Homeless Housing Programs Funds

This section contains details about the fund sources administered by the Homeless Housing Section within the Housing and Community Development Program (HCD). These fund sources are only available by application to non-profit organizations, housing authorities, local governments and other public agencies.

Regional Affordable Housing Program (RAHP) Operations and Maintenance Fund

RAHP Background and Purpose

In 2002, Washington State created a recording fee surcharge on certain documents, with the revenue to be used for low-income housing. Funds are shared between the State and localities, and used for both capital projects and the operations and maintenance costs of certain transitional housing and emergency shelter projects. These guidelines refer only to the local (King County) Operations and Maintenance portion of this fund.

Who Can Apply for RAHP

Non-profit organizations, housing authorities and local governments in King County are eligible to apply for transitional housing projects or transitional units within housing projects that have received funds from the State of Washington Housing Trust Fund; or for emergency shelters and licensed overnight youth shelters.

RAHP Application Process

Total amount of funding available annually is about $352,000. This total is subdivided among projects serving Seattle, North/East King County and South King County, based upon a specific formula.

RAHP Special Requirements

• Minimum award amount is $15,000 and maximum award amount is $40,000.
• Households served must be at or below 50% of area median income
• Transitional housing programs can use funds only for operations and maintenance.
• Emergency shelter and licensed overnight youth shelter programs can use funds for operations, maintenance and supportive services.
• Transitional housing programs are given higher priority than emergency or licensed youth shelters.

Timing of Next Funding Round for RAHP

A combined RFP including these funds was released on March 6, 2009. Funding awarded through this RFP will be for July 2009 through June 2010.

Contact Information

Janice Hougen
(206) 263-9089

Transitional Housing, Operating and Rent (THOR) Program

THOR Background and Purpose

In 1999, Washington State created a new funding source to support transitional housing with supportive services for homeless families with children. THOR program funds are made available to King County through the Washington State Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development (CTED). King County's Housing and Community Development Program (HCD) awards and administers THOR funds on behalf of the Seattle-King County Continuum of Care for all agencies serving King County, including Seattle.

Who Can Apply for THOR

Non-profit organizations, housing authorities, or other public agencies in King County are eligible to apply for transitional housing projects or rental assistance programs.

THOR Application Process

Funds are awarded on a two-year funding cycle through a competitive RFP process. New and existing programs are eligible, whether or not they have received THOR funding in the past. The next Request for Proposal (RFP) will occur in spring 2009. Total amount of funding available annually is approximately $1,000,000. This total is subdivided among the two eligible funding categories: 1) operating subsidies for transitional housing projects (40%) and 2) transitional rental assistance programs (60%).

THOR Special Requirements

• Minimum award amount is $10,000. There is no maximum award amount.
• Participant families must be homeless and have one or more children under the age of 18 living with the family. Pregnant women and teens are also eligible. Eligible populations were expanded to include single adults in 2008-09 and this addition may continue into the next funding cycle.
• Participants may have incomes up to 50% of King County median income as adjusted for household size.
• The amount of THOR operating assistance for facility-based projects shall not exceed 50% of the project's proposed operating budget for the year.
• Partial rent assistance shall be for no fewer than 91 days and up to two years. Move-in, deposit and utility assistance is also eligible in conjunction with on-going rental assistance.
• Case management staff costs are limited to 40% of a THOR award.

Timing of Next Funding Round for THOR

A combined RFP including these funds was released on March 6, 2009. Funding awarded through this RFP will be for July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2010.

Contact Information

Linda Greenway
(206) 263-9021

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) McKinney Continuum of Care - Supportive Housing Program (SHP)

Purpose of SHP

SHP helps develop housing and related supportive services for people moving from homelessness to independent living. Program components include transitional housing, permanent housing for persons with disabilities, supportive services only, safe havens, homeless management information systems, and "innovative supportive housing". Eligible activities include acquisition and rehabilitation, new construction, leasing, supportive services, operating costs, and a portion of the cost of administering the grant.

Program funds are intended to help homeless people stabilize their living situation, increase their skills and their income, and gain more control over the decisions that affect their lives. Beneficiaries of services must meet the HUD definition of homeless, which is persons who are sleeping in places not fit for human habitation such as cars, parks, sidewalks, and abandoned buildings, or those sleeping in an emergency shelter as a primary nighttime residence.

SHP Application Process

McKinney SHP funds are competitive federal dollars. A Consolidated Application for SHP funds is submitted to HUD each year by the Seattle - King County Continuum of Care for the Homeless (CoC), which includes Seattle, all suburban communities, and the County. Because of the large number of projects in our continuum eligible for yearly renewal, the Seattle - King County CoC is currently eligible to apply for just under $15 million.

The application process is publicized broadly, and separate proposers' conferences are held for renewal and new applicants. All applications are reviewed using a rating tool with the criteria established through our CoC planning process, which results in a score-based rank order. This score-based order is adjusted as needed to increase the competitiveness of our application, which is then submitted to HUD. Funding awards are generally announced by HUD some six months after the application due date, with funds available two to three months after that.

Who Can Apply for SHP

Eligible applicants include private non-profit organizations, community mental health associations that are public non-profit organizations, local governments, and public housing authorities.

SHP Special Requirements

• New applications for McKinney SHP funding must be for new projects, or project expansions that will result in additional housing or service units.
• Applicants are required to submit their project to HUD through the local CoC (i.e., not directly to HUD).
• While the overall focus of SHP remains constant, HUD and/or local priorities may change over time, and will affect a given applications competitiveness.

Timing of Next Funding Round for SHP
The timing of the yearly McKinney SHP application round is determined by HUD. The exact date varies from year to year, but traditionally the application process takes place some time between March and July

Contact Information

Kate Speltz
(206) 263-9084

King County 2163 and 1359 document recording fee collections

Approximately $3 million collected annually in document recording fee dollars (HB 2163 and HB1359) are available to help further the goals of the Ten-Year Plan to End Homelessness. This is a flexible source of funding and broad fund priorities are set by the Committee to End Homelessness in King County (CEHKC) and further refined through the King County Combined NOFA planning process. The document recording fees are used for services, operating support and rental assistance linked to non time-limited housing. King County aims to fund projects serving a variety of homeless populations and projects throughout the county.

King County Veterans and Human Services Levy

Approximately $1 million per year of Veterans and Human Services Levy dollars are available to pay for services, operating support and rental assistance linked to non time-limited housing. A portion of the funds go to projects serving veterans and their families. Priority for the veterans related funds are given to projects that are serving veterans and their families and have a partnership with a veteran-serving agency. Click here to read the Veterans and Human Services Levy Service and Improvement Plan.

Mental Illness Drug Dependency (MIDD) Sales Tax Collections

Approximately $2 million in MIDD funds are available annually for non-clinical services needed to help persons with a disabling mental illness and/or chemical dependency maintain housing. These dollars do not pay for rental assistance or operating support. The goals of the MIDD funds are to reduce chronic homelessness and unnecessary involvement in the criminal justice and emergency medical systems. Click here to view the Mental Illness and Drug Dependency Implementation Plan.

Homeless Housing and Services Funds

HCD partners with the United Way of King County's Initiative to End Chronic Homelessness, which contributes homeless services funding to the  annual RFP for HHSF.

Timing of Next Funding Round for HHSF

The HHSF program holds an annual application round every year in the late summer to early fall.