The department shall allocate grant moneys from the *homeless housing account to finance in whole or in part programs and projects in approved local homeless housing plans to assist homeless individuals and families gain access to adequate housing, prevent at-risk individuals from becoming homeless, address the root causes of homelessness, track and report on homeless-related data, and facilitate the movement of homeless or formerly homeless individuals along the housing continuum toward more stable and independent housing. The department may issue criteria or guidelines to guide local governments in the application process.

*Reviser’s note: The “homeless housing account” was changed to the “home security fund account” by 2007 c 427 § 6.