Colorado Senate OKs regional approach to homelessness

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(The Center Square) – The Colorado Senate on Thursday advanced a bill that would alter how state and local governments approach homelessness.

House Bill 26-1202 would direct the Colorado Department of Local Affairs to create a statewide plan for addressing homelessness and create a framework for local governments to take a regional approach in response to the issue.

The legislation would pave the way for local governments to create multi-jurisdictional homelessness response authorities to “reduce and prevent homelessness.”

HB 26-1202 would also allow counties to use revenue from real estate documentary filing fees for affordable housing initiatives. 

“I live in Boulder, and we have a big problem with people living on the street,” said Sen. Judy Amabile, D-Boulder, the bill’s Senate sponsor. “Everybody’s there for a different reason, and so we do need some strategies that are broader than what one local government can accomplish.”

Colorado ranks in the top 10 states in multiple homelessness categories, according to a report by the Common Sense Institute.

HB 26-1202 passed on second reading in the Senate on Tuesday following pushback from Republicans, who attempted to add a handful of amendments to the legislation, but failed. 

Minority Leader Sen. Lisa Frizell, R-Castle Rock, told colleagues that she has “a lot of concerns” about the legislation, noting she’s heard feedback from county officials also concerned about the bill’s documentary fee structure.

“I worry about accountability for these authorities,” she said. “I worry that this policy does not create any particular guardrails with respect to funding.”

“We have systems set up,” Frizell added, noting existing funding and non-governmental organizations working on homelessness. “So if we create some other system, what does that look like to those organizations that are already providing services, already receiving funding?”

The Senate must pass HB 26-1202 one more time before it goes to Gov. Jared Polis' desk to become law.