Caldier bill seeks to reduce homelessness
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Caldier bill seeks to reduce homelessness
A bill that would create a home sharing grant program to help reduce the homeless population in Washington state was recently heard by a House committee.
House Bill 1183, authored by Rep. Michelle Caldier, R-Port Orchard, would use a portion of the state’s document recording fee to support home sharing programs that match homeless people with homeowners willing to share space on their property.
“Home sharing is really the least expensive and most effective way we can help people who are homeless, or are on the verge of homelessness, get into a home,” Caldier told the House Housing, Human Services and Veterans Committee on Thursday. “It’s about a thousand dollars per person. That’s incredibly cost efficient, compared to other programs that can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to get people into homes.”
The measure would create the Home Sharing Support Grant Program within the Washington State Department of Commerce to support nonprofit organizations that operate home sharing programs.
“Some of our home sharing nonprofit agencies have struggled due to the pandemic, including one in Kitsap County that had to close. My legislation would support an innovative program through grants to help provide shelter for the homeless,” added Caldier.
The measure is awaiting committee action.
