Extended foster care/housing

AN ACT Relating to creating a housing assistance program for 1
youth enrolled in extended foster care; adding a new section to 2
chapter 74.13 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 13.34 RCW; and 3
creating a new section. 4
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:5
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that approximately 6
13 percent of young people in extended foster care experienced 7
homelessness in state fiscal year 2024. To obtain housing, many young 8
people who are dependent at age 18 are required to exit extended 9
foster care to access certain federal housing vouchers and thereby 10
lose the support of extended foster care.11
Accordingly, the state is unable to leverage existing resources, 12
including federal benefits, as young people use up their eligibility 13
for time-limited federal programs while they simultaneously decline 14
other programs needed for long-term success. Statutory changes are 15
required to ensure dependent young people in extended foster care are 16
stably housed as they prepare for independence. 17
It is the intent of the legislature to create a housing program 18
which provides a benefit to dependent young people in extended foster 19
care that is equivalent to the benefit provided by the federal foster 20
youth to independence program, such that young people in extended 21
H-0616.1
HOUSE BILL 1429
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session
By Representatives Taylor, Cortes, Leavitt, Simmons, Davis, Berry,
Peterson, Reed, Ramel, Gregerson, Goodman, Fey, Salahuddin, Obras,
Fosse, Hill, and Scott
Read first time 01/20/25. Referred to Committee on Early Learning &
Human Services.
p. 1 HB 1429
foster care can receive housing assistance while they are dependent 1
and still benefit from the federal program when they turn 21.2
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 74.13 3
RCW to read as follows: 4
(1) The extended foster care housing program is established to 5
provide rental assistance and associated housing fees to eligible 6
youth. The extended foster care housing program is intended to 7
prevent and alleviate homelessness among youth enrolled in extended 8
foster care. 9
(2) Youth are eligible for the extended foster care housing 10
program if they are: 11
(a) Receiving extended foster care services pursuant to RCW 12
13.34.267; and 13
(b) Experiencing homelessness or at imminent risk of experiencing 14
homelessness as defined by RCW 13.34.030. 15
(3) The department shall conduct a competitive procurement 16
process to identify an entity or entities to contract with for 17
operation of the extended foster care housing program. The 18
contractors must have a demonstrated understanding of the importance 19
of stable housing for youth involved with the child welfare system. 20
If no outside entity or entities are available to operate the program 21
or specific parts of the program, the department may operate the 22
program or the specific parts that are not operated by an outside 23
entity. 24
(4) The extended foster care housing program shall provide rental 25
assistance based on the following criteria: 26
(a) Rental assistance is provided to eligible dependent youth for 27
up to 36 months not to extend for any young person beyond age 21;28
(b) The amount of rental assistance must be based on the fair 29
market rent in the eligible youth's location; 30
(c) Eligible youth shall pay no more than 30 percent of their 31
adjusted gross income toward rent, including the extended foster care 32
subsidy; and 33
(d) If the youth's rent and utilities exceed the fair market rent 34
for that location, the youth's contribution may not exceed 40 percent 35
of their monthly adjusted gross income, including the extended foster 36
care subsidy. 37
(5) The department shall ensure that all eligible youth receive 38
access to rental housing assistance. 39
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(6) The department shall collect data on the housing status of 1
youth in extended foster care on an annual basis. 2
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. A new section is added to chapter 13.34 3
RCW to read as follows: 4
The department shall conduct a transition planning process with 5
youth enrolled in extended foster care at least three months prior to 6
their 21st birthday. The transition planning process must include, 7
but is not limited to: 8
(1) Assessing the youth's continued housing and financial 9
stability; 10
(2) Supporting the youth to apply to a federally funded housing 11
voucher program, when available, and if applicable;12
(3) Providing referrals to housing assistance; and13
(4) Providing referrals to benefits and services that support the 14
financial stability of the youth including education, employment, 15
physical and behavioral health care, and other available public 16
benefits. 17
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p. 3 HB 1429