Ending Street Homelessness Act.

Senator Blakespear's Ending Street Homelessness Act introduces comprehensive changes to California's approach to addressing unsheltered homelessness through expanded interim housing solutions and enhanced local coordination requirements. The legislation modifies how jurisdictions count interim housing units toward their affordable housing obligations while establishing new funding mechanisms and property tax incentives to accelerate development of temporary shelter options.

The bill creates Round 7 of the Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention (HHAP) program, requiring jurisdictions to submit detailed "housing now action plans" demonstrating how they will expand homeless habitation capacity. These plans must outline strategies for siting and sustaining interim living spaces, with specific annual expansion targets culminating in accommodating 60 percent of the unsheltered population by fiscal year 2030-31. Participating jurisdictions must also adopt encampment resolution ordinances aligned with the state's model guidelines.

To incentivize private sector participation, the legislation extends property tax welfare exemptions to qualifying nonprofit organizations that provide interim housing between 2026 and 2032. The exemption applies to properties offering individual rooms or spaces as temporary residences for homeless individuals, with specific requirements around separate living quarters and access. Local governments will not receive state reimbursement for resulting revenue reductions.

The Department of Housing and Community Development gains oversight responsibilities, including reviewing jurisdictions' action plans, establishing regional housing inventory targets, and reporting annually to the Legislature on progress toward "functional zero" unsheltered homelessness. The bill's provisions sunset in 2032, allowing for assessment of their effectiveness in expanding interim housing availability and reducing street homelessness.