The Washington state Legislature has determined that housing providers receiving housing trust fund resources in Washington are experiencing difficulties with their insurance coverages, including affordability and nonrenewal of policies. Providers cannot operate without insurance and Washington communities cannot thrive without these critical providers. The state must keep these housing providers in operation and ensure that they are appropriately insured so that the state can continue to house some of its most vulnerable residents.
The Legislature has asked the Insurance Commissioner to conduct a study on the insurance market considerations for housing providers receiving housing trust fund resources under RCW 43.185A.130 and serving extremely low-income households as defined in RCW 36.70A.030. It will include:
- Collect the information required under this section from entities transacting insurance with housing providers described in subsection (1) of this section, and any identified authorized insurers, unauthorized insurers, and risk retention groups, are required to provide the requested information to the commissioner;
- Obtain data from the previous five years on the number and types of policies in effect, whether and why policies were nonrenewed or canceled, claims activity, and premiums and deductibles; and
- Investigate and request any other relevant information that may assist the commissioner with analyzing the availability of property and liability coverages for housing providers described in subsection (1) of this section and any other trends that may affect market availability.
- Provide a report by December 31, 2024.
Work group report
Work group meeting agenda, materials, and recordings
October 23 meeting
August 13 and September 10 meetings
- The August and September work group meetings are canceled to allow for further research and interviews.
July 9 meeting
June 11 meeting
Work group members
| Name | Organization |
|---|---|
| Bryon Welch | Office of the Insurance Commissioner |
| Melodie Pazolt | Department of Commerce |
| Nathan Litchti | Department of Commerce |
| Jason Siems | Office of Risk Management, Department of Enterprise Services |
| Joy Erven | Surplus Line Association of Washington |
| Sarah McDonnell | Non-Profit Insurance Program |
| Duane Leonard | Housing Authority of Snohomish County |
| Kirsten De Simone | Volunteers of America Eastern Washington |
| Brandon Martin | Volunteers of America Eastern Washington |
| Renee Rooker | Walla Walla Housing Authority |
| Margaret Gritten | YWCA |
| Erika Muñoz | Tacoma Housing Authority |
Michele Thomas | Washington Low Income Housing Alliance |
| Flo Beaumon | Catholic Housing Services of Western Washington |
| Lowel Krueger | Yakima Housing Authority |
| Nathan Bartholome | Plymouth Housing |
| Jackie Moynahan | Washington State Housing Finance Commission |
Background information
Housing provider surveys
Housing provider work group data call
- Pursuant to Chapter 74, Laws of 2024, Commissioner Kreidler issued a data call to specifically identified insurance related entities that may have provided property and/or liability coverage within the last five years to housing providers receiving housing trust fund resources and serving extremely low-income households.
Comments
- To submit comments or questions contact policy and legislative affairs