The bill amends RCW 74.13.802 to enhance the child welfare housing assistance program, which provides housing vouchers, rental assistance, and support services to eligible families. Key provisions include the ability for the department or contracted entities to continue providing housing assistance even after child welfare services are no longer being provided to the family. Additionally, the department is required to adopt formal procedures for the program's implementation. The bill also emphasizes the importance of stable housing in reducing the need for foster care placements and aims to support families facing housing instability.

Furthermore, the bill mandates the department to report annually to the legislature starting November 1, 2024, detailing various metrics related to the program, including the number of unhoused parents on waiting lists and the distribution of program support by race and geography. New requirements include tracking the percentage of funding allocated for housing assistance versus program administration. The bill also ensures that families on waiting lists for assistance are prioritized, aiming to eliminate such waiting lists as much as possible, contingent on the availability of appropriated funds.

Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 74.13.336
Substitute Bill: 74.13.802
Bill as Passed Legislature: 74.13.802
Session Law: 74.13.802