Housing and Essential Needs (HEN) – King County

The Housing and Essential Needs (HEN) program provides access to essential needs items, transportation assistance, and potential rental and utility assistance for low-income individuals who are unable to work for at least 90 days due to a physical and/or mental incapacity and meet income and resource requirements, or are on the Aged, Blind or Disabled (ABD) program.

HEN Services may include:

• Limited rent and utility assistance (when available)
• Move-in costs and one-time back rent assistance
• Personal health and hygiene items
• Cleaning supplies
• Annual ORCA Lift bus pass

Program Enrollment

The King County HEN Program is currently offering eligible people transportation and essential needs services and adding people to a rent interest list by calling the HEN Resource Line at 206-328-5755 M-F from 9:00am - 2:30pm. At this time, we are NOT able to offer rent and utility assistance to new clients. As funding and capacity allow, we will prioritize people for rent and utility assistance from our rent interest list who meet program criteria. Please call our Resource Line (206-328-5755) for more information.

Frequently Asked Questions

Eligibility for the HEN program is determined by the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) and the program is administered by Catholic Community Services in King County. HEN is not an entitlement program, and program services are subject to funding availability and may be discontinued or reduced at any time.

Eligible recipients located outside of King County should contact the HEN provider in their county for information about the services available. Click here for a HEN directory by county.

To qualify applicants must have:

• A disability (physical and/or mental and/or substance use disorder) AND
• Have limited income or be receiving ABD (Aged, Blind and Disabled) cash benefit program*
• For more qualifications click here.

All individuals who wish to enroll in HEN must receive first enroll with DSHS and then, if they are eligible, they will receive a referral letter from DSHS letting them know they are eligible for HEN.

People can apply with DSHS for cash assistance online at www.washingtonconnection.org, call 877-501-2233 or at any Community Service Office (DSHS).

Once they receive a HEN referral letter, they can call the HEN Resource Line at 206-328-5755 to verify their eligibility.

If confirmed eligible, they may begin accessing a monthly essentials needs bag and can get an ORCA card. They will also be added to our rental assistance interest list. As program funding and capacity allows, CCS will prioritize people for rental assistance funding who are currently on the rental assistance list. A HEN case manager will reach out to contact any individuals who may meet program criteria for rent and/or utility assistance if it becomes available.

Transportation and Essential Needs (Everyone)
All individuals who are eligible for HEN in King County can immediately receive the following:

• Annual ORCA Lift Pass for access to free area public transportation for one year
• A monthly bag of hygiene and cleaning supplies

Potential Rent and Utility Assistance (some people)

Individuals who on the rental assistance interest list may also be offered the following, pending future program availability, and if they meet program criteria.

• Rent and Utility Assistance. Evaluation of the amount of combined monthly rent and utility assistance that can be provided will happen at the intake appointment.
• Move-in assistance, including application fees and first month’s rent. This may be available depending on the type of unit and the relationship with the landlord. Documentation of formal rental relationship is required.
• Back pay assistance for those behind in rent and or utility payments.

Not Covered

• HEN cannot provide ongoing rent/utility payments for those households living in subsidized housing as defined as public housing (SHA, KCHA or RHA buildings) or those receiving a section 8 voucher. Current HEN clients may be eligible for limited past due utility bill assistance. Contact the HEN program to find out more.
• HEN cannot provide utility assistance or mortgage payments for homeowners.

Catholic Community Services can only serve individuals who have been confirmed eligible by DSHS and can only distribute checks directly to landlords and/or utility companies. Certain documentation, as noted below, is required prior to enrollment and/or rent/utility payments.

For Transportation and Essential Needs Only

• DSHS eligibility letter

For Rental Assistance

• DSHS eligibility letter
• Government issued Photo ID
• A lease, rental agreement, Pay or Vacate Notice, Eviction Notice, or a completed Certification of Payment Obligation from a family/friend a person is staying with.
• The person to whom you pay rent must also submit a W-9 form. Click here to download a W-9 form and have the person to whom you pay rent fill it out and sign it.
• Landlord Habitability Standards Certification (only required if homeless or moving into new housing while on the HEN program).
• Pay or Vacate letter from landlord indicating you must vacate housing if payment is not received in 21 days (Only required if housed upon entry to the HEN program).

For Utility Assistance

We provide utility assistance for electricity, natural gas, propane (or other alternative heating sources), water, sewer or garbage. We cannot assist with telephone, cable or internet bills and only limited assistance is available for those who do not also have a rental obligation.

To receive utility assistance, you must provide:

• A utility bill, a utility shut off notice or late payment notice. If you are asking only for utility assistance and not rental assistance, the utility bill must be in your name.

No. We do not have rental assistance for everyone because program funding does not equal the need. You must call to be placed on a rental assistance interest list. If an opening becomes available in the rental assistance program, and you meet program criteria, a HEN case manager will contact you to begin the process of enrolling in the housing part of the HEN program. Everyone who is HEN eligible, however, is welcome to a monthly essential needs bag as long as they provide basic contact information when they call.

