MEMO TO: Members of the City Council
FROM: Mayor Angela Birney
SUBJECT:
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Allocation of Sales and Use Tax Authorized Under House Bill 1406 for Rental Assistance
I. RECOMMENDED ACTION
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Allocate funds collected in accordance with Ordinance No. 2985 enabled by Chapter 52.14 of the Revised Code of Washington (as amended by Substitute House Bill 1406) and authorize the expenditure of $100,000 of the special tax revenue funds for the purpose of rental assistance.
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II. DEPARTMENT CONTACTS
Carol Helland, Director 425-556-2107
Beverly Mesa-Zendt, Human Services Manager 425-556-2423
Brooke Buckingham, Senior Human Services Planner 425-556-2416
Planning and Community Development
III. DESCRIPTION/BACKGROUND
At the April 21, 2020, Human Services Commission meeting, the Human Services Commission recommended that the City Council establish a special tax revenue fund for funds collected in accordance with Ordinance No. 2985 (authorized by 52.14 RCW as amended by Bill 1406) and authorize the expenditure of $100,000 of the special tax revenue funds for the purpose of rental assistance.
Although state, regional, and local funding have been identified to address critical life and safety needs, specifically shelter and day center operations for individuals experiencing homelessness, rental assistance has emerged as one of the greatest and most persistent needs of the community. With recent job losses and/or reduced wages, many residents are struggling to pay for their most basic needs, and some are accessing services for the first time. Given the extended nature of the pandemic, rental assistance continues to be one of the greatest, underfunded needs. This is exemplified by the experiences and reports of the following local non-profit agencies that offer rental assistance.
* United Way launched a $5M rental assistance program on Friday, April 10, and by Saturday, they had reported receiving more than double the number o...
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