Download Strong cities need: - Association of Washington Cities

Homelessness, Housing & Human Services Issue Brief
Support and enhance responses to increase affordable housing, decrease
homelessness, and improve a strained mental and behavioral health system
Urban and rural cities throughout the state are grappling with increasing homeless populations, lack of
affordable housing, and a poorly-funded mental health and substance abuse system. After many years of
decline, 2013 saw an increase in homeless populations for many of Washington’s cities and towns. Cities
are struggling to solve these issues with limited resources. Together with the state, counties, and nonprofit
partners, we support current efforts to develop new strategies that address the issues plaguing our human
service, homeless, and affordable housing systems.
Strong cities need:
Eliminate the sunset and increase the
document recording fee. This fee on real estate
transactions provides the bulk of state funding
for homelessness programs at the state and local levels,
and faces a 60% reduction if allowed to sunset in 2019.
The sunset must be eliminated and the fee increased to
expand investments in homelessness assistance.
Ensure full Operating Budget authority to
allow the state to maximize federal resources
through the Medicaid Waiver which authorizes
funding for permanent supportive housing with
Medicaid dollars.
Provide additional resources for mental health
and chemical dependency services, including
coordinated treatment, increasing treatment
beds, support for step-down services and programs for
transient drug populations.
Make a $200 million investment in the Housing
Trust Fund, the preeminent tool in the state to
fund capital construction of affordable housing
across the state.
Create new local options to generate
revenue for homeless services and for capital
construction of affordable housing, and
improve standing options to make implementation
easier.
The document recording fee pays for
essential homeless and housing programs
After years of decline, there is now
double-digit growth in unsheltered homeless
Homelessness
prevention
Number of unsheltered homeless
29%
11%
14%
15%
21%
Emergency shelter
7,000
6,000
3%
7%
1%
13%
-2%
25%
-15%
1%
-8%
5,000
4,000
3,000
2,000
1,000
0
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
Permanent supportive
housing
Source: WA Department of Commerce report “Homelessness in Washington State” (2015).
Contact:
8,000
Rapid rehousing
10%
Transitional housing
19%
9,000
Permanent housing
Source: WA Department of Commerce “Point In Time Counts”, 2006-2015.
Jane Wall
Carl Schroeder
Logan Bahr
Government Relations Advocate Government Relations Advocate Government Relations Analyst
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Association of Washington Cities • 1076 Franklin St SE, Olympia, WA 98501 • 1.800.562.8981 • awcnet.org
01/14/16