OLYMPIA— A bill to expand support services for students experiencing homelessness or who have aged out of foster care was signed into law today by Governor Bob Ferguson. House Bill 1540, sponsored by Rep. Joe Timmons (D-Bellingham), extends eligibility for Washington’s successful Students Experiencing Homelessness program to the state’s accredited tribal college, Northwest Indian College (NWIC).
“This program has helped thousands of students across Washington stay in school and complete their education,” said Rep. Timmons. “By expanding it to include NWIC, we’re taking a meaningful step toward equity and ensuring more Native students have the resources they need to succeed.”
Since its creation, the Students Experiencing Homelessness program has supported more than 12,000 students in four-year universities and community and technical colleges across the state by providing basic needs like:
- Short-term housing and housing assistance
- Access to laundry, showers, storage, and technology
- Reduced-cost meal plans
- Case management and wraparound services
The program has demonstrated strong outcomes, with over 90% of participating students completing the academic term in which they received support. Native American and Alaska Native students experience some of the highest rates of housing and food insecurity in the state—making this expansion especially impactful.
The law takes effect 90 days after the end of the 2025 legislative session.