Washington State Leaders Aim to Create New Housing Department

Proposed agency aims to address state's ongoing housing shortage and affordability crisis.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 6:41pm

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A serene, photorealistic painting of a multi-story apartment building in muted earth tones, with warm sunlight streaming through the windows and deep shadows cast across the facade, conveying a sense of quiet contemplation around the state's housing challenges.As Washington grapples with an ongoing housing shortage, state leaders aim to establish a new department focused on expanding supply and affordability.Olympia Today

Washington state leaders, including Lt. Gov. Denny Heck and state Sen. Jessica Bateman, are working to establish a new state Department of Housing to address the state's growing housing shortage and affordability crisis. The proposed agency would serve as a problem-solving hub, expanding housing supply, building paths out of homelessness, and unifying state and local efforts on land use and permitting reform.

Why it matters

Washington currently has 221 housing-related programs across 30 state agencies, but officials say the state is still 'going in the wrong direction' on affordable housing development. The new department aims to bring more coordination, accountability, and innovative solutions to the state's housing challenges.

The details

Gov. Bob Ferguson initiated the effort to create the new Department of Housing with an executive order in December 2026. A task force of elected officials, state agency staff, tribal members, local government advocates, and developers is now working to develop recommendations for the department, which they plan to deliver to lawmakers by November 2026. The task force is currently gathering public input through a survey open until April 26.

  • In December 2026, Gov. Bob Ferguson issued an executive order to establish the new Department of Housing.
  • The task force is set to deliver its recommendations report by November 15, 2026.
  • The Legislature is expected to consider the task force's proposals in the 2027 legislative session.

The players

Denny Heck

The lieutenant governor of Washington and a key housing policy adviser to Gov. Ferguson.

Jessica Bateman

A Democratic state senator and chair of the Senate Housing Committee.

Bob Ferguson

The governor of Washington who initiated the effort to create the new Department of Housing.

David Frockt

A former Democratic state senator and current deputy policy director for Gov. Ferguson.

Curtis Steinhauer

The policy coordinator for the Washington State Association of Counties.

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What they’re saying

“We're not doing a very good job at all, because the hole is getting deeper.”

— Denny Heck, Lieutenant Governor

“Because if they were working excellently, we would be achieving the goal of making sure we have abundant housing everywhere. We're not, which is why we're here.”

— Jessica Bateman, State Senator

“What you see is a really administratively heavy set of programs. It's not really responding, and it's not equipped, capacity-wise, to address the underlying problem, which is, we're not building enough housing.”

— Jessica Bateman, State Senator

What’s next

The task force is expected to hold monthly meetings through the fall, with the next scheduled for May 13. Their final recommendations report is due to lawmakers by November 15, 2026.

The takeaway

The proposed Department of Housing aims to bring greater coordination, accountability, and innovative solutions to Washington's ongoing housing shortage and affordability crisis, which current programs have struggled to adequately address.