MYNORTHWEST NEWS

Gov. Inslee 2020 budget includes $146 million to fight homelessness

Dec 18, 2019, 3:07 PM | Updated: 3:31 pm

Jay Inslee, homeless budget, DACA...

Gov. Jay Inslee. (Gov. Jay Inslee, YouTube)

(Gov. Jay Inslee, YouTube)

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee unveiled his 2020 supplemental budget proposal Wednesday, putting a special focus on fighting what he describes as a “statewide homelessness crisis.”

Is King County homeless authority a missed opportunity?

“I want everyone in Washington to benefit from our state’s shared prosperity, but we know our state’s successes are not shared by everyone,” Inslee said in a blog post published to Medium.

His proposal would cost $146 million in the current operating budget, and over $300 million over the course of the next three years. Inslee’s plan would pull that money from the state’s emergency reserve, which his office projects will contain $2.5 billion at the end of the next two years.

Among a handful of funding initiatives, the plan includes $66 million to “reduce the point-in-time count of unsheltered individuals by 1,890,” $1 million for a transitional housing pilot program for homeless youth, $26 million for housing and essential needs serving 2,200 people, $30 million for new enhanced shelters, and $15.4 million to provide permanent supportive housing for 1,080 people.

Seattle, County homeless response paralyzed by bureaucracy

“While we’ve made progress at increasing affordable housing stock, we must do more for people who are living outside,” Inslee said. “We need to provide financial resources with a strong infusion of compassion, dignity and attention.”

Also included in Gov. Inslee’s budget proposal were measures to address firearm violence, education, orca and salmon recovery, transportation, and more. You can see the full budget proposal here.

State lawmakers are weighing in on Inslee’s proposed budget:

From Sen. John Braun, (R-Centralia) Republican leader on the Senate Ways and Means Committee:

“It’s good that the governor didn’t propose new taxes, for a change, but he also wants nearly a billion dollars in additional spending at a time when there are already concerns about the sustainability of the current budget. His emphasis on housing seems to ignore government’s track record on addressing homelessness, and he missed opportunities to address issues that matter to all Washingtonians, like car tabs and repeat DUI offenders and property-tax relief for all low-income seniors. There’s a real contrast between what the governor views as important and what Senate Republicans have been hearing from the public.”

Rep. Cindy Ryu (D-Shoreline), Chair, House Committee on Housing, Committee Development, and Veterans:

“As Chair of the Housing, Community Development, and Veterans Committee, and as a member of the Appropriations Committee, I appreciate Governor Inslee’s strong commitment to reducing homelessness in his supplemental budget proposal. It’s our job as legislators to write and pass the budget, but his ideas give us a strong starting point for the coming year in our ongoing efforts to reduce homelessness and improve housing affordability.”

Rep. Timm Ormsby’s (D-Spokane), House Appropriations chair:

“As always, we appreciate receiving Gov. Inslee’s budget ideas at the outset of our work. And, as always, we’ll go through his proposal line by line and give each item careful consideration. His creative thinking on housing, one of our state’s most pressing problems, is especially welcome. “We agree that this year’s supplemental budget should be a simple update, and would not anticipate proposing any big surprises. We wrote a great budget last year and this supplemental should focus mostly on adjustments for caseload changes and unanticipated developments. We might move some pieces around differently from the governor’s plan, but I suspect the bottom line will be very similar. We’re all working off the same arithmetic.”

MyNorthwest News

KIRO Newsradio gracie awards...

MyNorthwest Staff

KIRO Newsradio anchors receive Gracie Awards for outstanding work

Heather Bosch and Lisa Brooks, anchors at KIRO Newsradio, have been honored by the Alliance for Women in Media with prestigious Gracie Awards.

2 hours ago

Kia Boys...

Kate Stone, KIRO Newsradio and Bill Kaczaraba, MyNorthwest

‘Kia Boys’ allegedly execute a crime spree in south King County

Renton police chased down a 14-and 16-year-old but are still looking for two other teen suspects in what they said was a "crime spree" in south King County.

3 hours ago

Spanaway woman shot dead...

Kate Stone

Search for shooter continues after woman shot dead while driving in Spanaway

A 47-year-old woman was shot dead in Spanaway, causing her to hit another driver head-on early Wednesday morning.

4 hours ago

nintendo redmond...

Frank Sumrall

Nintendo to lay off 86 Redmond employees this spring

Nintendo of America is laying off 86 contract workers in Redmond, beginning May 25, due to company reorganization.

5 hours ago

Everett boy missing...

Sam Campbell

4-year-old Everett boy missing, police worried he’s in danger

Police and Search and Rescue crews are looking for a missing four-year-old boy they suspect could be in danger.

7 hours ago

Image: The awnings of a store advertise the sale of lottery tickets, including Mega Millions and Po...

Steve Coogan

Lottery jackpots update: Powerball prize jumps again after $1.1B Mega Millions win

A lottery jackpots update: The Powerball prize reached an estimated $935 million ahead of Saturday night's drawing.

16 hours ago

Gov. Inslee 2020 budget includes $146 million to fight homelessness