Rights-of-Way Safety Initiative
During the 2022 legislative session, Gov. Inslee submitted a proposal to the Legislature to deliver housing and services to individuals and families living in certain state-owned rights of way. The Legislature modified this proposal before being passed within the 2022 supplemental operating budget (page 106, Section 132).
Key points summarizing current site activities and outcomes include (as of 3/20/2024):
- There are a total of 37 sites
- 2 sites are active
- 35 sites are closed
- 1,098 people have accepted housing
- 911 are in emergency/transitional housing
- 187 are in permanent housing
- 72% of people who accepted shelter or housing have remained stable and indoors
Memoranda of Understanding
The Department of Commerce, in collaboration with the Washington State Department of Transportation and Washington State Patrol, through Memorandums of Understanding (MOU) with cities, counties, and/or non-profits, has been tasked with establishing the targeted grant program to transition persons residing on state-owned rights of way to safer housing opportunities, with an emphasis on permanent housing solutions.
Under the 2022 supplemental operating budget, Commerce must post these MOUs to our website and provide updated MOUs on a 60-day cycle.
Funding Allocated by County and Fund Source
Note: Snohomish County decided not to submit a proposal, so Commerce reallocated the funds to other counties.
| County | ROW Proviso | Rapid Capital | Home Security | TOTAL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| King | $16,620,344 | $19,000,000 | $13,594,206 | $49,214,550 |
| Spokane | $8,607,817 | $6,500,000 | $10,322,000 | $25,429,817 |
| Pierce | $9,715,588 | $19,668,070 | $5,517,007 | $34,900,665 |
| Thurston | $5,803,333 | $14,831,930 | $7,168,070 | $27,803,333 |
| Snohomish | $4,000,000 | Reallocated* | $1,945,894 | $5,945,894 |
| Total | $44,747,082 | $60,000,000 | $38,547,177 | $143,294,259 |
Site Activity and Outcomes
The data provided in this chart is based on activity as of February 29, 2024.
*Updates below does not include Spokane.
*These sites may include funding and housing from other partners due to the right of way being multi-jurisdictional.
| Site | County | # of Residents as of by-name deadline | Accepted Housing | Temp / Shelter | Permanent Supportive Housing | Still in Housing | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 520 | King | Closed | 10 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 8 |
| Olive Way | King | Closed | 5 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 4 |
| Dearborn | King | Closed | 64 | 54 | 52 | 2 | 25 |
| Northgate | King | Closed | 27 | 26 | 24 | 2 | 12 |
| Eastlake | King | Closed | 7 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 4 |
| South Park* | King | Closed | 33 | 30 | 30 | 0 | 22 |
| Pasadena | King | Closed | 14 | 14 | 14 | 0 | 5 |
| CID* | King | Closed | 167 | 146 | 54 | 92 | 103 |
| Airport Way/Snoqualmie | King | Closed | 14 | 12 | 10 | 2 | 8 |
| Myers Way | King | Closed | 36 | 29 | 27 | 2 | 15 |
| I-5 U District | King | Closed | 30 | 28 | 25 | 3 | 28 |
| McDougall Ave. | Snohomish | Closed | 10 | 10 | 0 | 10 | 10 |
| 112th | Snohomish | Closed | 4 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 4 |
| Smokey Point Rest Area | Snohomish | Active | 190 | 60 | 60 | 0 | 48 |
| Silver Lake Trail | Snohomish | Closed | 17 | 17 | 2 | 15 | 15 |
| Everett Ave I-5 Overpass | Snohomish | Closed | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 19th Ave Winco | Snohomish | Closed | 5 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 4 |
| SR 104 & SR 99 | Snohomish | Closed | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 164th S. on ramp I-5 | Snohomish | Closed | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Swamp Creek | Snohomish | Closed | 26 | 26 | 9 | 17 | 17 |
| I-5/ SR 526 Scale House | Snohomish | Closed | 6 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| 128th & I-5 | Snohomish | Closed | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Lilly | Thurston | Closed | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Pacific | Thurston | Closed | 16 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 1 |
| City Center | Thurston | Closed | 36 | 30 | 30 | 0 | 25 |
| Wheeler Ave. | Thurston | Closed | 54 | 47 | 47 | 0 | 39 |
| Sleater Kinney | Thurston | Closed | 152 | 130 | 130 | 0 | 128 |
| Nickerson | Thurston | Closed | 27 | 24 | 24 | 0 | 24 |
| Sherwood/ DES | Thurston | Active | 17 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| Camp Hope | Spokane | Closed | 467 | 184 | 157 | 27 | 154 |
| 84th & Hosmer | Pierce | Closed | 78 | 46 | 46 | 0 | 13 |
| Bay Street | Pierce | Closed | 46 | 35 | 32 | 3 | 9 |
| 74th & Tacoma Mall Blvd | Pierce | Closed | 39 | 37 | 37 | 0 | 21 |
| Bridgeport | Pierce | Closed | 5 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 4 |
| SR 7 & 38th Street | Pierce | Closed | 21 | 18 | 18 | 0 | 10 |
| Off-Site (SR 16 Park & Ride) | Pierce | Closed | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| SR-512 E & Pacific Ave. | Pierce | Closed | 42 | 29 | 28 | 1 | 21 |
| Total | 37 | 1,675 | 1,098 | 911 | 187 | 796 |
Contact
Media Relations Manager
Penny Thomas
Email: Press@Commerce.wa.gov