HB 2163-S2.E - DIGEST

(DIGEST AS ENACTED)

Finds that the fiscal and societal costs of homelessness are high for both the public and private sectors, and that ending homelessness should be a goal for state and local government.

Finds that there are many causes of homelessness, including a shortage of affordable housing; a shortage of family-wage jobs which undermines housing affordability; a lack of an accessible and affordable health care system available to all who suffer from physical and mental illnesses and chemical and alcohol dependency; domestic violence; and a lack of education and job skills necessary to acquire adequate wage jobs in the economy of the twenty-first century.

Finds that the support and commitment of all sectors of the statewide community is critical to the chances of success in ending homelessness in Washington. While the provision of housing and housing-related services to the homeless should be administered at the local level to best address specific community needs, the legislature also recognizes the need for the state to play a primary coordinating, supporting, and monitoring role.

Declares that the systematic collection and rigorous evaluation of homeless data, a search for and implementation through adequate resource allocation of best practices, and the systematic measurement of progress toward interim goals and the ultimate goal of ending homelessness are all necessary components of a statewide effort to end homelessness in Washington by July 1, 2015.

VETO MESSAGE ON HB 2163-S2

May 16, 2005

To the Honorable Speaker and Members,

The House of Representatives of the State of Washington

Ladies and Gentlemen:

I am returning, without my approval as to Section 4, Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill No. 2163 entitled:

"AN ACT Relating to preventing and ending homelessness in the state of Washington."

Section 4 requires the Governor to create a cabinet level interagency council to include at least seven state agencies. The section specifies that membership is to consist of the directors of those agencies, and does not offer latitude for those directors to delegate membership to staff. Unfortunately, the interagency council is just one of many work groups the Legislature has proposed this year requiring cabinet directors to participate in certain activities. Agency directors cannot do everything themselves and must be allowed to appropriately delegate certain tasks to staff.

Although I am vetoing this section, I am directing the directors of each of the seven agencies named in Section 4 of this bill to ensure that a senior staff member from their agency is clearly designated as that agency's lead on homelessness issues and designated to coordinate with the staff at the Department of Community Trade and Economic Development who will be developing the state's homeless housing plan.

For these reasons, I have vetoed sections 4 of Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill No. 2163.

With the exception of sections 4, Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill No. 2163 is approved.

Respectfully submitted,

Christine O. Gregoire

Governor