Committee hears bill to expand child-welfare housing assistance, staff: 108 families on wait list

Senate Bill 5508, which would expand and clarify the state’s child welfare housing assistance program, was the focus of testimony during the Washington State Senate Human Services Committee’s Feb. 5 hearing.

Alison Mendiola, committee staff, briefed members on the bill and described the program’s goals and requirements. The child welfare housing assistance program, administered by the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF), was created as a pilot in 2019 and made permanent in 2023. Mendiola said DCYF “is to increase the number of households served by the program by at least 200 above those served during fiscal year 25” during the 2025–27 biennium and to maintain at least that number beginning July 1, 2027. She also said DCYF must adopt rules for program implementation and provide an annual report to the legislature beginning Nov. 1, 2024.

The program provides vouchers, rental assistance, navigation and other supports to families when lack of appropriate housing is the remaining barrier to reunification or when housing…