Recent Blog Posts
Michele Thomas, Director of Policy & Advocacy
Last week started with huddles of advocates and lobbyists outside the Senate and House chambers, sending last minute pleas to lawmakers to advance or oppose bills. In the end, the House voted out over 300 bills, with the Senate voting out just over 180. Over 1,600 bills were introduced this year and many are now "dead." Though some policy bills with a state budget impact can be considered "Necessary to Implement the Budget" or NTIB and are exempt from many of the cutoffs.
Homeless Housing and Assistance Surcharge Bill (ESHB 2368) & Tenant Screening Act (SHB 2537) Updates
Even though there is only three weeks of the legislative session left to go, a lot of hurdles and developments lie ahead for affordable housing and homelessness priorities. Policy bills have to clear committees by this Friday the 28th, and then bills with a fiscal impact have to clear the fiscal committees by Monday the 3rd. Luckily, Senator Steve Hobbs (44th LD) and Senator Mark Mullet (5th LD) successfully pushed for both the Fair Tenant Screening Act (SHB 2537) and the Homeless Housing and Assistance Surcharge Bill (ESHB 2368), aka the "Document Recording Fee Bill" to be scheduled for hearings in the Senate. ESHB 2368 is set for a 1:30pm hearing on Tuesday and SHB 2537 is set for 1:30pm on Thursday. Tune in to TVW to watch the hearings live. Advocates and service providers are lined up to testify and will share their stories on why these bills are so important.
Double Action Advocacy!Senate Policy Action
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Once/if the bills clear that committee, the Fair Tenant Screening Act will advance to the Senate Rules Committee, and the Surcharge Bill will advance to Senate Ways and Means. Stay tuned to the Housing Alliance all week for updates.
Everyone Should Have the Opportunity to Live in a Safe, Healthy, & Affordable Home
With the Senate and House budgets expected to be released this week, we will finally learn what each chamber has in store for the Housing Trust Fund. The size of the Capital Budget has been a moving target, and many were waiting for last week's official revenue forecast to see if any significant changes were in store to the previous revenue projections. The budget news was relatively good—no negative surprises because the revenue is coming in closely to what was last projected. There is a small (in state budget terms) increase of $30 million expected, and it is certainly good news that the state keeps heading in the direction of growth rather than the painful budget deficits of so many previous cycles.
Stay tuned for updates on the Housing Trust Fund and on the other important budget related programs like Aged, Blind and Disabled and Housing & Essential Needs.
A Week of Action!
This week is a critical week to make your voice heard. Please join us in pushing for the Senate to pass the Fair Tenant Screening Act and the Homeless Housing and Assistance Surcharge Bill and for both chambers to support a deep investment in the Housing Trust Fund!
Here is what you can do this week:
| Monday Email your elected officials today. We make it easy to do. Click here to start. Then spread the word on Facebook and Twitter using this link: http://bit.ly/1fbYgaD Make sure your friends, colleagues and family join you in advocacy. Also, watch for budget updates. The Senate is expected to release their budgets today, Monday. |
| Tuesday If you work at or are on the board of a nonprofit or a company committed to expanding affordable housing and ending homelessness, then send an organizational letter to local lawmakers. We have sample letters for the Housing Trust Fund and for the Homeless Housing and Assistance Surcharge Bill ready to go. Click here to download the Sample ESHB 2368 Organizational Letter. Click here to download the Sample HTF Supplemental Appropriation Organizational Letter. Please email Ben if you need anything else (and please send us a copy of the letter!) |
| Wednesday Get ready for Friday's Affordable Housing and Homelessness Call-in Day! Spread the word to your colleagues and on social media! Also, watch for budget updates. The House is expected to release their budgets this Wednesday. |
| Thursday Rest your fingers and get ready to call the capitol tomorrow! |
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Friday Once you've made your call, please tell the world that you took action by proudly displaying our "I-am-an-awesome-advocate badge" on the square photo of your Facebook profile and Twitter page. It's easy: 1. Download the image below by dragging it from here to your desktop or by right-click on it and then clicking "save image as" and saving it on your desktop. Image
2. Then upload the image to the square picture in Facebook and... Image
...the only picture available to you in Twitter. Image
3. Don't forget to follow-up with your friends and get them to make calls and change their photos too. Special thanks to Stephanie Velasco at Housing Development Consortium of Seattle/King County for designing the graphic! |
Thank you again for all you are doing to advance affordable housing and homelessness issues this year. Advocates across the state have turned the notch up this session and it is working! From Vancouver to Yakima, to Spokane and Bellingham and more, you are being heard by your lawmakers. We've had more bipartisan support this year than in recent memory. And the fact that our issues are still moving is a testament to the deep dedication of all of you. Keep it going!
Never too early to start advocating!
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