The Washington State Five-Year Consolidated Plan and annual action plans determine priorities, establish strategic goals and allocate resources for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funds. HUD programs described in these plans are administered by the state departments of Commerce and Health. These programs include state Community Development Block Grant, Emergency Solutions Grants, HOME Investment Partnership, Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS and National Housing Trust Fund. Proposed changes drafted in the Plan include how the program funds are allocated for the 2019 funding year. The state’s 2019 Draft Action Plan is available here and is open to receive input during a 30-day public comment period.

Opportunities to comment include:

30-Day Comment Period

When: March 26 - April 25

How: Send your written comments to the contact listed below by 5 p.m., April 25

Public Hearing

When: Tuesday, April 23

Where: Department of Commerce (directions)

1011 Plum St SE, Olympia 98504

Building 5 – 2nd Floor, Evergreen Room

Call in option:  Dial +1 (646) 749-3122

 Access Code: 966-988-709

Online option: https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/966988709                                  

 Audio PIN: Shown after joining the meeting

This public hearing is accessible to persons with disabilities. To submit comments, request the documents in an alternate format, or arrange accommodations with at least one-week notice, please contact Jennifer Lane at jennifer.lane@commerce.wa.gov or (360) 725-2972, or mail to: CDBG, PO Box 42525, Olympia WA 98504-2525.

Commerce released five-year homeless housing plan guidelines in December 2018. We have since updated the guidance to include a broader connection to the youth and young adult population, re-organized “measures of success” in objectives 1 and 2 and added a new objective around addressing racial disparities. You can find the updated guidance on our web page, here.

We are pleased to announce that the Technical Assistance Collaborative (TAC) was selected to provide consultation to county governments seeking assistance in updating their local homeless housing five-year plans.

The assistance will be "light touch" with a focus on understanding requirements and developing revised plans that meet the statutory requirements. The type and amount of assistance will vary by planning area to meet local needs within the available resources.

Commerce will be working closely with TAC to prioritize needs and provide as much assistance as possible within the available resources. They will reach out to county representatives beginning in May.

Racial disparity is found not only among Washington residents without housing, it is glaringly obvious when it comes to evictions as well. A recent study published by the University of Washington shows that in King County alone, black adults are 5.5 times more likely to be evicted than a white adult. Latinx adults are 2 times as likely to face eviction.

You can read the whole study including reasons for these trends here.

The Balance of State Continuum of Care (BoS CoC) recently voted 22-0 to make the newly formed Racial Equity ad-hoc subcommittee a standing committee that will meet at least four times a year.

The new standing committee will continue discussions on racial equity and ways to address our CoC’s racial disparities in services and outcomes. The discussions also will include how The BoS CoC can make our steering committee more representative of the people we serve.

The Racial Equity subcommittee joins four other standing committees – Families with Children; Veterans; Youth; and Adults without Children. Anyone interested in attending or receiving information about these subcommittees should contact Mark Porter at mark.porter@commerce.wa.gov