The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.

     (1) "Department" means the department of community, trade, and economic development.

     (2) "Director" means the director of the department of community, trade, and economic development.

     (3) "Homeless person" means an individual living outside or in a building not meant for human habitation or which they have no legal right to occupy, in an emergency shelter, or in a temporary housing program which may include a transitional and supportive housing program if habitation time limits exist. This definition includes substance abusers, people with mental illness, and sex offenders who are homeless.

     (4) "Washington homeless census" means an annual statewide census conducted as a collaborative effort by towns, cities, counties, community-based organizations, and state agencies, with the technical support and coordination of the department, to count and collect data on all homeless individuals in Washington.

     (5) "Home security fund account" means the state treasury account receiving the state's portion of income from revenue from the sources established by RCW 36.22.179, RCW 36.22.1791, and all other sources directed to the homeless housing and assistance program.

     (6) "Homeless housing grant program" means the vehicle by which competitive grants are awarded by the department, utilizing moneys from the *homeless housing account, to local governments for programs directly related to housing homeless individuals and families, addressing the root causes of homelessness, preventing homelessness, collecting data on homeless individuals, and other efforts directly related to housing homeless persons.

     (7) "Local government" means a county government in the state of Washington or a city government, if the legislative authority of the city affirmatively elects to accept the responsibility for housing homeless persons within its borders.

     (8) "Housing continuum" means the progression of individuals along a housing-focused continuum with homelessness at one end and homeownership at the other.

     (9) "Local homeless housing task force" means a voluntary local committee created to advise a local government on the creation of a local homeless housing plan and participate in a local homeless housing program. It must include a representative of the county, a representative of the largest city located within the county, at least one homeless or formerly homeless person, such other members as may be required to maintain eligibility for federal funding related to housing programs and services and if feasible, a representative of a private nonprofit organization with experience in low-income housing.

     (10) "Long-term private or public housing" means subsidized and unsubsidized rental or owner-occupied housing in which there is no established time limit for habitation of less than two years.

     (11) "Interagency council on homelessness" means a committee appointed by the governor and consisting of, at least, policy level representatives of the following entities: (a) The department of community, trade, and economic development; (b) the department of corrections; (c) the department of social and health services; (d) the department of veterans affairs; and (e) the department of health.

     (12) "Performance measurement" means the process of comparing specific measures of success against ultimate and interim goals.

     (13) "Community action agency" means a nonprofit private or public organization established under the economic opportunity act of 1964.

     (14) "Housing authority" means any of the public corporations created by chapter 35.82 RCW.

     (15) "Homeless housing program" means the program authorized under this chapter as administered by the department at the state level and by the local government or its designated subcontractor at the local level.

     (16) "Homeless housing plan" means the ten-year plan developed by the county or other local government to address housing for homeless persons.

     (17) "Homeless housing strategic plan" means the ten-year plan developed by the department, in consultation with the interagency council on homelessness and the affordable housing advisory board.

     (18) "Washington homeless client management information system" means a database of information about homeless individuals in the state used to coordinate resources to assist homeless clients to obtain and retain housing and reach greater levels of self-sufficiency or economic independence when appropriate, depending upon their individual situations.

[2007 c 427 § 3; 2006 c 349 § 6; 2005 c 484 § 3.]

NOTES:

     *Reviser's note: The "homeless housing account" was changed to the "home security fund account" by 2007 c 427 § 6.

     Finding -- 2006 c 349: See note following RCW 43.185.130.