The Senate and House proposed budgets were released this week. While there are important policy and priority differences between the two budgets, both contain deep and widespread cuts to essential state services. United Way of King County promotes policies that help end homelessness, get kids ready for school and meet people’s basic needs. The effects of the budgets on United Way of King County priorities are outlined below.

Please let your legislators know the importance of protecting the most vulnerable as they work out the final budget over the next several weeks.

General Assistance Unemployable (GAU)

Although both the House and Senate budget proposals preserve some funding for the GAU program, the Senate budget substantially decreases cash grants, by 80 percent, and reduces medical benefits by $59.3 million. While the House budget also reduces GAU medical funding by $35 million, it fully preserves the $339 per month cash grants to clients. 

Action: Write your legislator today and encourage support of GAU at the level of the House’s proposed budget. Find your legislator>>

In contrast to the Governor’s proposed budget, both the House and Senate restored funding to the Council for Children and Families and the home visiting programs they administer. While the House preserved the state’s $3.5 million investment in evidence-based home visiting, the Senate decreased funding by 30 percent. 

Action: Write your legislator today and commend their support of evidence-based home visiting and request funding at the House level of spending. Find your legislator>>

Washington Information Network 2-1-1 (WIN 2-1-1)

In line with the Governor’s budget, the House and Senate both set WIN 2-1-1 funding at $1 million for the biennium. This represents a 50 percent reduction and severely hinders the agency’s ability to provide adequate services. 

Action: Write your legislator today and encourage increased support for WIN 2-1-1 during times of increased need. Find your legislator>>

Both the House and Senate budgets severely reduced funding to the Housing Trust Fund. The Senate budget decreased funding 62 percent, from $200 million to $72 million, while the House budget set funding at $110 million. 

Action: Write your legislator today and urge them to support the Housing Trust Fund at least at the level of the House’s proposed budget. Find your legislator>>

• Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) was maintained at $1 million in the Senate budget and reduced to $500,000 in the House budget. 

• Transitional Housing, Operating and Rent (THOR) was reduced by $10 million in the Senate budget and $1.5 million in the House budget. 

• Individual Development Accounts (IDA) were fully funded in the House budget though the Asset Building Coalition’s funding was decreased. Neither IDAs nor the Asset Building Coalition were funded in the Senate budget.

For more information about United Way of King County's Public Policy Agenda and how to get involved, contact Carol Wood, esq. director of public policy and community relations at (206) 461-3756.

All media queries should be directed to United Way of King County's Public Relations Manager, Jared Erlandson at (206) 461-3742.

Additional resources

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