The California State Association of Counties (CSAC), Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH), County Welfare Directors Association of California (CWDA) and Housing California request support to provide a one-time appropriation of $25 million General Fund (GF) for fiscal years 2019-20 and 2020-21 to continue and expand the existing Bringing Families Home (BFH) Program, which provides critical housing-related supports to child-welfare involved homeless families and those at risk of homelessness in support of family reunification and family maintenance efforts.  

The Legislature established the BFH Program through the 2016-17 Budget Act, appropriating $10 million GF on a one-time basis to the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) to administer this program for three years. This funding authority for the program will end on June 30, 2019.  Twelve counties currently participate in the program, and these counties are required to provide a one-to-one dollar match for funds received.  The program promotes supportive housing and rapid re-housing of families involved in the child welfare system, with first priority to support family reunification efforts and, as funds allow, to maintain families together when children are at risk of abuse and neglect.

Download the Bringing Families Home budget memo – February 22, 2019