California now requires cities to inspect all local homeless shelters

"As California spends unprecedented billions of dollars to bring homeless people off the street, state lawmakers quietly approved new rules this summer requiring local governments to complete annual health and safety inspections of all publicly funded homeless shelters and report the results. If cities and counties fail to take steps to fix problems identified at local shelters or decline to submit the mandated reports, they could lose funding or face civil lawsuits from the state."

"Homeless people frequently complain about substandard living conditions at shelters, which can be understaffed and sometimes struggle to accommodate residents with mental health and addiction issues. Assemblymember Sharon Quirk-Silva, a Democrat representing Los Angeles and Orange counties, pushed for the inspection requirements after reading news stories and an American Civil Liberties Union investigation that found reports of violence, sexual harassment, maggot infestations, overflowing sewage and other serious problems at shelters in her district."

"Over the past decade, California has expanded its shelter capacity by more than 70% to some 76,000 year-round beds, according to federal data. Still, most cities and counties lack anywhere near enough shelter space for everyone on the street. The state has roughly 187,000 homeless residents, according to the latest estimate, and only about a third have a shelter bed on a given night."

Lawmakers approved rules requiring local governments to conduct annual health and safety inspections of all publicly funded homeless shelters and report results. Jurisdictions that fail to fix problems or submit reports risk losing funding or facing civil lawsuits. Homeless people report substandard shelter conditions, understaffing, and difficulty accommodating residents with mental health and addiction issues. An American Civil Liberties Union investigation documented violence, sexual harassment, maggot infestations, overflowing sewage and other serious problems at shelters. Over the past decade, shelter capacity grew more than 70% to about 76,000 beds, yet the state has roughly 187,000 homeless residents and only about a third have a shelter bed each night. Severe affordable housing shortages leave many shelter residents unable to find permanent homes.

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