(The Center Square) – The executive offices at King County and the City of Seattle have announced their intention to renew the contract with the King County Regional Homelessness Authority with changes to its governance structure.
The new interlocal agreement with the King County Regional Homelessness Authority, better referred to as KCRHA, would create a single governing board that would be responsible for providing fiscal oversight, setting strategic policy direction, monitoring performance, and ensuring the agency is making progress to fulfill its mission.
The proposed KCRHA Governing Board would be comprised of 12 total members, including: King County Executive Dow Constantine, Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell, two members of the King County Council, two members of the Seattle City Council, three elected officials from the Sound Cities Association, and three members who have lived experience who would have to be appointed by the city, county and association.
KCRHA has served as the organization responsible for coordinating funding and services for unhoused people across all of King County since 2019.
The agency’s funding for nonprofit organizations increased from approximately $134.7 million in 2022 to $169 million in 2023, a 25% increase. The agency’s funding for 60 organizations in the 2024 budget is $167.8 million, according to documents obtained by The Center Square.
Despite the funding, the homelessness crisis in King County has worsened. According to the latest Point-in-Time count, there have been 16,385 people experiencing homelessness in King County in 2024. That is a 22.6% increase from the last point-in-time count conducted by the county in 2022, which found 13,368 homeless people in King County.
“With new leadership, an updated structure, and enhanced county-wide coordination at the King County Regional Homelessness Authority, we’re continuing our work to confront the homelessness crisis and bring people inside,” Constantine said in a statement.
Currently, KCRHA has three separate boards that have oversight authority: the governing committee, the implementation board, and the Seattle King County Continuum of Care Board, which is in charge of applying for federal funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for homelessness assistance.
In a Seattle City Council committee meeting last March, Seattle City Councilmember Rob Saka described the agency’s structure as “somewhat confusing and clunky.”
Seattle City Council Chair Sara Nelson had concerns over the agency’s implementation board, which are responsible for providing direction and oversight to the agency. Board members are required to have experience in the housing and homelessness fields, but are not elected officials.
The KCRHA Implementation Board is anticipated to complete its scheduled meetings through 2024 before sunsetting.
The Continuum of Care Board will continue to carry out mandatory functions required by the Department of Housing and Urban Development and may opt to serve in an advisory capacity to the proposed singular KCRHA Governing Board.
Amending the KCRHA interlocal agreement will require approval from the Seattle City Council and the King County Council. They are expected to vote on the legislation in September.
The Sound Cities Association is also expected to vote on the changes to the agreement.
