We are only a few days into this short 60-day legislative session in Olympia, but already there are a few bills put forward by lawmakers that could help lower homelessness rates, reduce housing instability, and improve access to supportive services across the state.
House Bill 2266 and its counterpart in the senate, Senate Bill 6069 are proposals that could help improve and address the challenges that hinder progress to building more affordable housing, including housing that can accommodate programs like the ones we offer at TR. When housing is tied to supportive services, people have a better chance to stabilize after experiencing homelessness or behavioral health crises.
House Bill 2266 and Senate Bill 6069:
These twin bills aim to expand access to permanent supportive housing, transitional housing, indoor emergency housing, and indoor emergency shelters by removing local regulatory barriers that slow or block these developments. These proposals would require cities and counties to allow these housing types in many urban zones where they are not currently permitted and treat them similarly to other residential zones during planning and construction. This will help to streamline approvals and ensure much-needed supportive housing developments and shelters get built more quickly.
Why does this matter and how does it impact TR?
As an organization focused on behavioral health treatment and supportive housing for low-income adults, these bills seek to address one of the major hurdles in our battle to fight the homelessness crisis; building more housing that is intended for low- to middle-income individuals and families. This also includes those living with serious mental illness who need supportive housing services like the programs we have at TR
HB 2266 and SB 6069 at their core help increase housing supply, which is a key factor in addressing homelessness and improving outcomes. Ensuring these projects can be streamlined and opened more quickly to those who need support is critical to helping people like our clients and many others find their way to recovery. Removing needless barriers means more units get built faster and more consistently across communities.
Together, these bills reinforce a housing-first, supportive services-aligned structure that support our clients each day and help them find success every day, that stable housing and access to care are essential to recovery, health, and well-being.
How You Can Take Action
All of these bills are in committee right now, meaning now is the time to generate public support and advocacy to gain traction and attention on these bills:
- Contact Your Legislators
- Reach out to your state representative and senator via email or phone. Let them know you support HB 2266 and SB 6069 and explain why expanding supportive housing matters to you and to our community.
- Submit Testimony or Public Comments
- You can sign up to testify (or submit written comments) at committee hearings. Personal stories and professional expertise help lawmakers understand the real-world impact of these bills!
- Share With Your Networks
- Forward this post, share on social media, and encourage partners and community allies to speak up!
By supporting HB 2266 and SB 6069, we can help Washington move toward solutions that expand housing access, prioritize dignity and stability, and create a more just and equitable future for people experiencing homelessness.