HB 18-1292

HB 18-1292, which has been signed into law, establishes a grant program called START (State Access to Resources and Training) in Colorado. This program provides funding for public safety agencies, social services, and nonprofits that work with homeless individuals. The grants can be used to offer various forms of assistance like housing vouchers, job training, counseling, transportation, and food aid. Agencies must collaborate with local courts, law enforcement, and other service providers to qualify for the grants. This program aims to help communities develop proactive solutions to address homelessness by providing essential resources and support.

Official Summary

The bill establishes the state access to resources and training grant program for persons experiencing homelessness (START grant program) in the department of local affairs (department). The purpose of the START grant program is to make grant money available to public safety, social services, or nonprofit agencies that have contact with persons experiencing homelessness. A grant recipient shall use grant money only to provide personnel and resources to persons experiencing homelessness. The START grant program is also designed to develop and institute community-centered programs with proactive solutions to provide assistance to persons experiencing homelessness and may include, but need not be limited to, training, work programs, housing vouchers, transportation, counseling or therapy, and food assistance. The department is responsible for establishing procedures, timelines, and criteria for the START grant program. A public safety, social services, or nonprofit agency may apply for a grant, provided it clearly demonstrates a plan for collaboration with municipal or county courts, local law enforcement, local human or social services agencies, and nonprofit agencies that have contact with persons experiencing homelessness. The general assembly is authorized to make an appropriation from the marijuana tax cash fund to fund the START grant program. Each START grant recipient is required to provide a report to the department on activities and outcomes related to the START grant, and the department is required to provide a summary of the outcomes of the START grant program in its annual report to the general assembly. The bill establishes the state access to resources and training grant program for persons experiencing homelessness (START grant program) in the department of local affairs (department). The purpose of the START grant program is to make grant money available to public safety, social services, or nonprofit agencies that have contact with persons experiencing homelessness. A grant recipient shall use grant money only to provide personnel and resources to persons experiencing homelessness. The START grant program is also designed to develop and institute community-centered programs with proactive solutions to provide assistance to persons experiencing homelessness and may include, but need not be limited to, training, work programs, housing vouchers, transportation, counseling or therapy, and food assistance. The department is responsible for establishing procedures, timelines, and criteria for the START grant program. A public safety, social services, or nonprofit agency may apply for a grant, provided it clearly demonstrates a plan for collaboration with municipal or county courts, local law enforcement, local human or social services agencies, and nonprofit agencies that have contact with persons experiencing homelessness. The general assembly is authorized to make an appropriation from the marijuana tax cash fund to fund the START grant program. Each START grant recipient is required to provide a report to the department on activities and outcomes related to the START grant, and the department is required to provide a summary of the outcomes of the START grant program in its annual report to the general assembly. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) Read More

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