Bill would expand HEN bridge pilot statewide, allow cash assistance and align admin rates (HB 1263)

Lawmakers heard testimony on House Bill 1263, which would update eligible uses and administration of the Housing and Essential Needs (HEN) program administered by the Department of Commerce, Representative Julio Cortez told the Early Learning and Human Services Committee.

Staff summarized current HEN practice: the program provides time‑limited rent assistance, services tied to housing stability, and limited essential needs items to low‑income people unable to work. Eligibility is determined through a Department of Social and Health Services process; current rules generally prohibit HEN benefits in the form of direct cash and limit administrative spending by support agencies to no more than 7 percent of funds. The law authorized a limited pilot to bridge individuals transitioning to federal Social Security disability (SSI); that pilot has been limited to six counties.

What HB 1263 would change: the bill would (1) authorize Commerce to provide HEN funding to low‑ or extremely low‑income elderly or disabled adults transitioning off HEN who are receiving federal Social Security Disability benefits and still have an immediate housing need; (2) permit benefits under HEN and Home Security Fund programs to be provided as direct cash assistance where appropriate; and (3) align the administration rate for HEN support entities with the administration rate used for other Home Security Fund programs, replacing the 7 percent administrative cap described in current statute.

Why advocates support it: Ted Kelleher, acting assistant director of the Housing Division at the Department of Commerce, said the changes increase local flexibility and extend an existing bridge that helps clients with delayed federal benefits remain housed. Nick Federici of the Washington Low Income Housing Alliance pointed out that federal SSI payments are currently well below average rents (testimony cited $967 per month for SSI versus an average rent of $1,828 per month) and said the bridge prevents people who transition to federal benefits from losing housing. Representatives of Catholic Community Services and local HEN providers supported permitting cash assistance and urged that any statewide expansion not reduce funds or access for counties already running the pilot.

Testimony and proposed amendments: Erin McGuire of Catholic Community Services, which operates HEN in several counties, proposed a modest operational amendment to extend eligibility checks from every three months to once a year to reduce administrative burdens and help providers persuade landlords to accept subsidies with longer funding commitments. McGuire also reported King County serves more than 500 people through the SSI bridge in its HEN program and said statewide expansion would need to avoid net funding reductions for current counties.

Sponsor Representative Julio Cortez told the committee the bill carries no fiscal note and is meant to enlarge options available to local HEN administrators without adding new state funding. The committee closed the hearing on HB 1263 with no immediate vote recorded.