Drafter

Clerk 11/09/2016

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A MOTION expressing support for regional planning, coordination and funding efforts to address the challenges of homelessness and housing affordability in King County.

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                     WHEREAS, at the end of September 2016, the median single-family home price in King County was nearly five hundred thousand dollars, more than three hundred thousand dollars above the national median, and

                     WHEREAS, King County home prices increased more than fourteen percent between September 2015 and 2016, a rate of increase more than double the national average, and

                     WHEREAS, at the end of September 2016, the median monthly rental price in King County was two thousand two hundred fifty dollars, more than seven hundred dollars above the national median, and

                     WHEREAS, these housing price levels have resulted in nearly three hundred thousand households in King County spending more than thirty percent of their incomes on housing, and

                     WHEREAS, far too many people have been unable to afford any type of housing, with nearly ten thousand people experiencing homelessness on any given day during 2016, and

                     WHEREAS, during the third quarter of 2016, one thousand one hundred seventy-two homeless families applied to King County for permanent housing, and

                     WHEREAS, the lack of affordable housing and the crisis of homelessness are being felt in every community in the county, and

                     WHEREAS, King County, local jurisdictions, private and nonprofit partners and philanthropic organizations have come together to address the challenges of homelessness and housing affordability:  through the efforts of All Home to make homelessness rare, brief and one-time; through the work of the King County consortium to assess community development and housing needs countywide and to allocate state and federal funding; and through the work of the growth management planning council to develop strategies to meet housing needs through local planning and zoning initiatives, and

                     WHEREAS, the King County council voted earlier this year to issue eighty seven million dollars in bond financing backed by lodging taxes to support the development of affordable housing near transit hubs, and

                     WHEREAS, the King County council voted earlier this year to approve the regional equitable development initiative fund to develop workforce housing near transit hubs and appropriated three million five hundred thousand dollars in local and grant funds toward this effort, and

                     WHEREAS, the voters of King County approved the best starts for kids levy, which includes nineteen million dollars to support a youth and family homelessness prevention initiative, and

                     WHEREAS, the King County council is working with regional partners to renew the mental illness and drug dependency levy, which includes supportive services for people in need, and

                     WHEREAS, the King County council is working with regional partners to examine the possibility of submitting a proposal to the voters to renew the veterans and human services levy, which includes services and support for veterans and others in need in our community, and

                     WHEREAS, the King County council has made difficult choices in its 2017-2018 biennial budget to allocate an additional seven million five hundred thousand dollars to provide emergency shelter and services to those experiencing homelessness, joining communities around the region that are increasing local support to help those in need, and

                     WHEREAS, even with these new resources, and despite the ongoing regional efforts, the magnitude of the housing and homelessness challenge facing this region requires a more intensive and coordinated regional approach;

                     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT MOVED by the Council of King County:

                     A.  The King County council, working in coordination with the King County executive, will convene a regional planning effort during 2017 that includes cities, nonprofit agencies and private partners to develop a regional plan for affordable housing.

                     B. The regional planning effort will lead to a plan that includes identification of the roles of the participating partners and others, data collection efforts, funding needs, strategies and recommendations for action.  The regional planning effort will incorporate and build upon the significant planning and efforts already underway in many jurisdictions.

                     C.  As part of this regional effort, the King County council will work with the King County executive and regional partners to explore the affordable housing funding authority provided to local governments by the Washington state Legislature in 2015 through RCW 82.14.530.

                     D.  The King County council requests the King County executive to report on the status of this effort by March 31, 2017.  The report should be filed in the form of a paper

original and an electronic copy with the clerk of the council, who shall retain the original and provide an electronic copy to all councilmembers.