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7 <br /> <br />Background of the Homelessness and Affordable Housing Plan <br />In 2002, the Washington State Legislature enacted Substitute House Bill 2060 “An act relating to funds <br />for operating and maintenance of low-income housing projects and for innovative housing <br />demonstration projects” into law. The law required each county in Washington State to charge a <br />surcharge on almost all recorded documents. The intent of this act is to assist in the development and <br />preservation of affordable low-income housing to address critical local housing needs. The law was <br />amended in 2007. Activities eligible to be funded with these funds can be found in Revised Code of <br />Washington (RCW) 36.22.178 and include the acquisition, construction, or rehabilitation of low-income <br />housing projects; building operation and maintenance costs of low-income housing projects; rental <br />assistance vouchers for low-income housing; and operating costs for emergency shelters. <br /> <br />In 2005, the Washington State Legislature passed Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 2163, “An act <br />relating to preventing and ending homelessness in the State of Washington.” The law required each <br />county Auditor in Washington State to charge additional surcharges on most recorded documents. <br />These funds are intended to be used to accomplish the goals of the local homeless housing plan aimed <br />at addressing short-term and long-term housing for homeless persons and eliminating homelessness. <br />Counties were also required to have a Homeless Housing Task Force to prepare and recommend to its <br />local government legislative authority a ten-year homeless housing plan for its jurisdictional area. <br />Activities eligible for funding can be found in Revised Code of Washington (RCW) 43.185C.050 and <br />include rent and furnishings for homeless persons, developing affordable housing for homeless persons, <br />services for people at risk of homelessness, housing subsidies, emergency eviction programs, rental <br />subsidies, temporary services for people leaving state institutions, outreach to homeless people, <br />development of the homelessness and housing plan, and other activities to reduce and prevent <br />homelessness as identified in the plan. <br /> <br />The Homelessness and Affordable Housing Committee (HAHC), appointed by the Kittitas County Board <br />of County Commissioners (BOCC), is responsible for the development, updating, and ensuring <br />implementation of the Kittitas County Homelessness and Affordable Housing Plan, including dispersing <br />the housing and homelessness funds in accordance with the plan and state law. The HAHC established a <br />subcommittee in March 2016 to review the current plan, analyze current homelessness and housing <br />data, and draft a revised plan for 2017. <br /> <br />This plan is a combination of both community priorities for addressing homelessness and affordable <br />housing, as well as funding priorities for the Kittitas County housing and homelessness funds as <br />described above. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />