We signed! Working for housing solutions in 2018

Housing policy priorities focus on preventing homelessness, creating affordable homes and new options, and making rental housing more accessible

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We experience it with our Supported Living program for adults with developmental disabilities, and every week we help families struggling to maintain it.

Lack of stable, affordable housing is pervasive in King County, and when it intersects with developmental disabilities, race and culture it becomes a huge issue for our community.

At The Arc of King County, we hear about inadequate supply and rising rents, housing instability and homelessness, suspected discrimination because of disability, and lack of options for adults with developmental disabilities.

We work with the Washington Low Income Housing Alliance to tackle some of these issues and sit on its public policy committee. That group recently finalized its 2018 legislation platform and The Arc of King County just signed on.

The 2018 housing alliance platform includes:

• Secure significant funding for the Housing Trust Fund.
• Secure and increase funding for programs that prevent and end homelessness.
• Fund services to help people with disabilities and experiences of long-term homelessness access permanent supportive housing.
• Outlaw discrimination against renters based on the use of rental or income assistance.
• Protect state rental and income assistance for disabled, elderly, and extremely low-income adults.

Within the developmental disabilities community, we are also asking for a set aside of housing trust funds to serve people with developmental disabilities; and we are looking for ways to increase housing options for adults with developmental disabilities. One idea is to create regulations specifically for Adult Family Homes designed for people with developmental disabilities.

Let's talk budget! Senate releases its proposal

• Side by side: Governor and Senate Budgets

The big difference between proposals so far? The governor's budget has more revenue (and Senate funds mental health WAY more)

The state Senate released its operating budget proposal March 21 and - as expected - in areas outside of K-12 education and mental health it made cuts, or didn't include increases that advocates sought.

While the Senate proposal does include a new state property tax, that revenue is used to offset a proposed cap on local taxes for schools. It also offsets loss of extra funding that property-poor districts get. So while the Senate puts a new tax in play, there isn't new revenue for non-K-12 education areas.

In contrast, the governor included a revenue package to support his proposal. It includes a mix of changes, including expanding the state's business and occupation tax to include service businesses, and adding a capital gains tax. You can review it here.

For complete budget proposals:

• Governor's 2017-19 budget proposal
• Senate 2017-19 operating budget proposal
• 2017-19 Interactive (lets you easily review departments and compare allocations) 

Also:

• Developmental disabilities budget detail 
• Special education budget detail 

The Arc of Washington does a great summary in chart form (see link at top) that compares budget choices for areas that are specific to disability services.

Overall, the Senate puts about $2.4 billion more into the Department of Social and Human Services (DSHS), though in part that is because the governor pulls out funding for a proposed Department of Children, Youth and Family Services. The Senate also funds Mental Health at a substantially higher rate. ($1.7 billion more.) The governor put more into Developmental Disabilities, including $45 million to fund a wage increase for community residential providers.

Some highlights:

FIRCREST: The Senate pushes forward on plans to close or consolidate the state residential habilitation centers (RHCs, also simply called "institutions"), and allocates funds to transition Fircrest School residents to community settings, nursing options, or another RHC. CONCERN: The Senate does NOT make the needed investments in community residential care to absorb new clients.