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.

Legislative report: Housing bills

Topics in this legislative update on housing policy:

• Access to homeless housing and assistance; anti-discrimination against source of income (Section 8, etc); local options to preserve affordable housing; nonprofit, low income home ownership development; fees for residential services investigation costs; number of adult homes permitted in residential areas

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We encourage you to comment on these bills! Click on the bill number, then click on "Comment on this bill" to the right. Comments will be sent to your chosen representatives.
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OUR HOUSING POSITIONS

At The Arc of King County, we work on housing issues as part of the Washington Low Income Housing Alliance as well as the Community Advocacy Coalition for developmental disabilities. This legislative session, our focus is on the following:

• Secure funds for homeless assistance and housing stability
• Invest $200 million in the Housing Trust Fund to Build and preserve 5,700 safe, healthy, and affordable homes. 
• Prohibit landlord discrimination based on source of income, such as SSI income or Section 8 vouchers 
• Guard against zoning, rules and standards that discriminate against people with disabilities
• Support efforts that help communities preserve and increase affordable housing options
• Expand housing for people with disabilities experiencing long term homelessness by ensuring full operating budget authority for our state’s Medicaid transformation to fund services in permanent supportive housing

 

Bills we are tracking

SHB 1570
Concerning access to homeless housing and assistance
Sponsors: Macri, Robinson, McBride, Kagi, Sawyer, Tharinger, Doglio, Pollet, Ortiz-Self, Chapman, Cody, Jinkins, Bergquist, Hudgins, Peterson, Senn, Stonier, Riccelli, Frame, Gregerson, Dolan, Tarleton, Ormsby, Ryu, Fey, Fitzgibbon, Goodman, Slatter, Pettigrew, Kloba, Orwall, Appleton, Clibborn, Farrell, Stanford

Makes permanent an expiring $40 Local Housing and Assistance fee, which supports homeless assistance

Allows counties and/or cities to charge and retain an additional surcharge, up to $50.

Calls for the Department of Commerce and the Washington State Institute for Public Policy to conduct a homeless study every 10 years to better understand causes and characteristics of homelessness and inform policy making.

Note: If coupled with new Housing Trust Fund investments, the Washington Housing Opportunities Act would ensure housing for more than 6,515 more people each 2-year budget cycle.

• Must pass House Appropriations before a floor vote
• The Low Income Housing Alliance supports
• The Community Advocacy Coalition gives it a thumbs up.