OLYMPIA, Wash. — A new legislative proposal, Bill 1316, seeks to expand the Supporting Students’ Experiencing Homelessness Program (SSCH) to additional university campuses. The program, established in 2019, initially provided assistance to students who were in foster care when they graduated high school. It was expanded in 2021 and made permanent in 2023, with funding included in the 2023-25 biennial budget for all six public four-year institutions and 34 community and technical colleges.
Currently, the law restricts funding access to one campus per institution, leaving satellite campuses like Washington State University (WSU) Tri-Cities ineligible. The proposed bill would allow campuses such as University of Washington Bothell, University of Washington Tacoma, WSU Tri-Cities, and WSU Vancouver to implement programs for students experiencing homelessness.
Testimonies from students and campus groups highlight the growing need for support, particularly at large universities where food pantry usage is rising. In autumn 2024, the University of Washington food pantry saw a 14.3% increase in usage, with over 7,500 visitors. A recent survey revealed that respondents often skipped meals or reduced portion sizes due to food affordability issues…