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AB 2146

Supportive housing: prospective tenants: barriers to access.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Jessica Caloza and 5 co-sponsors

AB 2146 creates a DASH designation to speed access to supportive housing by allowing self-certification of homelessness, streamlined eligibility, and alternative referrals after de

From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on HOUSING.
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Bill Summary · AB 2146

Summary of AB 2146 (2025-2026) – California

Purpose and Intent

AB 2146 proposes to streamline and expedite access to supportive housing for prospective tenants by creating the California Direct Access to Supportive Housing (DASH) designation. The DASH framework aims to reduce barriers to entry for individuals experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness by adopting accelerated, standardized documentation and referral processes, while expanding flexible referral options to avoid unit vacancy delays.

Key Provisions and Changes

  • DASH Designation (Health and Safety Code, Chapter 20, new sections 50899.8.1–50899.8.3):

    • Establishes DASH to facilitate quick, accountable access to supportive housing units.
    • Criteria for designation:
    • Unit is not federally subsidized under HUD standards.
    • Unit is restricted to housing-insecure populations (at risk of homelessness, homeless, or chronically homeless).
    • Unit uses referrals from a coordinated entry system (CES) or equivalent for the first 180 days per vacancy.
    • By Jan 1, 2028, a comprehensive review of compliance documentation for DASH units, focusing on removing access barriers and aligning with other program standards; a legislatively mandated report due by April 1, 2028, with implementation of revised requirements by July 1, 2028.
    • Expedited eligibility documentation (effective July 1, 2027):
    • No third-party documentation required to verify homelessness status.
    • Self-certification of homelessness accepted.
    • No requirement for housing history or landlord references for prospective tenants.
    • Self-certification of homelessness can be grounds for eviction if falsified; sponsors are held harmless for regulatory compliance.

  • DASH Designation Notifications (appendix provisions in Health & Safety Code sections 50199.26, 50675.15.5, and 5849.8.5):

    • Sponsors (housing credit applicants, development sponsors, etc.) must notify relevant agencies (Department of Housing and Community Development and/or the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee) when a DASH unit is designated or status changes.
    • Mechanisms for agency review of designation status, with timelines for agency response (60 days) and opportunity to provide additional evidence (30 days).

  • Alternative Referrals and Referral Waiting Periods (Sections 50199.27, 50675.15.7, and subordinate Welfare & Institutions Code provisions):

    • If more than 180 days have elapsed since notifying the CES of an available unit, sponsors may accept alternative referrals from outside the CES, subject to conditions:
    • No pending CES referrals for the unit.
    • Fulfillment of alternative referrals on a first-come, first-served basis.
    • Alternative-referral tenants must meet unit eligibility; sponsors must maintain documentation of outreach and decisions.
    • Upon vacancy, units revert to require CES referrals; successive use of alternative referrals allowed.
    • CES administrators may authorize earlier use of alternative referrals to prevent unit vacancies.

  • Agency Structure and Jurisdiction:

    • Transfers and collaborations among state entities (California Housing and Homelessness Agency and California Tax Credit Allocation Committee) as part of implementing the DASH program.

Who Is Affected

  • Housing sponsors, owners, developers, and managers of units funded under low-income housing tax credit programs, Multifamily Housing Program, or Homekey-like funding.
  • Prospective tenants referred to DASH units, including those experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness.
  • State agencies: Department of Housing and Community Development, California Tax Credit Allocation Committee, and related welfare and homelessness service entities.
  • Local agencies may be affected by calibration of compliance documentation and streamlined processes.

Procedural and Timeline Notes

  • July 1, 2027: Start of expanded use of expedited eligibility standards for DASH referrals; 180-day referral window context begins.
  • January 1, 2028: Deadline for agency-wide comprehensive review of DASH compliance documentation.
  • April 1, 2028: Legislature to receive a report on the DASH review.
  • July 1, 2028: Implementation of revised compliance requirements based on the DASH review.
  • Ongoing: Annual or periodic notifications and reviews by the implementing agencies; potential updates to regulations by June 30, 2027 (regulatory adoption deadlines).

Administrative and Fiscal Considerations

  • The bill does not create an appropriation; it notes that no local reimbursement is required for mandated costs (per Article XIII, B, Sec. 8).
  • Creates new state crimes related to falsification of self-certification status, with sponsor protections in place.

Bottom Line

AB 2146 seeks to accelerate access to supportive housing for individuals facing homelessness by designating DASH units, enabling self-certification of homelessness, relaxing documentation requirements, and permitting limited use of alternative referrals after delays. It creates a formal review and reporting process to refine these standards over time, balancing efficiency with protections against misrepresentation.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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