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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPCD 2021-06-07 Item 2B - Discussion - King County's Health through Housing InitiativeCity of Tukwila Allan Ekberg, Mayor Administrative Services Department- Rachel Bianchi, Deputy CityAdministrator TO: Planning and Community Development Committee FROM: Rachel Bianchi, Deputy City Administrator CC: Mayor Ekberg DATE: May 24, 2021 SUBJECT: King County's Health Through Housing Program ISSUE On Monday, February 22, 2021 staff from King County presented to the Council an overview of the Health Through Housing Program (HTH). King County is seeking to purchase existing hotel/motel buildings within cities on a voluntary basis to provide rapid rehousing for chronically homeless individuals. This is the third discussion in Committee. Staff is seeking direction on next steps. BACKGROUND The Committee developed a series of questions regarding HTH and staff presented initial responses on April 5, 2021. At that meeting, the Committee directed staff to work with King County to seek clarity and additional answers. The County's response to the questions is included here as an attachment. DISCUSSION In the discussions with King County on the Committee's questions, County staff clarified that the HTH providers have indicated they are only interested in utilizing hotel properties that do not have outside entrances to individual hotel rooms. To preserve the safety of their clients, providers believe the best services can be given at properties that have only interior entrances to rooms. This significantly limits the potential properties in Tukwila that could be used for the HTH program, and most properties that would fit this requirement are in the Central Business District. While there are one or two properties on TIB, the Committee has so far indicated preference that this neighborhood be excluded from consideration for HTH properties. At this point, neither City staff nor the County have any idea whether there are properties in Tukwila that fit the HTH requirements. As a reminder, the County is only working with willing sellers and willing cities. To determine whether there is even an opportunity for the City to work with the County on HTH, the next step would be for the County to engage their broker to determine if any properties are for sale. This step would not be an indication of the City's support for HTH in Tukwila, but rather serves as the next information gathering phase. This is the most efficient use of staff and committee time, as if there are no willing sellers of hotel properties fitting the HTH requirements, this issue would be moot. RECOM M ENDATION Staff recommends allowing the County to engage their broker to determine if there are any qualified properties in Tukwila for sale. The purpose would be for information gathering to determine if future direction is needed, and would not indicate that Tukwila is a willing city. ATTACHMENTS Updated HTH Q&A with King County responses. Tukwila City Hall • 6200 Southeenter Boulevard • Tukwila, WA 98188 • 206-433-1800 Website: TukwilaWA.gav 11 12 King County Reponses to Questions on Health through Housing Program (questions compiled from various sources including members of the Council and community) 1. How is it funded? The State Legislature passed HB 1590 in 2020, which allowed jurisdictions to enact a 0.1% sales tax to finance construction of affordable housing and behavioral health facilities and operations or services of affordable housing. 2. What is the goal? The County's goal is to house 1600 chronically homeless individuals, while reducing racial -ethnic disproportionality. The original goal of 2000 households was impacted by revenue reduction from other cities implementing HB 1590. 3. What will be the measure(s) of success? Specific measures will be proposed in the Implementation Plan, due to County Council and the Regional Policy Committee on August 30. 4. How long will the Health through Housing program last? The program is expected to go in perpetuity and will be governed by the Health through Housing Implementation Plan upon adoption by ordinance. Adoption is expected later this year. In 2028 and every eight years after that, the executive will propose an update to the Health through Housing Implementation Plan. 5. How many cities may/will be involved? Unknown at this time how many cities will choose to host a Health Through Housing site. 6. How many facilities will be involved? The County expects approximately 16 buildings will be needed to achieve the goal of housing 1600 individuals. 7. Where could such a facility be located in Tukwila? This depends on the policy direction from the City Council. King County will only search for potential buildings in neighborhoods Tukwila provides direction to explore. Neighborhoods that are preferred include those with hotels with internal corridors and access to transit or other community services. 8. What zoning designation would the facility use fall under, and would the city consider changing zoning to accommodate this facility? This depends on the policy direction from the City Council. 9. Is the facility considered a shelter or multifamily housing? It would be housing. 10. Would the facility be subject to the City's rental housing inspection and licensing program? Since this is housing and not shelter, it is likely that the rental housing inspection and licensing program would apply, but that could change depending on the policy direction of the Council. 