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A MOTION approving updated policies and procedures for allocating funds available to King County by chapter 43.185C RCW and authorizing the department of community and human services, in coordination with the committee to end homelessness in King County, to proceed with the implementation of the policies and procedures.
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WHEREAS, homelessness is recognized as a critical issue in King County and other places in the nation, and
WHEREAS, the regional one-night count of homeless persons estimates that approximately seven thousand nine hundred King County residents experience homelessness on any given night, and
WHEREAS, approximately twenty-four thousand King County residents will experience at least one episode of homelessness during the coming year, and
WHEREAS, King County finds it unacceptable that such a high number of our citizens cannot find safe, decent, affordable and permanent housing, and
WHEREAS, the Committee to End Homelessness in King County (CEHKC), a regional committee comprised of representatives of King County, the city of Seattle and other cities, foundations, the faith community, the business community, nonprofit organizations and homeless individuals, has completed A Roof Over Every Bed in King County: Our Community's Ten-Year Plan to End Homelessness, which seeks to end homelessness by working together to improve the use of existing housing and service resources, as well as generating necessary additional resources, and
WHEREAS, the Washington state legislature called for the creation of ten year plans to end homelessness in communities across the state through passage of Chapter 484, Laws of 2005 (E2SHB 2163), also known as the Homeless Housing and Assistance Act, and authorized the collection of document recording fee surcharge revenue in support of such plans, and
WHEREAS, the Washington state legislature supplemented local revenues in support of ten year plans to end homelessness through the passage of E2SHB 1359, the Affordable Housing for All Act, on April 20, 2007, and
WHEREAS, E2SHB 2163 and E2SHB 1359 have created a funding source available to eligible Washington cities and counties that is expected to generate approximately seven million dollars per year for homeless housing, prevention and supportive services in King County, and
WHEREAS, the moneys collected under the authority of E2SHB 2163 and E2SHB 1359 are collectively named the King County homeless housing and services fund), and
WHEREAS, on September 1, 2005, the metropolitan King County council unanimously approved Ordinance 15284 adopting the ten-year plan to end homelessness in King County as submitted by the CEHKC and designated the CEHKC as the local homeless and housing task force pursuant to chapter 43.185C RCW, and
WHEREAS, Motion 12279 called for the department of community and human services and the CEHKC to submit a report to in spring 2007 on the results of the first two funding rounds of E2SHB 2163 revenues and to propose updates to the policies and procedures for future funding rounds, and
WHEREAS, the department of community and human services consulted many stakeholders in the process of updating the HHSF policies, including suburban cities and the city of Seattle, the consumer advisory committee of CEHKC, and the interagency council of CEHKC, and
WHEREAS, the proposed policies and procedures were formally adopted by the governing board of the CEHKC on April 25, 2007, to cover the homeless housing and services fund, including E2SHB 2163 and E2SHB 1359 revenues, as well as any other revenue directed toward implementation of plans to end homelessness;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT MOVED by the Council of King County:
The metropolitan King County council approves the updated policies and procedures to guide future allocations and awards of the King County homeless housing and services fund beginning with the 2007 funding round. As authorized by chapter 43.185C RCW, the council authorizes the Committee to End Homelessness in King County, in coordination with the department of community and human services, to proceed with the implementation of those policies and procedures, and to provide informational updates to the council every two years The update and twelve copies shall be filed with the clerk of the council, for distribution to all councilmembers and the lead staff of the growth management and natural resources committee.