Bill to expand eligibility and allow cash assistance under HEN draws agency support and cautions on costs

The House Appropriations Committee heard a staff briefing and public testimony on Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5232, which would expand eligibility for Washington’s Housing and Essential Needs (HEN) program, allow certain HEN and Home Security Fund supports to be delivered as direct cash assistance, and align administrative rates between HEN support entities and Home Security Fund programs.

Omera Harrington, staff to the Early Learning and Human Services Committee, summarized the striking amendment. The bill would expand core HEN eligibility to include victims of human trafficking and remove citizenship‑linked tests; it would also allow Commerce to provide HEN funding to low‑ or extremely low‑income elderly or disabled adults transitioning off HEN who receive federal Social Security benefits and still have immediate housing needs. The bill would permit direct cash assistance (including debit cash cards) for needs identified in a client’s housing‑stability plan and would increase the administrative rate for HEN support entities from 7% to 15%.

The nut graf: Commerce and advocates said the changes would allow more flexible assistance and reduce administrative burdens that make landlords reluctant to lease to clients with short‑term subsidies; they also emphasized that HEN is not an entitlement and Commerce can serve only as many individuals as funding permits. The fiscal briefing noted the HEN base is about $65 million per fiscal year (general fund) and adding populations and cash assistance could increase costs, though Commerce estimated initial IT and verification costs at modest levels and provided a rough per‑client housing cost estimate of about $19,000 per year.

Em Stone, senior policy adviser at the Department of Commerce, testified in support, calling the adjustments important updates that have kept “thousands of highly vulnerable individuals in stable housing and out of homelessness.” Jean Wilchill (Washington State Catholic Conference) and other faith‑based providers said extending verification periods to 12 months and allowing cash assistance would reduce administrative friction and help landlords accept clients.

Staff estimated Commerce could serve more people within existing funds but flagged uncertainty: Commerce suggested a rough ballpark that serving an additional 100 people could cost about $1.9 million annually at an estimated average housing benefit of $19,000 per person. DSHS/Economic Services also noted IT workload to update automated eligibility systems. The committee took testimony and did not vote at the hearing.