11. Who qualifies for this housing? All households served with these funds must earn at or below 30% of Area Median Income and meet one or more of the following qualifications, per the authorizing state statute: a. Persons with behavioral health disabilities; b. Veterans c. Senior citizens; d. Persons with disabilities; e. Domestic violence survivors; f. Persons who are homeless or at -risk of being homeless, including families with children or HTH King County Responses 5/26/21 13 g. Unaccompanied homeless youth or young adults. Per County ordinance, households also must either be chronically homeless or at -risk of being chronically homeless and meet one of the following definitions: a. A household experiencing chronic homelessness must include an adult with a disability* and either be currently experiencing homelessness for at least 12 consecutive months or have experienced homelessness for a cumulative 12 months within the prior three years. b. A household at -risk of homelessness describes a household that includes an adult with a disability and meets two additional criteria: 1. Currently experiencing homelessness for 10-12 months in the previous three years or previously experiencing homelessness for 12+ months within the last five years; and 2. Include one adult that has been incarcerated within the previous five years, or been detained or involuntarily committed, or identifies as a member of a population that is demographically overrepresented among persons experiencing homelessness. 12. Will there be barriers to becoming a resident? Ongoing availability of HTH units to chronically homeless individuals is behavior -based. Each resident receives a code of conduct and a program agreement at the time of entry. These cover expectations for things such as visitors, accessing services, interpersonal behavior, etc. If residents are not able to comply with the code of conduct and the terms of the agreement, they may be asked to leave the program. These rules are balanced with the recognition that many people experiencing chronic homelessness will require support as they transition into their housing, and the goal of the program is to provide emergency housing for people who might otherwise live unsheltered. 13. Should Tukwila residents be prioritized? An amendment to HB 1070, which will give the County authority to use these funds for acquisition of existing buildings, requires that "...a county that acquires a facility under [this statute] must provide an opportunity for 15 percent of the units provided at that facility to be provided to individuals who are living in or near the city in which the facility is located, or have ties to that community. The provisions of this subsection do not apply if the county is unable to identify sufficient individuals within the city in need of services that meet the criteria....This prioritization must not jeopardize United States department of 38 housing and urban development funding for the continuum of care 39 program." 14. How many chronically homeless individuals will be served? The County's goal is to house 1600 individuals. 15. Are families eligible? Yes. However, each building will serve a different subset of the population that may or may not serve families. See answer to number 11 above. 16. Are there maximum income limits to qualify? Yes. See answer to number 11 above. 17. How long will individuals or families stay in the units, on average? Unknown at this time. However, this response from a County fact sheet applies: "Health Through Housing is a housing program. There is no limit on length of stay. However, when appropriate, housing case managers will work with residents on securing alternate, long term housing while providing services to improve residents' health. This is important so that HTH sites are able to serve new local residents." Because these residents have some type of disability, most will need long-term housing subsidies and services to achieve housing stability. HTH King County Responses 5/26/21 14 18. Will there be such demand for the program to necessitate a waiting list? King County does not expect to create a waiting list separate from the current Coordinated Entry for All process. However, consistent with Question 13, this will be utilized only in combination with identification of local residents eligible for Health Through Housing buildings. 19. Is this long-term or temporary housing? If temporary, what are the next steps for residents to find more permanent housing? See answer to Number 17 above. 20. If the goal is to help people transition into stability, what is the pathway to this goal? See answer to Number 17 above. Housing stability is defined by not returning to homelessness. Therefore, if households move from chronic homelessness into Health Through Housing buildings, the program will have achieved success for that household. 21. Is this effort meant to respond to houselessness or homelessness (the latter implies a holistic approach including stability, recovery and healthy relationships)? The operations, maintenance and services funding provided for Health Through Housing buildings creates connection to full wrap-around case management services to support housing stability, community connection, and health through their housing access. 22. Will the facility have 24/7 staffing including both security and service providers? All Health through Housing facilities will have 24/7 Building Staffing, as well as: a. Housing Case Management b. Connection to Medical and Behavioral Health Services c. Assistance in enrolling in entitlement programs and employment programs where appropriate 23. What wraparound services will be available onsite? See the answer to Number 21. 24. Who will provide these services? Non-profit organizations with expertise in providing permanent supportive housing and serving diverse populations disproportionately experiencing homelessness. The County is using a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) process to identify potential service providers. The County will work with the local jurisdiction to select the service provider from the generated pool of qualified applicants. 