Today is day one of the 60-day 2026 state legislative session. As the backbone organization for King County’s regional response to homelessness, we’ve outlined our priorities below. Because homelessness is rising rapidly while funding cuts and slow revenue growth threaten permanent housing and shelter programs, it’s critical for all levels of government to work together to preserve existing community investments in shelter and housing.
1. Maintain Homelessness Services Across Washington State.
- Provide inflationary adjustments to the Encampment Resolution Program (ERP) in the 2026 Supplemental Budget. KCRHA requires $16.4M in operating funds for SFY 2027. Without adjustments, the agency will experience a $500,039 shortfall.
- Provide $6.5M for local housing programs in King County funded by Document Recording Fees to maintain existing service levels and address inflation.
- Support efforts to provide contingency funding for changes in Continuum of Care program funding levels from federal policy changes and the Emergency Housing Voucher (EHV) program, which is expected to run out of funding in the fall of 2026.
93% of participants in our Permanent Housing programs maintain long-term stability.
Source: Housing Management Information System
2. Support evidence-based models that prevent and reduce homelessness.
- Invest in Permanent Supportive Housing and community-based health care, behavioral health teams, and street outreach programs.
- Fund enhanced shelter models that are a proven pathway to permanent housing.
- Invest in emergency rent assistance to stabilize households during unforeseen emergencies and prevent evictions.
Permanent Supportive Housing combines permanent housing with supportive services, such as: case management, childcare, education services, employment services, legal services, and mental health services.
3. Increase and sustain resources that support essential services.
- Increase the flexibility of revenue tools that fund new and existing affordable housing units’ operations and maintenance costs.
- Lift the 1% annual cap on regular property tax revenue.
For more information, contact: Remy Golla, Legislative Affairs Analyst at Remy.golla@kcrha.org
Download the PDF version of our priorities here.
