Bill returns to regulate how cities allow homeless encampments hosted by religious organizations

A concerning proposal from 2015 that we worked on last session has, unfortunately, returned. As we did then, we have concerns that this proposal, HB 1754, would undermine locally negotiated agreements between cities and their faith communities.

State and federal law already significantly restrict a local jurisdiction from impeding a religious organization in fulfilling its mission to help the homeless. We are working with the sponsor to understand what problem this bill would address. We are looking for ways to ensure that cities have the ability to regulate the location, frequency, and cumulative community impact of these hostings, and we are concerned about the language that prescriptively limits that.

A proposed floor amendment by sponsor Rep. Sharon Tomiko Santos (D–Seattle) strikes all previous language. We are specifically concerned that this amendment:

• Allows hostings for at least six months per calendar year
• Allows subsequent hosting within three months at a particular site
• Allows hosting term for at least 4 consecutive months
• Restricts safe parking limitations, unless in a memorandum of understanding and within prescriptive statutory parameters
• Restricts limiting indoor sheltering in spaces without fire sprinklers if two accessible exits are available, unless a fire official finds the shelter poses imminent danger
• Restricts tiny house hosting limitations unless within prescriptive statutory parameters

Although AWC was engaged with the proponents during the 2018 interim, we were not approached in the 2019 interim and were not expecting this bill to return. We will continue to work with the sponsors on the necessity of this policy.