HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 1862

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                Trade & Economic Development

Title:  An act relating to home‑matching.

Brief Description:  Promoting the development of model home‑matching programs.

Sponsors:  Representatives Reams, K. Schmidt, Horn, Hankins and Blanton.

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Trade & Economic Development:  2/22/95, 2/23/95 [DPA].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRADE & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.  Signed by 13 members:  Representatives Van Luven, Chairman; Radcliff, Vice Chairman; D. Schmidt, Vice Chairman; Sheldon, Ranking Minority Member; Veloria, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Backlund; Ballasiotes; Hatfield; Hickel; Mason; Sherstad; Skinner and Valle.

Staff:  Kenny Pittman (786-7392).

Background:  In 1993, the home-matching pilot program was created in the Department of Community Development.  The department could provide technical assistance and grants to five eligible organizations selected to implement home-matching programs at the local level.

The home-matching pilot program was designed to offer solutions to housing problems for homeowners and tenants who need to cut expenses yet gain security.  The program would encourage home sharing arrangements that enable people to continue living in their homes, and link people offering living space with people seeking housing.  The local home-matching programs were required to establish criteria for participation in the program by both the homeowner and the person wanting housing.

The state's home-matching program legislation did not provide direct funding for local home-matching programs.  The local programs were required to submit funding requests through a competitive process as part of the Housing Assistance Program.

Summary of Amended Bill:   The home-matching pilot program's status is changed to an ongoing program within the Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development.  Direct funding for the home-matching program is provided through the Washington housing trust fund.  The funds are to be used as grants to eligible organizations that will develop local home-matching programs.

Amended Bill Compared to Original Bill:   Funds for the home-matching program will not result in a reduction of funds, through the Washington housing trust fund, for activities in rural areas.

Appropriation:  $200,000 from the Washington housing trust fund.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For:   Matching people looking for housing with people that have excess housing is a cost-effective approach to meet housing needs.  Providing housing using this approach has been successful in matching senior citizens with younger families.  Both parties benefit from relationship.  The local organization assumes responsibility for the program.  The concern is that the home-matching program would create a set-aside in the housing trust fund.  Making home-matching a direct funded activity would impact other programs funded by the housing trust fund.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Representative Reams (Pro); Majken Ryherd Keira, Washington Low-Income Housing Congress (Pro, on concept); and Enid Buchanan, Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development (Pro, with concerns).