Committee advances bill to streamline small homeless‑prevention checkoff program

Representatives Phillips and Barone told the committee HB 11‑92 streamlines administration of the state Homeless Prevention Activities Program, a small program funded by a state income‑tax checkoff. The bill eliminates a statutory requirement for a standalone advisory committee and allows DOLA to integrate those donor funds into its larger eviction‑prevention structures.

Nellie Stagg, associate office director for DOLA’s Office of Homeless Initiatives, said HPAP currently supports 12 grantees with awards ranging from $20,000–$35,000 and serves fewer than 100 households annually. She said maintaining a separate advisory committee and application process for a small, $200,000–$300,000 pot is administratively inefficient and that integrating the funds would improve timeliness and reduce duplication.

Committee members asked about where the money goes today and how consolidation affects grantees; DOLA described the current grantee footprint and said consolidation would speed delivery and reduce administrative burdens. Representative Phillips moved the bill to the Committee of the Whole with a favorable recommendation; the motion carried 11–2.