Progressive Revenue Taskforce on Housing and Homelessness

Welcome

The Council convened a taskforce to identify progressive sources of revenue to assist people who are homeless or at high risk of becoming homeless. The goal is to help such people obtain and retain stable housing.

Read the Report of the Progressive Revenue Taskforce on Housing and Homelessness

About the Taskforce

On Monday, November 20, 2017, the City Council passed a resolution that created a taskforce. The taskforce explored potential new progressive revenue sources, including an Employee Hours Tax (EHT) and identified investments to be paid for using those progressive revenue sources that would assist people who are homeless or at high risk of becoming homeless in obtaining and retaining stable housing.

The taskforce developed recommendations that:

  1. Explore potential new progressive revenue sources, including an Employee Hours Tax (EHT)
  2. Identify investments to be paid for using those progressive revenue sources that would assist people who are homeless or at high risk of becoming homeless in obtaining and retaining stable housing

Considerations

  1. Evaluating an EHT and determining appropriate tax rates and possible exemption levels that are expected to yield between $25 million and $75 million in revenue per year.
  2. Identifying and evaluating additional progressive revenue sources for the Council's consideration.
  3. Proposing investments supported by the progressive revenues that help address the need for additional investments in homeless services, including immediate shelter and outreach, and income-restricted affordable housing units, that are consistent with the five principles outlined in Resolution.

Principles:

  1. Expanding funding for program approaches and housing investments that are most effective at assisting people, who are homeless or at high-risk of becoming homeless, in obtaining, maintain and retaining housing.
  2. Prioritizing shelter and housing access for people living unsheltered and people who have the longest histories of experiencing homelessness, including those that face the greatest barriers to housing due to structural and institutional barriers tied to criminal history or drug use, and/or have serious and persistent disabilities.
  3. Incorporating Statement of Legislative Intent 230-1-A-1-2018 approved by Council November 14, 2017 which outlines the Council's plan to issue bonds in 2019 to fund additional affordable housing projects for which there were inadequate City Housing funds.
  4. Orienting all aspects of the homeless response system towards exits to permanent housing.

Taskforce Members

Co-Chairs

  • Councilmember Lorena González , Co-Chair
  • Councilmember Lisa Herbold, Co-Chair
  • Kirsten Harris-Talley, Community Co-Chair
  • Tony To, Community Co-Chair

Members

  • Jennifer Adams
  • Andrew Coak
  • Lisa Daugaard
  • Ian Eisenberg
  • Samantha Grad
  • Brianna (Bri) Little
  • Daniel Malone
  • Tom Mathews
  • Courtney O'Toole
  • Katie Wilson
  • Maiko Winkler-Chin
  • Chris Maykut
  • Jesiah Wurtz

Staff

  • Dan Eder, Deputy Director of Central Staff
  • Erik Sund, Central Staff Budget Coordinator
  • Cody Reiter, Office of Councilmember González
  • Shannon Perez-Darby, Office of Councilmember Herbold
  • Ashley Harrison, Operations Coordinator

Work Plan & Enabling Resolution

Resources

Minutes & Video

Date Location Agenda Minutes Video
January 4, 2018, 9am - 11am Seattle City Hall, Bertha Knight Landes Room Meeting Agenda Download Minutes
January 18, 2018, 9am - 11am Seattle Municipal Tower, Room 4901 Meeting Agenda Watch Video
February 1, 2018, 9am - 11am Seattle Municipal Tower, Room 4901 Meeting Agenda Watch Video
February 15, 2018, 9am - 11am Seattle City Hall, Room 370 Watch Video
March 1, 9am - 11am Seattle City Hall, Bertha Knight Landes Room Meeting Agenda Watch Video

City Council

Address: 600 Fourth Ave. 2nd Floor, Seattle, WA, 98104
Mailing Address: PO Box 34025, Seattle, WA , 98124-4025
Phone: (206) 684-8888
Phone Alt: Listen Line: (206) 684-8566
Fax: (206) 684-8587
Meet the Council

The Seattle City Council establishes City policy through enactment of ordinances (laws) and adoption of resolutions. The City Council also approves and adopts the City's budget. The nine Council members and their legislative assistants are part of the City of Seattle Legislative Department.