Project Overview
In 2021, recognizing the many challenges related to homelessness and housing insecurity, the Washington State Legislature directed the William D. Ruckelshaus Center to gather information and facilitate discussions with the goal of informing a long-term strategy for pathways to housing security. In 2022 and 2023, the Center conducted interviews and held discussions with hundreds of individuals with knowledge of housing and homelessness. Those discussions informed emerging options, opportunities, and concerns. Further discussions, held across the state, helped articulate guiding principles and refine emerging options into recommendations. The Center’s efforts culminated in a final report (PDF), released in December 2023. In May and June 2024, the Center held virtual workshops on applying the report’s recommendations.
Learn more about the 2023 workshops and the 2024 workshops!
Project Reports
Year Three Status of Fact Finding (PDF)
Final Report of Facilitated Discussions and Recommendations (PDF)
Appendix A: HB 1277, Section 6 (PDF)
Appendix B: About the Ruckelshaus Center (PDF)
Appendix C: Project Participants (PDF)
Appendix D: Meeting Materials – Focused Discussions (PDF)
Project Resources
The Report Overview Presentation describes the purpose and scope of the project’s final report. The presentation also provides examples to demonstrate how the report’s recommendations and guiding principles can be implemented.
The Community Mapping Activity can help organizations implement the report’s recommendations. The activity also provides opportunities to consider cross-sector collaboration with other organizations working in housing security.
The Guiding Principles Worksheet and Activity provide a structure for groups and individuals to consider whether their policies and services align with the guiding principles. The materials can be used together for reflection and assessment.
The Key Messages for Local Action describe considerations for local decision makers who are implementing programs and services related to housing security. The messages are based on the report’s themes and guiding principles.
After providing a short project overview, the Key Messages for Policymaking synthesize takeaways for housing-related policymaking and planning. The takeaways are based on the report’s recommendations, themes, and guiding principles.
The Recommendation Implementation Worksheet includes a summary of the report’s recommendations, followed by prompts that allow groups to consider action steps. The worksheet can be used to implement the recommendations.