HOUSE BILL REPORT

                      HB 2161

                     As Reported By House Committee on:

                                  Housing

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

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

Sponsor(s):  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.

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 Substitute 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.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The substitute bill removes preference rating criteria for projects that make housing more assessable from the Washington Housing Trust Fund Program to families with members who have disabilities.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date of Substitute Bill:  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).