In 2019 legislation was enacted establishing pilot programs to provide assistance and accommodations to students experiencing homelessness and to students who were in foster care when they graduated high school.

The State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (State Board) established pilot programs at four college districts, with two on each side of the Cascade Mountains.  The pilot sites are Edmonds College, South Puget Sound Community College, Walla Walla Community College, and Yakima Valley College.  

The Student Achievement Council (Council) chose Eastern Washington University and Western Washington University to establish pilot programs.

 
The participating community and technical colleges (CTCs) and four-year institutions must provide accommodations to homeless students and students who were in foster care at high school graduation.  The accommodations may include:

• access to laundry facilities, storage, locker rooms and showers, and technology;
• reduced-price meals or meal plans;
• access to short-term housing or housing assistance, especially during seasonal breaks; and
• case management services.

Each pilot program site took a different approach to identifying students, such as leveraging existing programs, conducting surveys and questionnaires, and partnering with local community organizations.  

The CTCs and four-year institutions may also establish plans to develop surplus property for affordable housing.

The pilot programs must provide a joint report to the Legislature by December 1, 2023.  The pilot programs expire July 1, 2023.

The pilot program is expanded to include two additional four-year institutions, one on each side of the Cascade Mountains.  The pilot is expanded at CTCs with four additional sites.  The total CTC sites must have no less than four located outside the Puget Sound region.
 
The pilot program's expiration date is extended to July 1, 2024.