On March 12, Director of Intergovernmental Relations Dominic Butchko submitted written testimony to the Economic Matters Committee in support of HB 1501 – Department of Housing and Community Development – Homeless Shelter Certification with amendments.
This bill grants the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) broad authority to regulate homeless shelters.
Counties recognize the importance of clear standards and oversight for facilities serving vulnerable residents and generally support the bill’s intent. However, the bill’s current definition of “homeless shelter” includes disaster and emergency mass care shelters typically operated by county emergency management agencies during urgent events.
Subjecting these temporary shelters to a state certification process could delay rapid response efforts during disasters. To preserve established emergency response practices while advancing the bill’s broader goals, counties are requesting targeted amendments to exempt emergency disaster shelters from the proposed licensing requirements.
Requiring DHCD certification for these emergency shelters would mark a
significant departure from established emergency response practices and could delay the deployment of rapid, life-saving services. Counties therefore request that both “Disaster or Hazard Emergency Shelter” and “Emergency Mass Care Shelter” be excluded from DHCD’s licensing regime to avoid unnecessary delays in emergency response.
