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SUBJECTS › HEALTH › Homeless Housing - Plans for Ending Chronic Homelessness
Updated 05/07

Homeless Housing - Plans for Ending Chronic Homelessness

Contents

About Plans to End Chronic Homelessness

Legislation passed in the 2005 session establishes a statewide homeless housing program with the goal of ending homelessness in Washington State within the next 10 years.  Chapter 484, Laws of 2005 (ESSHB 2163) ( 68 KB) provides that the Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development (DCTED) and local governments that choose to participate must create and implement a program to reduce homelessness by 50% within 10 years.  The program establishes a $10 additional surcharge on document recording, a state competitive grant program, and a statewide homeless census. (See Final Bill Report for ESSHB 2163) 

Chapter 485, Laws of 2005 (SSB 5767) ( 10 KB) provides that counties that opt to participate in the Homeless Housing Program must create a task force to develop a ten-year plan, addressing short and long term housing solutions for the homeless. As needed, each task force must adopt guidelines for establishing emergency shelters, temporary encampments, and supportive housing.  Counties that already have an existing group focused on homelessness are not required to create a new task force.  Counties may decline to participate in the program by forwarding a resolution to DCTED, in which case the department will contract with a nonprofit entity to develop the county's plan. Local governments that choose to participate may develop their 10-year plans individually, create a joint plan with other local governments, or contract with another entity to develop the plan. (See Final Bill Report for SSB 5767)

A number of Washington jurisdictions have developed  strategic plans to end homelessness that are linked on this page. Also linked are general resources addressing the topic of strategic planning to end homelessness.

Local Government Planning Efforts

Adams County

  • Adams County Emergency Food and Shelter Board designated as the Task Force to develop the county's ten year plan to reduce homelessness, Board of Commissioners Meeting,  8-15-05

Chelan- Douglas County

King County

Pierce County

 

Spokane County

Whatcom County - Bellingham

Yakima County

Information Resources