HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 SHB 2161

                       As Passed House

                       March 18, 1991

Title:  An act relating to the public housing trust fund.

Brief Description:  Concerning housing for families with members who have disabilities.

Sponsor(s):  By House Committee on Housing (originally sponsored by Representatives Franklin, Ebersole, Winsley, Ogden, Mitchell, Nelson, Leonard, Braddock, Ballard, Orr, Jones, Cole, Rasmussen and Anderson).

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Housing, March 5, 1991, DPS;

Passed House, March 18, 1991, 98-0.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON

HOUSING

Majority Report: That Substitute House Bill No. 2161 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 8 members:  Representatives Nelson, Chair; Franklin, Vice Chair; Mitchell, Ranking Minority Member; Winsley, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Ballard; Leonard; Ogden; and Wineberry.

Staff:  Kenny Pittman (786-7392).

Background:  The Washington Housing Trust Fund Program, established in 1986, provides either loans or grants or both to local governments, nonprofit organizations, and public housing authorities to increase the availability and affordability of housing for low-income households or households with special housing needs.  The Department of Community Development is responsible for the administration of the Housing Trust Fund Program.

The Washington Housing Trust Fund Program provides funding for activities that include, but are not limited to: (a) new construction, rehabilitation, or acquisition of housing for low-income households or homeless shelters; (b) rent or mortgage guarantees and subsidies for new construction or rehabilitated housing units; (c) matching funds for social services directly related to housing for populations with special housing needs; and (d) technical assistance, including pre-construction technical assistance, needed to develop housing for low-income households or households with special housing needs.

Summary of Bill:  The activities that are eligible for assistance through the Washington Housing Trust Fund Program are expanded to include projects that make housing more accessible to families with members who have disabilities.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  This is an important change to the Washington Housing Trust Fund.  This population is usually made up of seniors.  Providing assistance to make the home more assessable will help in keeping the family together.  These type of projects are already eligible under the program.  A recommendation was made to remove the "making the housing more assessable to families with members with disabilities" from the preference rating criteria of the bill - Section 3.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  Robert Jacobson, Senior Lobby (in favor of bill); and Jeff Robinson, Department of Community Development (in favor of substitute bill).