Brief Description: Creating programs to end homelessness.

Sponsors: Representatives Miloscia, Pettigrew, Morrell, Ormsby, Green, Darneille, Haigh, Moeller, Wallace, Santos and Simpson.

Hearing Date: 1/18/07

Staff: Robyn Dupuis (786-7166).

Background:

Homeless Housing Assistance Act Goal
The Legislature enacted the Homeless Housing and Assistance Act in 2005, the goal of which is to reduce homelessness by 50 percent statewide and in each county by July 1, 2015. This goal is to be achieved through the identification of solutions to the causes of homelessness, the creation of plans to address the solutions identified, and the implementation of those solutions through programs some of which could be funded with the assistance of a $10 surcharge on recording documents.

Thirty seven county governments participate in the Homeless Housing program.

Homeless Census
The Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development (DCTED) coordinates an annual homeless census to count all homeless individuals in the state. Data collected from the census is used to develop and amend the DCTED's and local governments' Homeless Housing Plans and gauge program success toward interim and ultimate goals.


Homeless Housing and Assistance Program Funding
The Homeless Housing and Assistance Program is funded by a $10 surcharge for certain documents recorded by the county auditor. Of that $10 surcharge:
*   The auditor retains 2 percent.
*   Sixty percent of the remaining funds stay within the participating county of origin. Any city    which assumes responsibility for reducing homelessness within its boundaries receives a       percentage of the surcharge equal to the percentage of the city's local portion of the real       estate excise tax.
*   The remaining monies are remitted to the DCTED for program administration and for the    Homeless Grant Program.

Approximately $16 million in new funding for homelessness is produced each biennium by the document recording fee.

Summary of Bill:

The name of the Homeless Housing and Assistance Act is changed to the Ending Homelessness Act. The name of the program, plans, taskforces and accounts are changed respectively.

Program Funding
Two additional document recording fee surcharges are added to fund the Ending Homelessness Program:

1. A $10 document recording fee surcharge of which counties receive 90% and the DCTED receives 10% of the revenue. Counties may use their share of the monies for programs that directly accomplish the goals of the county's local Ending Homelessness plan. The DCTED may use it's portion of the proceeds for the Ending Homelessness Grant program, the statewide Ending Homelessness Strategic plan, the Washington Homeless Client Management Information System, measuring performance, providing technical assistance to local governments and other program administration costs.

2. A $10 local option document recording fee surcharge to be approved by the legislative authority of the county. 100% of the revenue remains with the county for the purpose of the county's Ending Homelessness program.

Additional Program, Reporting and Evaluation Requirements

The DCTED must:
*   Update the State Ending Homelessness plan annually.
*   Create program performance measures in collaboration with a taskforce.
*   Evaluate local plans and local performance annually.
*   Integrate the Homeless Families with Children plan into the state Ending Homelessness plan.
*   Evaluate all state agency housing programs and report to the legislature.
*   Apply to the Washington Quality Award Program once every three years.
   
Local Government's must:
*   Update the local Ending Homelessness plan annually.
*   Include and report upon performance measures in local Ending Homelessness plans.
*   Conduct local census twice a year.
*   Implement a quality management program and apply to the Washington State Quality Award    program if the local government receives $500,000 or more in state funding and surcharge    revenue.
   
Interagency Council on Homelessness must:
*   Respond to the legislative recommendations in the state and local plans.
*   Address the DCTED's evaluation of other state agency housing programs and performance.
*   Add a representative from the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Other Bill Components
*   The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee will audit the Ending Homelessness    program every 4 years beginning in 2009.
*   Five Housing Authorities and Five Community Action Agencies must adopt quality       management programs and apply to the Washington State Quality Award program by 2009. *   An appropriation of $50,000 is appropriated for Housing Authorities and $50,000 for       Community Action Agencies respectively to accomplish this goal.
*   Department of Employment Security shall develop a self-sufficiency standard for the state    and for each county.       

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.