Washington HB 1263: Updating eligible uses for the essential needs and housing support program.

Bill Text

AN ACT Relating to updating eligible uses for the essential needs 1
and housing support program; and amending RCW 43.185C.220, 2
43.185C.230, 74.04.005, 74.04.805, and 74.62.030.3
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:4
Sec. 1. RCW 43.185C.220 and 2015 c 128 s 5 are each amended to 5
read as follows:6
(1) The department shall distribute funds for the essential needs 7
and housing support program established under this section in a 8
manner consistent with the requirements of this section and the 9
biennial operating budget. The first distribution of funds must be 10
completed by September 1, 2011. Essential needs or housing support is 11
not an entitlement, and is only for ((persons));12
(a) Persons found eligible for such services under RCW 74.04.805; 13
and ((is not considered an entitlement))14
(b) At the discretion of the department, low or extremely low-15
income elderly or disabled adults who are transitioning off benefits 16
under RCW 74.04.805, receiving federal social security benefits or 17
similar federal assistance, and still have an immediate housing need. 18
A referral from the department of social and health services is not 19
required for these individuals.20
H-0973.1
SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 1263
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session
By House Early Learning & Human Services (originally sponsored by
Representatives Cortes, Low, Peterson, Doglio, Street, Leavitt, Ryu,
Davis, Obras, Reed, Goodman, Ormsby, Tharinger, Scott, Nance, Eslick,
Kloba, Timmons, Pollet, Macri, Fey, and Hill; by request of
Department of Commerce)
READ FIRST TIME 02/04/25.
p. 1 SHB 1263

(2) The department shall distribute funds appropriated for the 1
essential needs and housing support program in the form of grants to 2
designated essential needs support and housing support entities 3
within each county. The department shall not distribute any funds 4
until it approves the expenditure plan submitted by the designated 5
essential needs support and housing support entities. The amount of 6
funds to be distributed pursuant to this section shall be designated 7
in the biennial operating budget. For the sole purpose of meeting the 8
initial distribution of funds date, the department may distribute 9
partial funds upon the department's approval of a preliminary 10
expenditure plan. The department shall not distribute the remaining 11
funds until it has approved a final expenditure plan.12
(3)(a) During the 2011-2013 biennium, in awarding housing support 13
that is not funded through the contingency fund in this subsection, 14
the designated housing support entity shall provide housing support 15
to clients who are homeless persons as defined in RCW 43.185C.010. As 16
provided in the biennial operating budget for the 2011-2013 biennium, 17
a contingency fund shall be used solely for those clients who are at 18
substantial risk of losing stable housing or at substantial risk of 19
losing one of the other services defined in RCW 74.62.010(6). For 20
purposes of this chapter, "substantial risk" means the client has 21
provided documentation that he or she will lose his or her housing 22
within the next thirty days or that the services will be discontinued 23
within the next thirty days.24
(b) After July 1, 2013, the designated housing support entity 25
shall give first priority to clients who are homeless persons as 26
defined in RCW 43.185C.010 and second priority to clients who would 27
be at substantial risk of losing stable housing without housing 28
support.29
(4) For each county, the department shall designate an essential 30
needs support entity and a housing support entity that will begin 31
providing these supports to medical care services program recipients 32
on November 1, 2011. Essential needs and housing support entities are 33
not required to provide assistance to every person referred to the 34
local entity or who meets the priority standards in subsection (3) of 35
this section.36
(a) Each designated entity must be a local government or 37
community-based organization, and may administer the funding for 38
essential needs support, housing support, or both. Designated 39
entities have the authority to subcontract with qualified entities. 40
p. 2 SHB 1263

Upon request, and the approval of the department, two or more 1
counties may combine resources to more effectively deliver services.2
(b) The department's designation process must include a review of 3
proficiency in managing housing or human services programs when 4
designating housing support entities.5
(c) Within a county, if the department directly awards separate 6
grants to the designated housing support entity and the designated 7
essential needs support entity, the department shall determine the 8
amount allocated for essential needs support as directed in the 9
biennial operating budget.10
(5)(a) Essential needs and housing support entities must use 11
funds distributed under this section as flexibly as is practicab