Wash. Rev. Code § 43.185A § 43.185A.140

Use of moneys for loans and grant projects to provide affordable housing -- Eligible activities.

In Force
Verified 10/26/2026 · Next check 11/25/2026
effective 10/7/2026WashingtonAffordable Housing Programs

Operative Text

Wash. Rev. Code § 43.185A § 43.185A.140
(1) The department must use moneys from the housing trust fund and other legislative appropriations to finance in whole or in part any loan or grant projects that will provide affordable housing for persons and families with special housing needs and who are low-income households.
(2) At least thirty percent of these moneys used in any given funding cycle must be for the benefit of projects located in rural areas of the state as defined by the department. If the department determines that it has not received an adequate number of suitable applications for rural projects during any given funding cycle, the department may allocate unused moneys for projects in nonrural areas of the state.
(3) The department must prioritize allocating at least, but not limited to, 10 percent of these moneys used in any given funding cycle to organizations that serve and are substantially governed by individuals disproportionately impacted by homelessness, including black, indigenous, and other people of color and, lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, transgender, and other gender-diverse individuals.
(4) Activities eligible for assistance from the housing trust fund and other legislative appropriations include, but are not limited to:
(a) New construction, rehabilitation, or acquisition of low and very low-income housing units;
(b) Preconstruction technical assistance, design and finance services and consultation, and administrative costs for eligible nonprofit community or neighborhood-based organizations;
(c) Administrative costs for housing assistance groups or organizations when such grant or loan will substantially increase the recipient's access to housing funds other than those available under this chapter;
(d) Shelters for the homeless, including emergency shelters and overnight youth shelters;
(e) Down payment or closing costs assistance for low-income first-time homebuyers;
(f) Acquisition of housing units for the purpose of preservation as low-income housing;
(g) Projects making affordable housing projects more accessible to low-income households with members who have disabilities; and
(h) Remodeling and improvements as required to meet building code, licensing requirements, or legal operations to residential properties owned and operated by an entity eligible under RCW 43.185A.040 , which were transferred as described in RCW 82.45.010 (3)(t) by the parent of a child with developmental disabilities.
(5)(a) Legislative appropriations from capital bond proceeds may be used for the costs of projects authorized under subsection (4) of this section, except for costs of subsection (4)(c) of this section.
(b) The department may use up to three percent of the appropriations from capital bond proceeds or other new appropriations for affordable housing investments for administrative costs associated with application, distribution, and project development activities of the affordable housing program.
(c) Reappropriations must not be included in the calculation of the annual funds available for determining the administrative costs.
(6)(a) Moneys received from repayment of housing trust fund loans or other affordable housing appropriations may be used for all activities necessary for the proper functioning of the affordable housing program, including, but not limited to, providing preservation funding, as provided in RCW 43.185A.180 , and preconstruction technical assistance as provided in RCW 43.185A.170 .
(b) Administrative costs associated with compliance and monitoring activities of the department may not exceed four-tenths of one percent annually of the contracted amount of state investment in affordable housing programs.
Source: Legislative text reproduced verbatim
Plain English

Washington Revised Code § 43.185A.140 establishes how the state's Housing Trust Fund and related legislative appropriations must be directed toward affordable housing. At least 30 percent of funds in each funding cycle must go to projects in rural areas, and at least 10 percent must benefit organizations that serve communities disproportionately impacted by homelessness, including people of color and LGBTQ+ individuals. The law lists a broad range of eligible activities—from new construction and rehabilitation to emergency shelters, homebuyer assistance, and accessibility improvements—and sets caps on how much of the money can be spent on administrative costs.

Written by anthropic/claude-sonnet-4.6 · Reviewed on October 14, 2026

Plain English — not legal advice.

For Property Managers

Developers, nonprofit housing organizations, and other entities seeking funding under Wash. Rev. Code § 43.185A.140 should be aware that the Washington State Department of Commerce administers these funds with specific allocation requirements built into each funding cycle. Eligible operators generally ensure their project applications clearly identify whether the project is located in a rural area and whether the organization is governed by individuals from communities disproportionately impacted by homelessness, as both factors influence funding prioritization. Compliant applicants also document that their proposed activities fall within the eligible categories listed in the statute, such as new construction, rehabilitation, acquisition, or accessibility improvements for low-income households.

General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.

For Tenants

Wash. Rev. Code § 43.185A.140 is the legal foundation for Washington's Housing Trust Fund, which finances affordable housing projects that low-income tenants and households with special housing needs may ultimately benefit from. Tenants who are experiencing homelessness, belong to communities of color, or identify as LGBTQ+ may find that organizations serving their communities are specifically prioritized for a share of these funds. Those seeking affordable housing resources can explore options through local tenant-rights organizations, community development nonprofits, or the Washington State Department of Commerce, which oversees the program established by this provision.

General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.

Generated October 14, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.

Effective Timeline

Current
Oct 7, 2026
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Related Rules

§ 574.605
§ 574.605 Applicability of uniform administrative requirements, cost principles, and audit requirements for Federal awards.
§ 574.625
§ 574.625 Conflict of interest.
§ 574.645
§ 574.645 Coastal barriers.

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