Inslee Signs Bill To Rapidly Expand Housing For The Homeless

OLYMPIA, WA — Gov. Jay Inslee on Wednesday signed the Apple Health and Homes Act into law, a bill which aims to quickly transition people living with homelessness into permanent housing.

The bill, also known as HB 1866, works by linking housing to the state's Apple Health insurance program, for those who need both. By doing so, supporters say the state will be able to help the roughly 70 percent of people who are chronically homeless that suffer mental illness, substance use disorders, physical disabilities or other health conditions that make finding housing a struggle.

“The epidemic of homelessness in communities across Washington is creating immense suffering,” said Rep. Frank Chopp (D-Seattle), the bill's primary sponsor. “It is threatening the lives of homeless people, eroding public confidence, and undermining the shared values that have driven our state's prosperity, including public safety and access to our public streets and parks.”

According to a release from Washington House Democrats, the bill is organized around five major components:

• treating chronic homelessness as a medical condition;
• investing in preventative services, reducing costs to local emergency systems;
• creating more supportive housing statewide;
• expanding the capacity of supportive housing providers; and
• ensuring oversight and accountability through the Office of Health and Homes.

“In my years of work to treat people with opioid use disorder, I have found that the single biggest obstacle to success for many of these folks is lack of housing options. Housing instability contributes to the skyrocketing overdose death rate, and the exceedingly high cost of health care for people with medical and behavioral health disabilities,” said Dr. Lucinda Grande, a practicing physician in Lacey. “Providing supportive housing and investments in services is an important means of reducing high utilization of emergency departments and inpatient wards.”

The program will be overseen by the new Office of Health and Homes, which will coordinate between the Health Care Authority and Department of Commerce. The initiative is supported by a number of investments from the legislature, including:

• $300 million for Rapid Capital Acquisition, including $60 million for Permanent Supportive Housing through the new Apple Health and Homes program
• $113 million for the Housing Trust Fund
• $15 million for homeless youth projects
• $55 million for supportive housing provider workforce capacity
• $35 million in operating dollars for the Apple Health and Homes program
• $6.5 million for supportive services and capacity grants.