MARTINEZ – Assemblymember Anamarie Avila Farias (D-Martinez) introduced AB 722, her first bill, which would create the Reentry Housing and Workforce Development Program to support formerly incarcerated individuals experiencing homelessness.
The bill proposes redirecting funds from state prison closures to provide long-term rental assistance, landlord incentives, and housing-based employment programs. The California Department of Housing and Community Development would administer grants to eligible applicants, with implementation set for July 1, 2026.
According to the bill, formerly incarcerated people are 27 times more likely to experience homelessness. Studies show housing interventions can reduce recidivism by 60%. A similar measure, AB 1816, was introduced in 2021 by Assemblymember Isaac G. Bryan (D-Los Angeles). (Source: AB 722, Feb. 2025).
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