The Department of Commerce has published final model ordinances and guidance for cities and counties required to include middle housing under HB 1110 (2023). To account for differing middle housing requirements based on population, one model ordinance has been prepared to assist cities 25,000 in population and greater; another for those cities less than 25,000 in population. Final Model Ordinance for cities 25,000 and over (PDF) Final Model Ordinance for…
Updated 2:05 p.m. 1/24/24 Funding aims to meet young people where they are, through schools, community services, and health services OLYMPIA, WA — Washington’s Office of Homeless Youth (OHY) in the Department of Commerce today announced $4.8 million in grants to 19 organizations to help prevent and address housing instability among young people. Grants will fund school-based interventions, crisis interventions to help youth and families resolve conflict, and support to…
YHDP The Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program (YHDP) is an initiative designed to reduce the number of youth experiencing homelessness. The goal of the YHDP is to support selected communities, including rural, suburban, and urban areas across the United States, in the development and implementation of a coordinated community approach to preventing and ending youth homelessness. YHDP Orientation Sessions Washington State Department of Commerce Balance of State via the Office of Homeless…
Domestic Manufacturing Conversion Grants– The Department of Energy has announced a $2 billion funding opportunity to expand manufacturing of electric vehicles by converting facilities to manufacture electric vehicles and components. Concept papers are due by November 1, 2023. Full applications are due January 23, 2024. Zero Emission School Bus Grant Program 2023-2025– The Washington State Department of Ecology announces the availability of approximately $14 million in grants to help accelerate the…
Following the passage of HB 1250 in the 2023 legislative session, the former low-income revolving loan program (HRLP) is terminated as of July 1, 2023. The legislation directs Commerce to forgive all outstanding loans and initiate rulemaking to develop a new grant program established in a new section added to chapter 43.330 RCW. Commerce plans to complete the rulemaking for the new grant program by March 2024. Commerce filed the…
Historic funding to increase state’s affordable housing stock by 3,913 multifamily/rental units and new homes for low-income homebuyers OLYMPIA, WA — The Washington State Department of Commerce today announced historic investments totaling $312.6 million to address the urgent need for affordable housing in communities throughout Washington state. Lack of affordable housing and sufficient supportive housing options for vulnerable populations are top contributors to chronic homelessness. It is estimated that over…
2023 Legislative Report details progress, recommendations, next steps in addressing gun violence in Washington communities OLYMPIA, WA — Firearm violence is a persistent health and safety threat for communities and families in Washington state, where a person is killed with a gun every 12 hours (Office of Firearm Safety and Violence Prevention Dashboard). These deaths and injuries are preventable. Three years into its work to support and coordinate the implementation…
Planning for households earning less than 50 percent of the area median income (AMI) requires coordination between counties, cities, and service providers. Grants are now available through Feb. 16, 2024, to help support coordination of land use planning and homeless service planning. Commerce has allocated $1 million with up to $50,000 in funding available for each countywide or regional application using the following criteria. Grant applicants must be: A county…
Commerce has $1 million in funding available for the current 2023-25 biennium to help counties and cities plan together for their lowest income housing needs through their upcoming comprehensive plans, consolidated plans, homelessness plans and other efforts. Grants are available to a county or a city planning department, a homeless housing lead or similar designated department within a local government, or a local non-profit provider of affordable housing or homeless…
Thank you to all who joined the WA Department of Commerce’s Energy Division on December 20, 2023 for our pre-session priority briefing! We had a jam-packed meeting with a total of over 400 stakeholders from various geographies and sectors across the state. Panelists from the Energy Division’s policy team presented on a wide range of our priorities heading into the 2024 legislative session including: clean transportation, community clean energy development…