Wash. Rev. Code § 59.24 § 59.24.020
Program established -- Grants -- Eligible participants.
Operative Text
(1) The department of commerce shall establish the rental security deposit guarantee program. Through this program the department of commerce shall provide grants and technical assistance to local governments or nonprofit corporations, including local housing authorities as defined in RCW 35.82.030 , who operate emergency housing shelters or transitional housing programs. The grants are to be used for the payment of residential rental security deposits under this chapter. The technical assistance is to help the local government or nonprofit corporation apply for grants and carry out the program. In order to be eligible for grants under this program, the recipient local government or nonprofit corporation shall provide fifteen percent of the total amount needed for the security deposit. The security deposit may include last month's rent where such rent is required as a normal practice by the landlord. (2) The grants and matching funds shall be placed by the recipient local government or nonprofit corporation in a revolving loan fund and deposited in a bank or savings institution in an account that is separate from all other funds of the recipient. The funds and interest earned on these funds shall be utilized only as collateral to guarantee the payment of a security deposit required by a residential rental property owner as a condition for entering into a rental agreement with a prospective tenant. (3) Prospective tenants who are eligible to participate in the rental security deposit guarantee program shall be limited to homeless persons or families who are residing in an emergency shelter or transitional housing operated by a local government or a nonprofit corporation, or to families who are temporarily residing in a park, car, or are otherwise without adequate shelter. The local government or nonprofit corporation shall make a determination regarding the person's or family's eligibility to participate in this program and a determination that a local rental unit is available for occupation. A determination of eligibility shall include, but is not limited to: (a) A determination that the person or family is homeless or is in transitional housing; (b) a verification of income and that the person or family can reasonably make the monthly rental payment; and (c) a determination that the person or family does not have the financial resources to make the rental security deposit.
Washington's Rental Security Deposit Guarantee Program, established under Wash. Rev. Code § 59.24.020, directs the Department of Commerce to award grants and technical assistance to local governments and qualifying nonprofit corporations that run emergency shelters or transitional housing. These funds are pooled with a required 15% local match into a revolving loan fund held in a dedicated bank account, where they serve as collateral to cover security deposits—and in some cases last month's rent—for eligible tenants entering private rental agreements. Participation is limited to homeless individuals or families currently in emergency shelters, transitional housing, or otherwise without adequate shelter, who meet income and financial-need criteria determined by the administering organization.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Wash. Rev. Code § 59.24.020, a landlord who accepts a tenant participating in this program receives a guarantee backed by the revolving loan fund rather than a traditional cash deposit paid directly by the tenant. Compliant operators generally confirm with the administering local government or nonprofit that the guarantee arrangement satisfies the security deposit requirement under the rental agreement. Where last month's rent is a standard practice for the property, that amount may also be covered under the program's guarantee, so operators typically document their standard practices clearly when working with program administrators.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Wash. Rev. Code § 59.24.020 creates a right for eligible homeless individuals and families to access a state-backed security deposit guarantee so that lack of upfront funds does not automatically bar them from securing housing. Eligibility is determined by the local government or nonprofit running the shelter or transitional housing program, and includes verification of homelessness status, income, and inability to pay the deposit independently. Tenants who believe they qualify can inquire directly with an emergency shelter, transitional housing provider, or local housing authority about applying, and tenant-rights organizations can help explain how the program interacts with other housing rights.
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 7, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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