Committee recommends due-pass for King County Consortium consolidated plan amid HUD funding concerns

King County Council’s Health, Housing and Human Services Committee recommended a due pass to the full council on a proposed ordinance to adopt the King County Consortium consolidated plan for 2025–2029, the county’s required submission to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

The recommendation passed on a 4-0 roll call vote. Councilmembers Balon, Dunn and Quinn and Chair Teresa Mosqueda voted aye; there were no noes or abstentions.

The consolidated plan organizes how the consortium applies for HUD funding from the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), the HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) and the Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG). Olivia Bray, Council policy staff, told the committee the draft follows HUD’s required template and includes an executive summary, needs assessment, housing market analysis and a strategic plan with outcome targets. "HUD requires the development of a consolidated plan every 3 to 5 years for jurisdictions that receive funding," Bray said.

Why it matters: HUD funds are a significant source for affordable housing, homelessness prevention and community development in King County. Committee members and department leaders said recent federal actions and staffing cuts at HUD create uncertainty about program continuity and timeliness of awards.

Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) staff said the plan lists three goals: increase affordable housing, prevent and mitigate homelessness, and enhance community and economic development. Staff noted a discrepancy between values in the executive summary and the body of the plan; DCHS agreed to correct the executive-summary numbers to match table 58 before submission to HUD.

Kelly Ryder, director of DCHS, told the committee the department is monitoring federal developments closely. "We know that there is a lot of risk. We do not have clear, redirection from the federal government right now," Ryder said, adding that staff are meeting frequently to track rumors and confirmed information about possible program or staffing cuts.

Committee members pressed staff on two timing-related matters: (1) the consortium’s Joint Recommendations Committee (JRC) composition and appointment of Sound Cities Association representatives, and (2) the need to submit the plan promptly so the county can draw down grants as soon as HUD finalizes award amounts. Olivia Bray said the JRC reviewed the draft last July; DCHS staff confirmed the plan needs to be adopted so HUD can release funds, which DCHS expects may begin in April 2025 if federal timelines hold.

The committee recorded a technical direction on one correction: staff said they will fix the erroneous values in the executive summary (page 8) to match table 58 (page 146) prior to forwarding the plan to HUD.

What the committee did: The committee moved and approved a recommendation of due pass to the full council for proposed ordinance 2025-0030 (King County Consortium consolidated plan 2025–2029). The committee asked that—if possible—the item be placed on the March 18 consent agenda at full council.

Concerns raised: DCHS and council members flagged uncertainties tied to possible HUD staff and program cuts including reports about Region 10 staffing, and asked staff to keep the committee informed. Committee members also asked for a written estimate of households that specific HUD allocations (for example, HOME-funded homeowner rehabilitation) would serve; DCHS provided one example figure in the briefing (715 homeowner rehabilitations over five years tied to HOME allocations) and committed to provide additional estimates in writing.

Next steps: DCHS will submit the corrected consolidated plan to HUD once the executive-summary errors are fixed and HUD transmits award amounts. The committee’s recommendation of due pass advances the ordinance to the full council for action.

Votes at a glance

- Proposed ordinance 2025-0030 (King County Consortium consolidated plan 2025–2029) — Committee recommendation: due pass to full council; roll call recorded: Councilmember Balon – Aye; Councilmember Dunn – Aye; Councilmember Quinn – Aye; Chair Teresa Mosqueda – Aye. Outcome: 4–0, recommended due pass.