House panel advances grant program to expand shelter capacity for people experiencing homelessness
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Summary
A House committee on second reading recommended House Bill 310, which would establish a two-year, one-time matched-grant program to increase community shelter capacity and support services for people experiencing homelessness; the measure passed second reading 63-37 and will be re‑referred to Appropriations.
Representative M. Nikolakakis, the bill sponsor, asked the Committee of the Whole to recommend House Bill 310 do pass. The bill would establish a two-year, one-time grant program to increase community shelter capacity and require a 1-to-1 local match and geographic-distribution criteria for awards.
The bill’s sponsor said the grants would help shelters that face a “massive spike in demand” tied to housing affordability and behavioral-health challenges and noted that some faith-based providers decline federal aid because of federal conditions. “This bill requires skin in the game. It's a 1 to 1 match … and ensures a geographic diverse distribution of funds,” the sponsor said.
Supporters described the program as a short-term bridge to buy time while longer-term housing and behavioral-health policies are developed. Representative G. Nikolakakis said the program could be scaled when it reaches appropriations and stressed the bill is one-time money that sunsets after two years. Representative Tess said the $250,000 cap per county and the department directives to ensure geographic diversity would help smaller rural providers and domestic violence programs access funds.
Opponents questioned whether expanding shelter beds alone reduces long-term homelessness; Representative Mallette urged returning funds to taxpayers, and Representative Clacken warned of service-concentration effects when brick-and-mortar facilities open. Representative Havre-area speakers said many people seeking services are local residents rather than out-of-state itinerants.
On the vote to recommend House Bill 310 do pass on second reading, the clerk recorded 63 yes and 37 no; Representative Fielder was recorded as voting no. The committee report was adopted and, later in the day, the House voted to re‑refer House Bill 310 to the Appropriations Committee for further consideration of funding levels and priorities.
The measure now moves to Appropriations, where legislators said they will weigh the program’s fiscal note, the 1-to-1 match requirement, and distribution criteria against other budget priorities.