OLYMPIA – This afternoon, House Bill 1177, a pivotal measure aimed at strengthening the Child Welfare Housing Assistance Program, passed the House. Introduced by Rep. Lillian Ortiz-Self (D-Mukilteo), the bill seeks to eliminate the current waiting list for eligible families in the Child Welfare Housing Assistance program. This will help ensure that housing instability does not prevent family reunification or contribute to unnecessary foster care placements.

The legislation also allows families to continue receiving assistance after DCYF’s involvement in child welfare or protective services ends. To improve transparency, the bill requires that DCYF adopt formal procedures for program implementation and include detailed reports on funding and expenditures in its annual updates.

Rep. Ortiz-Self highlighted this bill as a significant step toward providing stable housing for families in need, stating, “It costs the state more to support foster care than it would to provide housing assistance, and we know that housing stability directly impacts family reunification. Family separation causes long-term harm, but this bill provides an opportunity to keep families intact and prevent the lasting trauma of being torn apart.”

HB 1177 awaits further consideration in the Senate. Learn more by clicking here or on the video below: