Colleagues,
Here are two resources that may be of interest to you:

1.  The National Low Income Housing Coalition has released its annual report Out of Reach 2019.  While you can download the report, you can also use the data on-line - you'll note Washington State Housing Wage is $27.78/hour - or the hourly wage required to rent a two-bedroom apartment.
https://reports.nlihc.org/oor/

2.  The Washington State Department of Commerce  https://www.commerce.wa.gov/serving-communities/homelessness/

The Department of Commerce is responsible for a State Strategic Plan and Annual Report to the legislature on Washington state’s efforts to address homelessness. The plan is a five year roadmap identifying state and county activities and goals while the report highlights accomplishments and course adjustments.  Requirements for the plan and report are in RCW 43.185c  (Maureen's note:  I think Commerce is doing a good job with their website - if you aren't already doing so, I encourage you to keep an eye on it as a good source for both state and local information on responding to homelessness.  You'll find Housing - like the Housing Trust Fund - under the Building Infrastructure menu at the top of the website.)

Local Plan Guidance (Maureen's Note:  Every county in the State must adopt a five year homeless housing plan for its jurisdiction by December 1, 2019.  These plans must be consistent with the Department of Commerce's statewide guidelines and Commerce five-year homeless housing plan.  As I understand it, in Pierce County, the Continuum of Care's Five Year Strategic Plan currently in process will meet this requirement.  That means we will have one plan which hopefully can be used to inform and guide a variety of funding sources, local government policies, and nonprofit program decisions.)

DRAFT State of Washington Homeless Housing Strategic Plan 2019 (PDF) (Maureen's note:  14 pages, readable, clear.)  

Take care all,
Maureen


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