SENATE BILL REPORT

                  SHB 1862

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

      Financial Institutions & Housing, February 22, 1996

Title:  An act relating to home‑matching.

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

Sponsors:  House Committee on Appropriations (originally sponsored by Representatives Reams, K. Schmidt, Horn, Hankins and Blanton).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Financial Institutions & Housing:  3/24/95, 3/28/95 [DPA]; 2/22/96 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS & HOUSING

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators Prentice, Chair; Fraser, Vice Chair; Hale, Roach, Sellar, Smith and Sutherland.

Staff:  Traci Ratzliff (786-7452)

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 Bill:   The home-matching pilot program's status is changed to an ongoing program within the Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For:  This program provides a good opportunity to help increase the availability of affordable housing without costing a lot of money.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Representative Reams, original prime sponsor; Mike Ryherd, Low Income Housing Congress.