Recent Blog Posts
By: Mary Zhou, Community Organizing Fellow
Now that we’re halfway through the Washington state legislative session (which runs from January 11 to April 26), the need for housing and homelessness advocacy is important as ever. Crucial bills are moving into the House or Senate - ensuring just cause for evictions, building a state rental assistance program, and providing legal representation for tenants facing eviction. And the state’s two year budget is being written. Our legislative priorities are not only an important offramp for when the current eviction moratorium expires, but will also help ensure safe and affordable housing for Washingtonians in the long-term.
Where do you and town halls fit into this?
Town halls are your chance to directly ask questions of your district representatives and senators. State lawmakers hold these sessions to clarify their positions on key issues and to understand what their constituents (you all!) find important as they vote on legislation.
This year, there’s no need to drive to your district offices - town halls are at your fingertips through Zoom or simultaneously livestreamed on Facebook/Twitter/YouTube. Your voice is influential! Your legislators were elected to represent you, so don’t be afraid to ask the hard questions and make your perspective known.
Town Hall Tips
- Find your district town hall here or see the table below!
- Submit questions ahead of time! The earlier the better, because there are likely many people who have questions. If you don’t submit a question ahead of time, the lawmakers are unlikely to discuss your issue!
- Give context for questions and strategize for your district - see below for support!
*Sample questions:
Housing Stability
- Rental assistance must be coupled with additional protections for tenants during and after the coronavirus pandemic. How will you be voting on Senate Bill 5160 to keep families in their homes? (The Senate has already voted on this bill, so this is a good question for House members. You can thank your Senator if they voted yes. Roll call vote can be found here.)
- Because people of color are more likely to work the types of jobs most impacted by COVID-19, are more likely to be renters, and were more likely to be struggling to afford housing even before the pandemic, people of color are disproportionately behind on rent. Do you support House Bill 1277 to create an ongoing rental assistance program to ensure that renters can get caught up on rent and not risk eviction?
- Landlords in Washington can evict a tenant with just 20-days’ notice, even if they have never violated the terms of their lease and never paid rent late. What are you doing to support and promote House Bill 1236, requiring landlords to have “just cause” for evictions? (The House has already voted on this bill. You can thank your Representative if they voted yes. Roll call vote can be found here.)
Capital Budget
- Even before the pandemic, there was a shortage of over 195,000 homes affordable and available to very low-income households in Washington. Will you support $240M for the Housing Trust Fund?
- The National Preservation Database shows that over 1700 publicly funded affordable homes are at risk of being lost. Will you support $10M for preserving affordable housing?
- Since the start of the pandemic, the state has lost emergency shelter capacity because of social distancing requirements and volunteers being unable to safely help. Meanwhile, shelter providers have innovated with non-congregant shelter models that indicate improved outcomes for guests. We should be scaling this up. Will you support $70M for rapid acquisition of property for shelter, transitional, and permanent supportive housing? Will you support $40M for enhanced shelter capacity grants?
Progressive Revenue
- Do you support fixing our state’s inequitable tax code so that the lowest income people don’t pay more than the top 1%? How do you plan to vote on SB 5096, Capital Gains tax? (The Senate has already voted on this bill, so this is a good question for House members. You can thank your Senator if they voted yes. Roll call vote can be found here.)
*For detailed explanations of Capital Budget priorities, progressive revenue, and the listed bills please see our 2021 Policy Priorities page.
Upcoming district town halls (from League of Women Voters website):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Add new comment