CITY OF RENTON WASHINGTON

The Equity, Housing, and Human Services Department is the city's newest department. As such, we will be updating content on this page frequently.

Department Overview

• Bridge community and internal process on issues of equity in police and services.

• Create and staff a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion program.

• Coordinate and staff the new Equity Commission.

• Maximize opportunities created with HB 1590 funds to bolster efforts addressing root causes of housing insecurity and support the needs of vulnerable community members.

• Work towards greater and more rapid progress in the community.

Equity Division

• Technical support to Finance on applying the Renton equity lens to the selection of vendors and contractors.

• Providing Renton equity lens workshops top all boards and commissions as requested by city council to enable use of the equity lens on recommendations to council.

• Staff Mayor's Inclusion Task Force.

• Establish and staff the Renton Equity Commission.

Housing Division

• City housing programs and affordable housing partnerships.

• Rental registration program.

• Multi-family tax exemption program.

• Housing action plan.

• Promote and facilitate affordable housing and community development projects and initiatives that respond to Renton's needs.

• Collaborative efforts extended across departments to further housing development goals.

Human Services

• 2023-2024 Funded Agencies 

• Provides information and referrals to resources and services through community partnerships to promote safety, wellness and security.

• Promotes healthy homes through the Housing Repair program by providing free minor repairs to qualified, registered homeowners.

• Fosters equity and dignity through Community Resource Events that provide social, emotional support for homeless, vulnerable, and marginalized residents in the city.

• Maintains an 11-member Advisory Committee that recommends program funding and assistance in developing policies to provide human services to residents.

• Assists during extreme weather through the Emergency Homeless Shelter.

• Provides food through Sustainable Renton Free Grocery Store and Pop Up Lunch events with Emergency Feeding Program

• Provides assistance to clothing, medicine, elderly and aging services.