Michele Thomas, Director of Policy & Advocacy

Last week will go down in history as the week that the legislature shook in their boots over homelessness funding. The issue of ESHB 2368, the Document Recording Fee/Homeless Housing & Assistance Surcharge Bill appeared in over 30 print articles in papers across the state and also online in both traditional and blog outlets. The media blitz culminated in Friday night’s King 5 interview with Senator Jan Angel (26th LD) in which she retracted her position on ESHB 2368. The spotlight was truly on the Senate Majority Coalition Caucus’s (MCC) opposition to protecting state homelessness funds. Highlights include Senator Steve Hobbs’s (44th LD) Seattle Times op-ed, which was followed the next day by the bold position by the Seattle Times Editorial Board, in which they declared that, “The homeless are victims of legislative malpractice.”

FINAL WEEK OF SESSION ACTION ALERT! Image Thanks to your calls and your emails, ESHB 2368, once dead is now back in play! But we still have far to go in a short amount of time. These next four days a lot of bad things could happen to the Document Recording Fee Bill. But with you and your networks taking repeated action these last few days of this session, we can make sure ESHB 2368 makes it onto the Governor's desk intact. Click here to start the email process. And you also must send this link around so others like you can take action: http://bit.ly/1fNstmI   Like We Said: It Ain't Over! Image We posted this image last Monday. And now, thanks to you, our "12th Advocate," we have traveled several yards downfield! No touchdown yet. But we're close. That's why we need you to keep making noise! Email and Call and get others to Take Action too! Use this script when you call the legislative hotline at 1.800.562.6000 to leave a message with your legislators and the Governor: "Please make sure the homeless housing and assistance surcharge fees don’t sunset by supporting E-S-H-B 2368. Ensure this bill gets to the governor's desk with a permanent sunset and without an amendment that would force administrators to use the funds on for-profit landlords." THANK YOU!!!

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The Seattle Times Opinion: State about to drain money to help homeless "We should be combatting homelessness, not causing it." Senator Steve Hobbs (44th LD)

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The News Tribune: Don't gut vital funding for homelessness prevention "We can do better, and we must do better for the thousands of anxious families that wonder where they will spend their nights." Senator Jeannie Darneille (27th LD)

Gong Action for Legislative Action

On Thursday, the Housing Alliance was joined by people personally impacted by homelessness, lawmakers, and fellow advocates to recognize each of the 5,043 people found trying to survive outside during the January 2013 annual point-in-time count. Each person struck a gong solemnly, with advocates and lawmakers taking turns. Some were reflective during their turn, while others used the opportunity to ring it as loudly as possible with one person saying, “I hope the Senate hears this.” TVW did a good job of covering the Gong Action here.

During the Gong Action event, we also convened legislators and other for a press conference nearby. Formerly homeless veteran Mindy Woods shared her story of success after being helped by a YCWA program funded by the Homeless Housing and Assistance Surcharge. Our friends over at Firesteel captured her story here:

We're Not in the Clear Just Yet...

On Saturday, the Senate Ways and Means Committee updated Monday’s 10:00am hearing schedule with a new bill by Senator Andy Hill (45th LD), who is also chair of the Ways and Means Committee. As of writing, this mysterious bill SB 5875 has no content, but said it was regarding the Homeless Housing and Assistance Surcharge. We were able to obtain the draft bill language and spent the weekend mobilizing advocates to attend Monday’s hearing. The bill is similar to versions written by the Rental Housing Association and other landlord lobby groups.

More About SB 5875 

It does not eliminate the sunsets on the surcharges. Rather, the bill merely extends the $10 sunset out by one more year. The measure also contains the "For-profit Landlord Amendment" requiring that the 45% set-aside of the state portion of funds (already in the House version) be for the exclusive use of for-profit landlords. This means that housing authorities and nonprofits like the YWCA wouldn't be allowed to use this funding for their homeless housing. It also requires local government to literally email other landlords before allowing the funds to be used in another landlord’s unit.

This is a bizarre and counter-productive requirement that would add unnecessary administrative red tape and delay – and potentially jeopardize – the securing of private market rental units. The draft bill language has other serious problems and we hope that the MCC continues to feel the heat and the need to compromise.

Also, on Sunday The Olympian Editorial Board called on lawmakers to pass our bill. “Angel was playing insider politics at its worst, with no concern about punishing homeless children and families. Smarter and more compassionate legislators should pass this bill.” You can read the entire article here.

I can't believe we have just four days left. Please help us keep up the pressure before it's too late! Take action today and ask your friends to join you.

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