It's hard to believe that the 22nd Annual Conference on Ending Homelessness is less than a week away! We are really excited about how the conference is shaping up. So far we have over 450 people registered to join us in Yakima to learn new skills, built community and partnerships, and work together to prevent and end homelessness in Washington State.

The US Department of Housing and Urban Development has been in the news quite a bit lately, driven to the forefront of the national debate around budget austerity as a top target for budget cuts. The latest round of proposals have now gone as far as calling for the elimination of the agency entirely.

After months of relentless and strategic advocacy – we’ve done it. Together, we’ve won new state investments in safe, healthy and affordable homes. We’ve secured funding for the services that prevent and end homelessness. We’ve taken Washington further in eliminating barriers to housing – with the opportunity planted for more progress.  We’ve protected critical safety-net services from cuts and we’ve broken through on revenue and set the stage for more of it next year.

We didn't believe it was possible - chalk it up to the fact that it was after midnight and those of us who were still up waiting and watching were tired, and perhaps slightly grouchy - but the legislature continued working through the night and finished the special session.

The results? $67.1 million for the Housing Trust Fund! Housing and Essential Needs fully funded! No cuts to TANF! Disability Lifeline Medical saved! 

The current special session is required to end on Tuesday. Whether or not a budget agreement will be reached by then is still unknown. There has been a lot of action in the last couple of days with the House passing several new reform bills and another Operating Budget, and with the Senate Ways and Means Committee holding a hearing today (Friday) on several bills, including the House’s budget.

The 99% Spring, inspired by the Occupy Wall Street movement, has a bold plan to train 100,000 people across the country next week on the history of social change movements, how our economy got to where it is today, and how to organize effectively (and in C3 friendly ways!) to fight for social justice.

Thank you everyone who was able to join us for our amazing special briefing with Senator Sharon Nelson (D-34), and a big thank you to the Senator herself for joining us, and for being so candid and so inspiring.

For those of you who weren't able to join, Senator Nelson talked at length about how important your advocacy is, especially right now during what may be our last opportunity to influence the special session.

The Speaker asked us to share this special message with you:

"We still have a good chance to pass a jobs package that includes a substantial amount for housing, but it depends on whether people advocate for it. You need to keep fighting for our values — work your individual projects as well as the big picture items like housing as a whole. You can still make a difference, there's no doubt about it."
– Speaker Frank Chopp, 43rd LD

Great news! Governor Gregoire signed EHB 2048 into law. Thank you everyone who called the Governor's office, it's really because of you that we were able to make this happen.

For more information, please see our official press release: http://wliha.org/news/press-release-governor-signs-bipartisan-bill-prev…

The passage of HB 2048 at the end of last month was an incredible victory that will bring our state closer to ending homelessness. After 2048 goes into effect, at least 71,000 will either be saved from entering the brutality of homelessness or will be lifted out of it. But the County Auditors are trying to prevent this. They are asking the Governor to veto the bill.