State Housing Mandate (STEP) Discussed at City Council Meeting

By Martin Barrett

During the November 4, 2024, Burien City Council meeting, STEP Housing led the agenda. STEP is a state-mandated program that is a vast and comprehensive change in housing. STEP is an acronym for various types of government housing, such as DESC, Mary’s Place, tiny homes, etc. State law requires cities to provide Shelters and Transitional, Emergency, and Permanent supportive housing.

As you can see on the map, it will impact most neighborhoods from the downtown core down to placement by or on the Three Point Store site. 

Chaney Skansen, Senior Planner, and Liz Stead, Community Development Director, presented them. They stated that there had been five meetings before introducing this.

STEP Housing Definitions

[As noted on page 3 of 29 on 12.d) Agenda Bill from 11/4/24 Burien Council Meeting.]

• Emergency housing means temporary indoor accommodations for individuals or families who are homeless or at imminent risk of becoming homeless. It is intended to address the basic health, food, clothing and personal hygiene needs of individuals or families. Emergency housing may or may not require occupants to enter into a lease or an occupancy agreement. (RCW 36.70A.030(14))

• Emergency shelter means a facility that provides a temporary shelter for individuals or families who are currently homeless. Emergency shelter may not require occupants to enter into a lease or an occupancy agreement. Emergency shelter facilities may include day and warming centers that do not provide overnight accommodations. (RCW 36.70A.030(15))

• Permanent supportive housing is subsidized, leased housing with no limit on length of stay that prioritizes people who need comprehensive support services to retain tenancy and utilizes admissions practices designed to use lower barriers to entry than would be typical for other subsidized or unsubsidized rental housing, especially related to rental history, criminal history and personal behaviors. Permanent supportive housing is paired with on-site or off-site voluntary services designed to support a person living with a complex and disabling behavioral health or physical health condition who was experiencing homelessness or was at imminent risk of homelessness prior to moving into housing to retain their housing and be a successful tenant in a housing arrangement, improve the resident’s health status, and connect the resident of the housing with community-based health care, treatment or employment services. Permanent supportive housing is subject to all of the rights and responsibilities defined in chapter 59.18 RCW. (RCW 36.70A.030(31))

• Transitional housing means a project that provides housing and supportive services to homeless persons or families and that has as its purpose facilitating the movement of homeless persons and families into independent living, generally in less than two years.

Council Discussion

Deputy Mayor Mora asked if Burien residents would be given preference. Ms. Stead said that the projects have often been funded by outside groups requiring folks that do not prioritize Burien residents. 

Mora also wanted to see an advisory committee.

Mayor Schilling suggested that any development with over 35 residents should have a community advisory group. Schilling added that this year, Burien has proved that Burien needs beds for the Burien people. Schilling also noted that the greater need in Burien is in the 120% of AMI (Average Median Income) housing units. Burien is over 3000 units short in this category, representing middle-income housing. He finished his comments by saying codifying community housing is of great interest to the community. 

CM Linda Akey said that one of the concerns about DESC was its impact on the immediate community. Akey expressed concern with properties that will allow drug and alcohol use in the building. The CM shared her fears that the people in these facilities are not receiving the care and help they need to recover. Akey asked if folks were required to be involved in recovery. Ms. Chaney said there would be a code of conduct like DESC. Then she said it was up to the funder’s parameters that might require a low barrier. She then shared how to mitigate flaws in the behavior requirements. Later, she said you cannot discriminate based on the type of user. Also, she said there are no regulations about placement around schools. 

Mora wants a homeless policy attached to this, like Bellevue’s Homeless Services Uses policy for the city. According to Ms. Stead, the development of this policy cost Bellevue about $50,000. Ms. Skansen cautioned that adding requirements would make it harder for STEP housing and would require the Burien staff to spend large amounts of time. Ms. Stead said Burien does not have the staffing level to vet a process with good screening. 

The vast scope of STEP is overwhelming. A city like Burien may be unable to manage it; it will need to take what we are told to take. 

LINK to Burien’s Presentation of Emergency Shelters

STEP housing will be discussed again on November 18. A final decision will be on December 9.

2025 Property Tax Levy & City Budget

The 2025 Property Tax Levy was presented. Highline School District receives 36% of the taxes. The City of Burien receives 7%, or $8.7 million, from property taxes, representing 23% of the city budget.

Total city revenues would be 37.6 million in 2025. The budget is balanced due to the City Manager’s designated Reserve Fund. The long-term budget is not sustainable, and in a few years, Burien will be in a deficit position without more revenue or cuts in expenses.