Drafter

Clerk 08/15/2024

Title

AN ORDINANCE authorizing the executive to execute the amended and restated interlocal agreement for the establishment of the King County Regional Homelessness Authority, a joint or cooperative undertaking with the city of Seattle and with such public agencies as are eligible under the terms of the interlocal agreement and applicable law.

Body                     

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

1.  The federal and state government, King County, and jurisdictions across the county, including the city of Seattle, currently fund programs to provide services to individuals and families experiencing homelessness, but homelessness and housing insecurity remain chronic and serious problems.

2.  King County and the city of Seattle signed a memorandum of understanding on May 3, 2018, proposing a partnership to more effectively and consistently coordinate their provision of such services.

3.  Cities and counties are authorized to enter into interlocal cooperation agreements in accordance with chapter 39.34 RCW, the Interlocal Cooperation Act, to jointly provide services.

4.  King County and the city of Seattle determined that a joint and cooperative undertaking to coordinate services within an equitable operational framework centering on people with lived experience of homelessness will enable and facilitate joint planning, program funding and establishing of standards for and accountability of programs, thereby improving the delivery of services and enhancing outcomes for those receiving such services.

5.  People of color have been, and continue to be, overrepresented among those who struggle with homelessness and housing instability and, in order to successfully address homelessness, the city of Seattle and King County seek to address the racial disparities among those experiencing it.

6.  On December 17, 2019, King County enacted Ordinance 19039 authorizing the executive to execute an interlocal agreement for the establishment of the King County Regional Homelessness Authority ("the authority").

7.  On December 18, 2019, the city of Seattle enacted Ordinance 126021, authorizing the mayor of the city of Seattle to execute an interlocal agreement for the establishment of the authority.

8.  The city of Seattle and King County entered into an interlocal agreement for the establishment of the King County Regional Homelessness Authority, effective December 18, 2019.

9.  The authority serves a key role in rendering homelessness in King County rare, brief, and nonrecurring.

10.  With the original interlocal agreement having been in effect for nearly five years, the city of Seattle and King County have determined that changes are desired, including streamlining the governance structure to improve oversight and accountability, and making other changes to clarify roles, responsibilities, and processes, with the overall goal of facilitating the effective delivery and coordination of services for individuals experiencing homelessness.

                     BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF KING COUNTY:

                     SECTION 1.  The executive is authorized to execute the amended and restated interlocal agreement, substantially in the form of Attachment A to this ordinance, for the establishment of the King County Regional Homelessness Authority, a joint or cooperative undertaking with the city of Seattle and with other such public agencies that are eligible under the terms of the interlocal agreement and applicable law.

                     SECTION 2.  All county officials, and their agents and representatives, are hereby authorized and directed to undertake all action necessary or desirable to carry out the

terms of, and complete the transactions contemplated by, this ordinance.  All acts taken under the authority of this ordinance but before its effective date are hereby ratified.