The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is the Federal agency responsible for national policy and programs that address America's housing needs, that improve and develop the Nation's communities, and enforce fair housing laws. Section 8 housing is known as project based housing in multifamily complexes that are privately owned and subsidized by the federal government. The Section 811 program allows persons with disabilities to live as independently as possible in the community by subsidizing rental housing opportunities which provide access to appropriate supportive services. Local municipal Housing Authorities receive and process federal funds to provide for low income housing. State funds are also processed through county agencies.
In California, AB 1618 created the No Place Like Home Initiative which will divert a portion of Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) funds – established through Proposition 63 in 2004 – to provide $2 billion in bond funds for affordable housing to the target population of homeless individuals or individuals who are at risk of homelessness and who are living with a serious mental illness. Subsequently, AB 1628 made some technical changes to AB 1618 and also provides the details on the bond securitization of MHSA and the issuance of the bonds.
