Housing: Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention program: youth-specific processes and coordinated entry systems.

Assembly Member Ramos's proposal to modify California's homeless services system would require Continuums of Care to implement specialized processes for youth experiencing homelessness, responding to data showing that California accounts for 29% of unaccompanied homeless youth nationwide.

The legislation establishes four primary requirements for Continuums of Care, beginning in fiscal year 2026-27. These organizations must create youth-specific coordinated entry processes that detail how young people access resources and support services. They must implement assessment tools designed for youth, establish advisory bodies comprising young people with lived experience of homelessness, and develop regional housing inventories tailored to youth needs. Continuums of Care that already maintain youth-specific systems must document their assessment methods and prioritization policies.

This measure builds upon existing homeless services infrastructure, including the Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention program, which currently mandates that jurisdictions dedicate at least 10% of funds to youth services. The bill's findings note that traditional vulnerability assessments, which often prioritize length of time spent homeless, can place youth at a disadvantage compared to chronically homeless adults. Under the proposed changes, youth would be assessed against peers rather than the general homeless population.

The Department of Housing and Community Development would oversee implementation through an annual certification process, contingent upon appropriation of funds. The requirements would affect California's 44 Continuums of Care, which coordinate homeless services across the state's counties and metropolitan areas.