HOUSE BILL REPORT

E2SHB 1564

BYHouse Committee on Ways & Means/Appropriations (originally sponsored by Representatives Wineberry, Nutley, Locke, B. Williams, Ebersole, Schoon, Scott, Grimm, Cantwell, Brekke, Heavey, Leonard, Barnes, Hargrove, Todd, Wang, Anderson, Kremen, Lux, K. Wilson, Unsoeld and Butterfield)

Providing employment and self-sufficiency services for the homeless.

House Committe on Housing

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  (9)

      Signed by Representatives Nutley, Chair; Leonard, Vice Chair; Armstrong, Barnes, Padden, Sanders, Todd, J. Williams and Wineberry.

House Staff:Kenny Pittman (786-7392)

Rereferred House Committee on Ways & Means/Appropriations.

Majority Report:  The second substitute bill be substituted therefor and the second substitute bill do pass.  (20)

      Signed by Representatives Locke, Chair; Belcher, Braddock, Brekke, Bristow, Butterfield, Ebersole, Grant, Grimm, Hine, Holland, McLean, Nealey, Peery, Silver, H. Sommers, Spanel, Sprenkle, Wang and B. Williams.

House Staff:      Jack Daray (786-7136)

AS PASSED HOUSE FEBRUARY 12, 1988

BACKGROUND:

In December, 1987 the Washington State Coalition for the Homeless released information on the extent and characteristics of the homeless in the state of Washington.  The report estimated that (a) the homeless population is in excess of fifty thousand persons; (b) it has increased; and (c) an increasing amount of homelessness is a result of a recent job loss or other economic tragedy.

Presently, there are no models in the state of Washington to address the increasing amount of homelessness that is a result of a recent job loss or other economic tragedy.  Interest is high nation-wide on the provision of services, in a coordinated and comprehensive manner, to all segments of the homeless population.

SUMMARY:

A Governor's Task Force on the Homeless (task force) is hereby created.  The task force will consist of twenty members, or their designees, as follows: a) Two members from the Senate, one from each caucus appointed by the President of the Senate, and two from the House of Representatives, one from each caucus appointed by the Speaker of the House; b) Seven members from state agencies consisting of the Director of Community Development, the Secretary of Social and Health Services, the Director of Employment Security, the Director of Veterans Affairs, the Director of General Administration, the Executive Director of the State Board for Community Colleges, the Director of Financial Management, and the Superintendent of Public Instruction, or their designees; c) Eight representatives, appointed by the Governor from programs that provide employment services, shelter, transitional housing and support services for the homeless.

The task force, working with the Department of Community Development, is directed to conduct a review of federal, state, and local employment and housing services for homeless individuals.  The Department shall: a) submit a written report by December 1, 1988, with findings and recommendations, to the Governor and appropriate legislative committees; b) advise the Governor and legislature on critical issues relating to the homeless; c) estimate the number of homeless in the state; d) recommend actions to address housing problems; e) review characteristics and reasons for homelessness; f) recommend proposals to encourage self-sufficiency and employment; g) recommendations for an ongoing reporting system; and h) recommendations for prioritization of state funds and coordination with other funding sources for the homeless.

The Department of Community Development is directed to provide necessary administrative and clerical assistance to the task force.  The task force shall cease to exists on June 30, 1991.

Appropriation:    Fifty thousand dollars is appropriated, to the Department of Community Development, for the operation of the task force.

Fiscal Note:      Available.

Effective Date:The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    (Housing)  Sylvia McGee, Washington State Coalition for the Homeless; and Robert Willmott, STRAND Helpers.

(Ways & Means/Appropriations) Silvia McGee, Coalition for the Homeless; Susan Dunn, Department of Employment Security; Janet Mandel, Belltown Employment Security Office.

House Committee - Testified Against:      (Housing)  None Presented.

(Ways & Means/Appropriations)  None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    (Housing)  Those who are homeless due to recent job loss or other economic tragedy would benefit from this program. The provision of services in a comprehensive manner would assist this group of the homeless in returning to the work place.  Any reduction of the homeless population would allow use of limited resources to those with severe problems.

(Ways & Means/Appropriations)  Expressed support for concept of providing job training and shelter services.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      (Housing)  None Presented.

(Ways & Means/Appropriations)  None Presented.