WashingtonState housing grants can cover upkeep and resident services
The Department of Commerce must use at least 90 percent of a housing account’s money for grants that cover upkeep and, in some supportive housing, resident services.
What it does
The Department of Commerce must use at least 90 percent of this account’s money for grants that help qualifying housing projects pay upkeep and, for permanent supportive housing, resident services.
For these grants, the department cannot set an overhead cap below 15 percent of the grant and must seek to support continued operations at existing projects.
Grantees must keep records for expenses over $50, but the department may require them before approving reimbursement only for cause or an audit.
Argument forResidents in qualifying supportive housing could get help with daily needs, health care, and housing stability through grants for services and upkeep.
Argument againstHousing groups could face added recordkeeping work because they must keep proof of every expense over $50, even though early submission is usually not required.
More detail
The Department of Commerce must use at least 90 percent of the affordable housing for all account money for grants. The rules cover housing in the state housing trust fund portfolio and qualifying permanent supportive housing projects. The grants may cover upkeep for housing trust fund projects affordable to extremely low-income households when they move in. For permanent supportive housing, grants may also cover services and upkeep if the project has received or will receive public capital funding and serves extremely low-income households when they move in. Income eligibility is measured at move-in.
The Department of Commerce may not set an overhead-cost cap below 15 percent of a grant. This applies to grants for housing projects funded through the affordable housing for all account. When awarding these grants, the department must seek to support continued operations at existing projects, including by keeping renewal grants high enough for ongoing costs.
Grantees must keep records for expenses over $50. This applies to grantees receiving funds from the affordable housing for all account. The department may require expense records before approving reimbursement only for cause or an audit.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Mar 27Effective date 6/11/2026.Latest
- Mar 27Chapter 230, 2026 Laws.Major
- Mar 27Governor Bob Ferguson signed.Became Law
- Mar 12Delivered to Governor.To Governor
- Mar 11Speaker signed.Major
- Mar 11President signed.Passed House
- Mar 10Passed final passage; yeas, 30; nays, 19; absent, 0; excused, 0.Passed Senate
- Vote recorded Final Passage as Amended by the House (#8). Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 10Senate concurred in House amendments.
- Mar 5Third reading, passed; yeas, 61; nays, 34; absent, 0; excused, 3.Minor
- Vote recorded Final Passage as Amended by the House (#1). Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 5Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.Minor
- Mar 5Committee amendment(s) adopted with no other amendments.
- Mar 3Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.Minor
- Mar 2Referred to Rules 2 Review.Minor
- Mar 2Minority; without recommendation.Minor
- Mar 2Minority; do not pass.Minor
- Mar 2FIN - Majority; do pass with amendment(s).Minor
- Mar 2Executive action taken in the House Committee on Finance at 8:00 AM.
- Feb 26Public hearing in the House Committee on Finance at 8:00 AM.
- Feb 17First reading, referred to Finance.Minor
- Feb 13Third reading, passed; yeas, 30; nays, 18; absent, 0; excused, 1.Minor
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading & Final Passage (#16). Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 13Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.Minor
- Feb 13Floor amendment(s) adopted.
- Feb 132nd substitute bill substituted (WM 26).Major
- Feb 12Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.Minor
- Feb 9Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.
- Feb 9Minority; without recommendation.Minor
- Feb 9Minority; do not pass.Minor
- Feb 9WM - Majority; 2nd substitute bill be substituted, do pass.Major
- Feb 9Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means at 10:30 AM.
- Feb 2Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means at 4:00 PM.
- Jan 22Referred to Ways & Means.Minor
- Jan 21Minority; do not pass.Minor
- Jan 21And refer to Ways & Means.Minor
- Jan 21HSG - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.Major
- Jan 21Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Housing at 10:30 AM.
- Jan 16Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Housing at 10:30 AM.
- Jan 12First reading, referred to Housing.Minor
- Jan 7Prefiled for introduction.Introduced
Housing