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Clerk warns of fast-moving state bill on the unsheltered; staff says it may impose unfunded mandates
Summary
Council was warned that a state House bill concerning unsheltered populations is advancing quickly and could impose unfunded mandates on cities and liabilities on nonprofit providers. City staff said Kara Spencer is coordinating outreach and that the administration is tracking bed capacity and point-in-time counts.
During the pre-agenda session, the clerking official raised concern about a state House bill addressing unsheltered populations that is moving from the House to the Senate. The clerk described the proposal as an apparent unfunded mandate that could require cities to house or otherwise manage unsheltered people and cause hardship for nonprofits.
“It's an unfunded mandate ... they are forcing upon cities for us to take up, pick up the cost,” the clerk said, urging staff to learn whether county governments would be involved and to update council quickly because the budget process is underway.
Housing and homelessness staff said Kara Spencer has been coordinating work on the issue and that the administration has been communicating with providers and the continuum of care to assess bed capacity and point-in-time counts. Staff said they will provide updates as they learn more. No formal council action was taken at the pre-agenda session.