No, checks will not be issued on site. All checks will be mailed to landlords or utility companies. This process may take a few weeks.

You must currently be enrolled in the HEN Housing Program to be eligible for this funding. Getting a referral letter from DSHS does not mean someone is enrolled in HEN.

Yes, as long as you remain eligible and enrolled in HEN you can receive rental and utility assistance, pending funding availability.

If you are eligible for HEN, you can receive an annual ORCA card and a monthly essential needs (hygiene and cleaning product bag) regardless of housing status. The HEN Rapid Rehousing program will bring unhoused clients on to the program and help them find housing when capacity and funding allow. Unhoused people should call the HEN resource line to be put on the rental assistance interest list.

Possibly; your friend or family member may call the IRS at (800) 829-1040 to ask about how these payments may affect their taxes. If they receive government assistance, it may also affect those benefits.

Yes! Current HEN clients, as well as HEN-eligible clients who have first called the HEN Resource Line at 206-328-5755 and asked to be added to the list, can pick up bags at any of our 4 locations during the following days/times.

HEN Services & EN Bag pick up

• Randolph Carter Center, 100 23rd Ave, Seattle 98144 (Central District)
  • Mon thru Fri, 9:00am - 4:00pm (call Resource Line from Lobby phone)
  • Tues-Wed-Thurs, 10:00am – 2:00pm
  • Mon thru Fri, 9:00am – 3:30pm (ask at Front Desk), or at EN Bank on Wed, 1:00-3:00pm
  • Fridays, 1:00pm – 3:00pm

  If I am receiving rental income, will a 1099 be sent out at the beginning of the new year to file with my taxes?

  No, the IRS no longer requires HEN to send 1099 forms to those receiving rental income. Please go to the IRS homepage and select the Schedule E form to report this income. If you do not know how much your income was over the previous year, call our Intake line for assistance.

  Important Forms

  CONTACT INFORMATION

  HEN Resource Line
  Phone: 206-328-5755
  Fax: Attn: HEN 206-324-4835
  Email: HENKC@ccsww.org
  Volunteering: CCSKingCountyInfo@ccsww.org
  Hours: Monday through Friday from 9:00am – 2:30pm

  LOCATIONS

  The Phoenix Center
  HEN Transportation & Essential Needs
  2329 Rainier Ave. S.,
  Seattle, WA 98144
  (Next to Mutual Fish)
  Hours: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 10:00am - 2:00pm for walk-ins and to pickup EN Bags.
  *Please do not park in the Mutual Fish Parking Lot. You will be ticketed!

  The Randolph Carter Center
  100 23rd Ave. S.,
  Seattle, WA 98144
  Hours: Monday through Friday 9:00am - 4:00pm
  Please call Resource Line or Case Manager to make an appointment.

  The Kent Family Center
  1225 W. Smith St.,
  Kent, WA 98032
  Hours: Essential Needs Bank on Wednesday 1:00pm - 3:00pm for walk-ins. Other times by appointment.

  Information for Landlords

  The HEN program works with over 3,000 landlords to provide housing to clients. Landlords are private businesses, non-profit housing providers, and or friends/family members. Receiving payment through HEN is easy. HEN just needs a copy of the landlord’s W9 form, a complete rental agreement* or an Intent to Rent** letter and a Landlord Habitability Standards Certification form.

  A lease or rental agreement* must contain the following elements to be approved:

  • Name of tenant
  • Name of Landlord (must own property or in the case of Property Manager, must provide a property management agreement from the landlord)
  • Address of rental property
  • Term of agreement (lease start and end date)
  • Rent rate and date due
  • Signature of tenant/date
  • Deposits (if any and what for/term)
  • Signature of landlord/date

  An “Intent to Rent”* letter must contain the following elements:

  • Name of tenant
  • Name of landlord
  • Address of rental property
  • Term of agreement (lease start and end date)
  • Rent rate and date due
  • Deposits (if any and what for/term)
  • Amount of pro-rated (if needed) first month’s rent
  • Signature of landlord/date
  • Statement that payments will be refunded if tenant does not move in.

  * HEN has the discretion to approve or deny payment to any rental agreement or lease.

  Unlike a Section 8 voucher, HEN rental assistance is temporary. Monthly HEN rental assistance is provided to participants as long as they are enrolled in the HEN program. HEN can only guarantee monthly payments 90 days at a time. At some point, it is expected that HEN recipients will need to begin covering rental assistance with their own resources.

  ** Accepted in the case of new rentals where the Landlord is requiring that deposits and -first month’s rent to be processed before move in. Lease must be submitted within 30 days after letter.

  Inspections

  Landlords should know that the HEN program conducts random inspections of rooms or apartments of program participants. Living spaces must meet basic standards in order for participants to be able to receive funding for their room or apartment.