SENATE BILL REPORT
SB 6496
AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON LABOR & COMMERCE, FEBRUARY 2, 1994
Brief Description: Serving clients in housing assistance programs.
SPONSORS: Senators Prentice, McAuliffe and Pelz
SENATE COMMITTEE ON LABOR & COMMERCE
Majority Report: Do pass.
Signed by Senators Moore, Chairman; Prentice, Vice Chairman; Amondson, Deccio, Fraser, McAuliffe, Newhouse, Pelz, Prince, Sellar, Sutherland, Vognild and Wojahn.
Staff: Traci Ratzliff (786‑7452)
Hearing Dates: January 25, 1994; February 2, 1994
BACKGROUND:
The Housing Trust Fund (HTF) was established in 1986 to provide a continuously renewable and dedicated source of funds to meet the housing needs of low-income individuals in this state.
Grants and loans are made from the HTF to local governments, private nonprofit housing assistance organizations and local housing authorities for housing projects that assist low income individuals. Projects seeking funds from the HTF are evaluated by a list of criteria established in statute.
It is becoming increasingly apparent that low-income households in need of housing services often have other significant social service and health service needs that are unmet. As a result, some innovative housing providers have developed programs that provide individuals with not only housing services but also appropriate social and health services.
SUMMARY:
The list of criteria by which projects seeking HTF funds must be evaluated is modified to include: the degree of commitment from programs to assess and provide habilitation and support services when necessary for persons served by the proposed project.
The Senate Labor and Commerce Committee is directed to conduct an interim study of successful models for the delivery of social and health services to individuals and families living on the streets, in shelter, in transitional housing and other publicly subsidized housing units in the state.
Appropriation: none
Revenue: none
Fiscal Note: none requested
TESTIMONY FOR: None
TESTIMONY AGAINST: None
TESTIFIED: No one