California legal term
Homeless shelter in California Criminal Law
Current through 2026 California legislative session
In California criminal law, “Homeless shelter” is a term defined by statute rather than by its everyday meaning. Its statutory definition — quoted verbatim below — controls how the term is applied throughout the California criminal code.
What does “Homeless shelter” mean in California criminal law?
“Homeless shelter” includes, but is not limited to, emergency shelter housing, as well as transitional housing, but does not include domestic violence shelters. “Emergency shelter housing” is housing with minimal support services for homeless persons in which residency is limited to six months or less and is not related to the person’s ability to pay. “Transitional housing” means housing with supportive services, including self-sufficiency development services, which is exclusively designed and targeted to help recently homeless persons find permanent housing as soon as reasonably possible, li (Cal. Health & Safety Code § 11380.7)
Statutes defining or using this term
Related terms in the same statutes
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.