HB 1810 - DIGEST

Finds that there are many causes of homelessness, including a shortage of family-wage jobs which undermines housing affordability; a lack of an accessible and affordable health care system available to all who suffer from physical and mental illnesses and chemical and alcohol dependency; and a lack of education and job skills necessary in the economy of the twenty-first century.

Declares that, while the provision of housing and housing-related services to the homeless should be administered at the local level to best address specific community needs, the legislature recognizes the need for systematic statewide data collection on homelessness in Washington, including the number and geographic location of homeless persons. In order to truly end homelessness, there must also be a clear assignment of responsibilities, a clear statement of achievable and quantifiable goals, systematic collection and rigorous evaluation of the data, a search for and implementation through adequate resource allocation of best practices, and systematic measurement of progress toward interim goals and the ultimate goal of ending homelessness in Washington by July 1, 2015.

Creates within the department the homeless housing program to develop and coordinate a statewide strategic plan, and to create resources targeted to providing all homeless individuals and families with decent permanent housing. The department and all Washington county governments share the responsibility for ending homelessness in the state of Washington within ten years. The program will be developed and administered by the department with advice and input from the affordable housing advisory board established in RCW 43.185B.020.

Provides that, six months after the first Washington homeless census, the department shall prepare and present a ten-year homeless housing program strategic plan which will outline statewide goals and performance measures. This plan shall be updated annually and will be annually reviewed and approved by the governor. The department's updated plans will subsequently be released each June. Local governments will base their local ten-year homeless housing strategic plans upon the goals and program recommendations of the state plan.

Requires the department to issue by rule mandatory homeless housing program performance measures that shall apply to both the department for statewide outcomes and local governments for local outcomes. The performance measures may consist of, but are not limited to, the following: (1) By the end of year one a comprehensive census shall be finalized and will report on all homeless individuals in the state of Washington;

(2) By the end of year two, all individuals classified as homeless in the first Washington homeless census will be housed in at least temporary housing, which could include emergency shelters or other indoor facilities;

(3) By the end of year four, twenty-five percent of all individuals classified as homeless in all Washington homeless census counts since the effective date of this act will be housed in long-term private or public housing;

(4) By the end of year six, fifty percent of all individuals classified as homeless in all Washington homeless census counts since the effective date of this act will be housed in long-term private or public housing;

(5) By the end of year eight, seventy-five percent of all individuals classified as homeless in all Washington homeless census counts since the effective date of this act will be housed in long-term private or public housing; and

(6) By the end of year ten, and in each subsequent year, one hundred percent of all individuals classified as homeless in all Washington homeless census counts since the effective date of this act will be housed in long-term private or public housing.

Requires the department to report annually to the governor and the appropriate committees of the legislature an assessment of its performance in addressing the statewide homeless problem, and the performance of each county, and other participating local government entities, in addressing local homeless housing issues.