BILL REQ. #:  H-4384.1 

Read first time 01/15/08.   Referred to Committee on Housing.

     AN ACT Relating to the homeless families services program; amending RCW 43.330.167; adding a new section to chapter 43.330 RCW; making an appropriation; and declaring an emergency.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1   RCW 43.330.167 and 2004 c 276 s 718 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1)(a) There is created the homeless families services program and in the custody of the state treasurer an account to be known as the homeless families services fund. Revenues to the fund consist of ((a one-time)) appropriations by the legislature, private contributions, and all other sources deposited in the fund.
     (b) Expenditures from the fund may only be used for the purposes of the program established in this section, including administrative expenses. Only the director of the department of community, trade, and economic development, or the director's designee, may authorize expenditures.
     (c) Expenditures from the fund are exempt from appropriations and the allotment provisions of chapter 43.88 RCW. However, money used for program administration by the department is subject to the allotment and budgetary controls of chapter 43.88 RCW, and an appropriation is required for these expenditures.
     (2) The department may expend moneys from the fund to provide state matching funds for housing-based supportive services for homeless families over a period of at least ((ten)) five years.
     (3) Activities eligible for funding through the fund include, but are not limited to, the following:
     (a) Case management;
     (b) Counseling;
     (c) Referrals to employment support and job training services and direct employment support and job training services;
     (d) Domestic violence services and programs;
     (e) Mental health treatment, services, and programs;
     (f) Substance abuse treatment, services, and programs;
     (g) Parenting skills education and training;
     (h) Transportation assistance;
     (i) Child care; and
     (j) Other supportive services identified by the department to be an important link for housing stability.
     (4) Organizations that may receive funds from the fund include local housing authorities, nonprofit community or neighborhood-based organizations, public development authorities, federally recognized Indian tribes in the state, and regional or statewide nonprofit housing assistance organizations. Priority for funding must be given to organizations that demonstrate quality management practices and appropriate organizational capacity.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 43.330 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) The department must establish goals with yearly targets for the homeless families services program. Goals must include preventing homelessness and moving families to self-sufficiency.
     (2) The department must establish performance measures to evaluate and improve the overall effectiveness of the program, which at a minimum must measure:
     (a) Increases in housing stability for assisted homeless families;
     (b) Increases in economic self-sufficiency of assisted homeless families; and
     (c) The efficiency and effectiveness of the program in using best practices to meet stated goals and objectives.
     (3) The department shall report on program performance, using the goals and performance measures established under this section, annually by January 15th to the appropriate committees of the legislature. The report must include information from organizations participating in the program consisting of, at a minimum:
     (a) Program activities, outcomes, and performance; and
     (b) Recommendations for changes to state policy to assist the state in reaching its goal of ending homelessness.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   The sum of six million dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2008, from the general fund to the homeless families services fund for the purposes of this act.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately.