Tukwila: STEP Housing

Washington State's HB 1220, passed in 2021, significantly impacted local regulations concerning "STEP Housing," encompassing emergency shelters, transitional housing, emergency housing, and permanent supportive housing. This legislation aimed to reduce restrictions on siting these crucial housing types. The law defines each STEP Housing type, clarifying distinctions between them and other similar facilities like group homes or assisted living. It explicitly excludes temporary encampments, tiny home villages, and traditional income-restricted housing, among other facility types, from the STEP Housing designation. Following the passage of HB 1220, Tukwila adopted regulations via Ordinance 2658 to align with the state statute. However, at that time, the Department of Commerce hadn't yet issued implementation guidance, nor had King County and the State Office of Financial Management finalized bed allocation numbers for each jurisdiction.

Since then, Commerce has released guidance, and Tukwila's housing targets for 2024-2044 have been established. These targets identify a need for capacity to accommodate 471 individuals requiring permanent supportive housing and 1,242 individuals needing emergency housing. HB 1220, codified as RCW 35A.21.430, mandates that cities allow transitional and permanent supportive housing in all zones permitting residential units and hotels, and indoor emergency shelters and housing in zones allowing hotels. Tukwila's 2021 ordinance addressed these requirements, with some exceptions in the Tukwila Urban Center. The statute also allows for "reasonable occupancy, spacing, and intensity of use requirements" but stipulates that these cannot prevent the siting of sufficient STEP Housing to meet the city's projected needs.

Currently, Tukwila's municipal code restricts STEP Housing through buffer distances between facilities and maximum occupancy limits. However, these restrictions are now considered non-compliant with RCW 35A.21.430, as they potentially hinder the city's ability to meet its projected STEP Housing needs. Furthermore, the city's Comprehensive Plan, while including policies addressing STEP Housing, has been flagged by review agencies for not demonstrating sufficient capacity for these housing types due to existing development regulations. Review agencies, including the Department of Commerce, Puget Sound Regional Council, and King County, have specifically pointed out the need to update these regulations to ensure sufficient capacity, particularly for emergency housing. The current buffer requirements, especially in relation to religious organizations also permitted to host certain STEP housing types, are visualized to illustrate their potential impact on siting non-religiously affiliated facilities. Therefore, Tukwila must revise its regulations to comply with state law and accommodate its STEP Housing targets.