The 60-day, 2026 legislative session wrapped up earlier this month. Legislators passed several bills, including an operating budget. We worked with agency partners along the way, to educate legislators on our funding and policy priorities, including the risk of funding gaps that could result from recent policy changes from the U.S. Department Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Despite the fiscal challenges facing our state, Governor Ferguson signed legislation that will help maintain homeless services throughout the region. This includes several budgetary and policy changes that are aligned with KCRHA’s legislative priorities and have the following impact:
Maintain Homelessness Services Across Washington State
Because funding is limited, cuts to housing and homelessness programs were a real possibility in Olympia this session, so advocates focused on ways to maintain current investments. Though our region’s full funding need was not met, the operating budget includes $15 million to help preserve permanent supportive housing statewide. These funds are slated to assist providers who may face programmatic cuts due to federal policy changes to the Continuum of Care (CoC) program and will help ensure housing stability for formerly unhoused individuals.
Increase the flexibility of revenue tools that fund new and existing affordable housing units’ operations and maintenance costs
More revenue flexibility allows local governments to implement community-driven solutions, primarily to ensure the operating costs of projects are covered. To this end, Governor Ferguson signed Senate Bill 6027 and House Bill 2442, which provide cities and counties with additional flexibility to use tax revenue for the shelter, housing and supportive services that matter most locally. These laws will help ensure our region has the right tools, for the biggest possible impact.
As the backbone agency for King County’s homelessness response system, KCRHA is committed to building on these wins through collaboration with partners at all levels of government to ensure an effective, unified, and regional response to homelessness.
