Section 12085 Of Article 8. Department Of Community Services And Development From California Government Code >> Division 3. >> Title 2. >> Part 2. >> Chapter 1. >> Article 8.
12085
. (a) (1) Although the economic well-being of the state has
progressed to a level surpassing that of any other achieved in world
history, and although these benefits are widely shared throughout the
state, poverty continues to be the lot of a substantial number of
citizens of the state. California can achieve its full economic and
social potential as a state only if every individual has the
opportunity to contribute the full extent of his or her capabilities
and to participate in the workings of society. The Legislature hereby
declares that it is the policy of the state to provide a range of
services and activities having a measurable and potentially major
impact on causes of poverty in our communities, particularly those
areas of communities where poverty is an acute problem. Specifically,
it is the policy of the state to assist low-income participants,
including homeless individuals and families, migrants, and the
elderly poor, to do all of the following:
(A) Secure and retain meaningful employment.
(B) Attain an adequate education.
(C) Make better use of available income.
(D) Obtain and maintain adequate housing and a suitable living
environment.
(2) It is further the policy of the state to do all of the
following in assisting participants:
(A) Provide emergency assistance to meet immediate and urgent
individual and family needs, including the need for health services,
nutritious food, housing, and employment-related assistance.
(B) Coordinate and establish linkages between governmental and
other social services programs to ensure the effective delivery of
those services to low-income individuals.
(C) Encourage the use of entities in the private sector of the
community in efforts to ameliorate poverty.
(3) The Legislature finds that it is the purpose of this article
to strengthen, supplement, and coordinate efforts to further these
policies.
(b) In order to employ the resources of both the public and
private sectors of the state, and to effectuate the purposes of this
article, there is within the California Health and Human Services
Agency, a Department of Community Services and Development.