25. Are support services budgeted per unit? At this time, the County is using an estimate of $20,000/unit/year to budget for operations, maintenance and services of Health Through Housing facilities. We will continue to work with potential service providers to ensure this budget is sufficient to fulfill the commitment in Q4, 21 and 22. 26. Will those refusing services be asked to leave? See answer to Number 12. Additionally, while it is the expectation that most residents will need services to retain tenancy, it is not a requirement that residents receive services. For lower acuity residents, the service provider will likely work to transition the tenant to an alternate setting. 27. Will each individual have a case manager, and what will that case management load be? Yes; case management unknown and likely up to the provider. 28. How will residents be located in the facility (ex. will families be separated from individuals, will genders be separated, will certain areas be off limits to certain other residents) HTH King County Responses 5/26/21 15 Specifics are unknown at this time. Families will likely be in separate buildings from individuals and couples, based on types of services needed, but this is subject to program design and service provider expertise. 29. How will safety be ensured for residents both in and near the facility? There will be 24/7 staffing as well as specialized staff training to support the specific needs of the residents. 30. How will safety be ensured for businesses near the facility? There will be 24/7 on-site staffing. 31. Will common kitchens be built at the facility? Unknown at this time. The County is exploring multiple potential options for kitchen access. The priority will be ensuring quick, quality construction that preserves access to the housing units themselves. 32. Will drug and/or alcohol use be permitted in the individual units? Programs will use a harm reduction approach, within which drug and/or alcohol use will be permitted in individual units. Staff will provide supportive services to promote housing stability, and will work with residents that have substance use disorders in-house and also connect them to resources in the community. Staff working in a harm reduction setting work in partnership with tenants, and are expected to respond directly to unacceptable behaviors, whether or not the behaviors are related to substance use. 33. Is it possible that children would be cohoused with people experiencing alcohol or drug use disorder? Unknown at this time. However, best practice in shelters is to have separate facilities for families with children. Cohousing in the same unit would only exist where best practices on family preservation indicate that children should continue to live with their family of origin. 34. How will a recovery culture be promoted? Unknown at this time. 35. Will there be drug tests or background checks to screen for criminal behavior including sex offenses? Unknown at this time. 36. Will residents have restrictions on access to come and go from the facility during certain times of day? No. 37. Will there be safeguards in place to ensure there is no illegal drug or sex work activity onsite? There will be 24/7 on-site staffing. 38. What will be enforcement strategies from illegal activities in units or in/on the surrounding premises? Tenants are asked to comply with the resident agreement, and those that cannot will be asked to leave. 39. Will the facility require increased city services in the form of Police/Fire, and how would such increases be funded? Unknown at this time. 40. Have the challenges faced by other communities with similar programs been adequately explored? The County has not yet implemented this program, but in permanent supportive housing site across the county, buildings have minimal impact on the surrounding neighborhood and provide substantial cost savings and improvement to quality of life for tenants. 41. Once a facility is acquired by the County, will the city have the ability to alter how it is operated or ask the County to stop operating and sell the property? Unknown at this time. HTH King County Responses 5/26/21 16 42. Is there an exit strategy for the city if the facility proves to be not a good fit for the community? Unknown at this time. 43. Are there impacts from losing property tax revenue that would otherwise be collected from the commercial property? When property goes into public ownership the base assessed value of a jurisdiction does not change. The City would only lose any future increases tied to any improvements made on a property in public ownership, which would likely be a very small amount of revenue in this case. 44. Does the County plan to use future funding for constructing affordable housing or transitional housing? The funds associated with this program are restricted to the qualifications outlined in the answer to Number 11 above. Construction, as opposed to acquisition, is not expected at this time. The Implementation Plan due to County Council and the Regional Policy Committee, and future iterations as described in Q4, will detail any additional uses outside the acquisition strategy. The Implementation Plan(s) will be adopted by ordinance. 45. Which 10 cities were identified to be approached with the Health through Housing proposal? The County has approached cities across all regions of the County—Seattle, North, East, and South and aims to acquire buildings in all these sub -regions. Conversations with cities in each of these sub -regions have been going very well, and the County expects to have more official status updates soon. 46. Will there be volunteer opportunities for community members who want to help? Unknown at this time, but the County expects service providers will be very open to this opportunity. HTH King County Responses 5/26/21 17