 135th Inside Safe operation moved 22 people from Chatsworth streets into interim housing during an extreme heat warning, linking them to...

California’s new budget allocates $116 million over three years—the state’s first dedicated funding—to help schools identify and support K-12 students...

The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act became law July 11, 2026 without presidential signature.

Key provisions for multifamily owners:

• Streamlined...

State Housing Policy Updates

• 🔥 California Affordable Housing Reforms: California enacted AB 179 to create a single application process for...

• Single application process: Replaces separate applications to multiple state programs, eliminating months or years of delays
• Impact fee cuts:...

Encinitas rejected nearly $4 million in state Encampment Resolution Fund grants to avoid adopting California's Housing First model and retain local...

• Expanded capacity: Hope Lofts adds seven studio apartments to the Hope House Transitional Living Program, more than doubling available units
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Advocates highlight deadly gaps in heat protection for New Jersey's unsheltered population.

• Nine of 29 suspected heat-wave deaths involved homeless...

• Austin fully reimbursed nonprofits on $30 million in contracts even as they missed 44% of performance targets, including client numbers and health...

A July 15 ribbon cutting drew over 70 attendees to celebrate Freedom House’s new Kewanee Emergency Shelter at 716 Elliott St.

• Diverse...

New Shelter Openings

• 🔥 Tulare Emergency Shelter: Tulare opened a new 20,000-square-foot emergency shelter with 200 beds (expandable to 400) at...

Vancouver is finishing construction on the Bridge Shelter, set to become Clark County's biggest facility with room for 120 adults by late 2026.

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Seventy downtown Columbia businesses have signed a letter requesting a clear, enforceable urban camping ordinance to address sidewalk obstructions,...

Charlottesville hopes to open a temporary emergency shelter at 2000 Holiday Drive by Sept. 1 to clear the Free Bridge encampment housing about 100...

• Overall homelessness dropped 6% with first-time cases falling 31%.
• Transitional-age youth homelessness rose 22% while older adults increased 7%.
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Modesto is actively seeking host sites, service providers, and operators for new bridge housing projects using $3 million in Measure H funds.

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CVOEO and Champlain Housing Trust are actively seeking a location for a new 100-bed year-round emergency shelter to open by the end of 2026, as...