City Of Renton: Mayor's Update - Human Services Funding

Press release from the City of Renton:

10/01/2021

Apply for

Contact

Find

Pay

Register

Rent

Report

Request

Subscribe

Mayor's Update - Human Services Funding

Periodically I will provide a mayor’s perspective on news items of importance to Renton residents.

Periodically I will provide a mayor’s perspective on news items of importance to Renton residents.

Submit your comments.

Subscribe

Friday, October 1, 2021

During their annual retreat, Renton City Council identified the importance of increased funding for human services programs.

As we move into the last quarter of the year, I’m pleased to report we have increased this funding from $800,000 at the beginning of the year to $3.4 million, which is 2.8% of our city budget. This amount does not include dedicated staff time.

This nearly three-fold increase in funding comes in part from our decision to retain the one-tenth of one percent sales tax revenue generated by HB 1590. From these funds we were able to form a new Equity, Housing, and Human Services department.

HB 1590 funds became available to use in the spring of 2021. A minimum of 60% of these dollars must be used for construction of affordable housing or mental health/behavioral health-related facilities, plus their operation and maintenance costs. Up to 40% of the funds can be used for mental and behavioral health services and housing-related services.

Longer range use of the funds will be informed by the recently completed Affordable Housing Needs Assessment (Housing Program), a Social Services Needs Assessment (Human Services Program) planned for next year, and other community input. Additionally, we anticipate that the soon-to-be-formed Equity Commission will have input as well as our Human Services Committee.

Responding to the human services needs of our community is vital. Through this new funding and the realignment of city investment in programs, we have new and exciting opportunities ahead.

In future updates I’ll share more about how I am working toward our goals with the realignment of our city departments and focusing on council priorities.

This press release was produced by the City of Renton. The views expressed here are the author’s own.