Chapter 2. Natural Disaster Emergency Shelter Program of California Health And Safety Code >> Division 24. >> Part 1.6. >> Chapter 2.

It is the intent of the Legislature to encourage the provision of shelter to persons who are rendered homeless as the result of a natural disaster at as low a cost as possible, to encourage people to move from shelters to a self-supporting environment as soon as possible, and to encourage the provision of shelters at as low a cost and as quickly as possible without compromising the health and safety of shelter occupants.

"Eligible recipient" as used in this chapter means an agency of local government or a nonprofit organization which is able to provide or contract with recognized community organizations to provide, emergency or temporary shelter for the homeless.

The department shall accept applications for funding pursuant to this chapter from local governmental agencies and nonprofit organizations which are eligible recipients and which are, at the time the application is made, prepared to provide emergency shelter to persons who have been rendered homeless as the result of a natural disaster.

(a) Notwithstanding Section 50803.5, in the event of a natural disaster, applications for funding from the Natural Disaster Emergency Shelter Program shall be submitted directly to the department. The department shall assume direct responsibility for the review and evaluation of all applications, and shall be responsible for determining applicant eligibility and the need for the proposed activities.
  (b) The initial notice of funding provided by the department for funds shall be transmitted as soon as practicably possible, but in no event later than 15 days after the statute providing that funding is chaptered.

(a) Funds awarded, as a result of a natural disaster, may be used for any of the following:
  (1) Rent vouchers which may be used within or outside the jurisdiction for which they were issued.
  (2) Temporary expansion of existing shelters.
  (3) Creation of temporary shelters, equipment of buildings and sites for use as emergency shelters; and the installation of food preparation and serving facilities, if the department determines that contracting for the provision of meals to the shelter residents, as defined in division (b), is not reasonable and economically feasible.
  (4) Operation of shelters.
  (5) Administration of emergency shelter programs.
  (b) Any eligible recipient awarded funding as a result of a natural disaster shall be required to use the funds to provide emergency shelter to persons who have been rendered homeless as a result of the natural disaster. Recipients shall practice nondiscrimination in the provision of the shelter and shall use the funds to supplement, not supplant, other federal, state, and local programs providing social services, health care, and housing assistance, and to meet any other qualifications the department finds necessary to carry out the intent of the Natural Disaster Emergency Shelter Program.

The limitations imposed by Section 50805 on the amounts that the department may allocate for administrative or operating expenses and the requirement that not less than 20 percent of the moneys in the Emergency Housing and Assistance Fund shall be allocated to nonurban counties shall not apply to the provisions of this chapter.

The department shall establish the types of expenses which are included within the meaning of operating and administrative expenses for purposes of this chapter. These expenses shall include, at a minimum all of the following:
  (a) Operation expenses relating to supervising and counseling clients in obtaining permanent shelter, job placement, and other sources of support.
  (b) Administrative expenses relating to telephone charges, office space rent, salary and benefits for administrative staff personnel, office supplies, photocopying and printing, and mail and accounting services.

(a) For the purposes of this section, "the act" means Title IV of the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act, as approved on July 22, 1987, cited as Public Law 100-77 and provided for in H.R. 558, and regulations promulgated thereunder by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development.
  (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law or any guideline adopted pursuant to this chapter, an eligible recipient who receives funds pursuant to this chapter, or who has an outstanding obligation to provide shelter services as a result of previously receiving funds under the act may charge rent for transitional housing not in excess of the amount allowed by the act. However, any proceeds collected from residents of a shelter pursuant to this subdivision shall be maintained and accounted for in a separate account and shall be utilized, to the extent necessary, to pay for any security deposit imposed pursuant to Section 1950.5 of the Civil Code on any resident leaving the shelter and renting a permanent dwelling.
  (c) An eligible recipient who receives funds pursuant to this chapter, or who has an outstanding obligation to provide shelter services as a result of previously receiving funds pursuant to this chapter, shall not deny shelter to any person or family because of that person's or family's inability to pay rent or any portion thereof.

For the purpose of providing disaster relief to individuals and families who have been rendered homeless as a result of a natural disaster, the department shall establish a program of security deposit grants and security deposit guarantees to enable local nonprofit agencies and local government to assist homeless individuals and families in the payment of residential rental security deposits.

The director shall develop guidelines for use by local nonprofit agencies and local governments in determining whether a homeless applicant qualifies for a security deposit grant or a security deposit guarantee.

Individuals who are eligible to participate in a deposit guarantee or grant contract shall be limited to persons who have been rendered homeless as a result of the natural disaster. First priority for assistance shall be families with minor children.

The parties to a deposit guarantee or grant contract shall be the local agency or organization, the tenant, and the rental property owner. The terms of the contract shall include all of the following:
  (a) The owner of the rental property shall agree to allow the security deposit to be paid over a specified number of months as an addition to the regular rental payment, rather than as a lump-sum payment.
  (b) Upon execution of the agreement, the local agency or organization shall encumber or reserve in a special fund as a guarantee of the contract, an amount equal to no less than 80 percent of the outstanding balance of the security deposit owed by the tenant to the landlord.
  (c) The tenant shall agree to a payment schedule of a specified number of months in which time the total amount of the required deposit shall be paid to the property owner.
  (d) At any time during the operation of the guarantee, the property owner shall make all claims first against amounts of the security deposit actually paid by the tenant and secondarily against the guarantee. At no time during or after the tenancy may the property owner make claims against the guarantee in excess of that amount agreed to as the guarantee.
  (e) If a deduction from the guarantee fund is required, it may be accomplished only to the extent permitted by the contract and in the manner provided by law, including notice to the local agency or organization. The tenant shall have no direct use of guarantee funds, including funds which may be referred to as "last month's rent." The department shall make available to local agencies and organizations receiving deposit guarantee or grant contracts forms deemed necessary for the contracts and the determination of eligibility. However, local agencies and organizations may develop and use their own forms as long as the forms meet the requirements of the deposit guarantee and grant program.

A local agency or organization receiving a deposit guarantee and grant contract may utilize up to 5 percent of the allocation for costs of administering and operating its security deposit guarantee and grant program.

Individuals who are eligible to receive a security deposit grant shall be limited to persons who have been rendered homeless as a result of a natural disaster and whose income is insufficient to participate in the security deposit guarantee contract.