HomeMy WebLinkAbout021323 FW_ Action needed as we approach the first cutoff date of this session!
________________________________
From: Rob Huff, Housing Alliance
Sent: Monday, February 13, 2023 10:57:56 AM (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada)
To: Kate Dean
Subject: Action needed as we approach the first cutoff date of this session!
________________________________
ALERT: BE CAUTIOUS This email originated outside the organization. Do not open attachments or click on links if you are not expecting them.
________________________________
Read on for a review of Week 5, and other highlights.
<https://default.salsalabs.org/X8efee893-b86b-4b65-aa1e-62d3ff0ddeda/d78f4f95-c470-42e9-947d-6619e8b97b6e>
<https://default.salsalabs.org/api/organization/d6d9d7bf-83bb-4447-9fae-f1a870cc96f0/logo/data>
Dear Kate,
This is the sixth week of the legislative session, and the push is on to beat the first cutoff and get bills out of policy committees before the end of the day on Friday. There are several
critical bills to take action on this week, and we continue to need all advocates on deck to move bills for housing justice, affordable housing, and homelessness services forward.
During Friday’s advocate meeting Michele shared that all our Housing Alliance policies are still moving forward. But there is still a lot of work to do, including building more support
for critical state budget investments.
Critically, we are asking the legislature to allocate $160 million to backfill a significant funding gap for homeless services. Here is some background on why this fund gap is happening:
* Our state has a dedicated fund source for homeless services, which is generally very helpful. If we didn’t have a dedicated fund source, lawmakers would have to reallocate funding
each budget cycle. But like all revenue sources, this ebbs and flows.
* The dedicated fund source is a fee paid when recording documents, most of which are real estate related documents (like when a home is purchased).
* Because real estate activity is significantly down, the recording of documents has declined and there is a substantial reduction in funding for homelessness services.
The funds generated by these document recording fees are used for all homelessness services across the state. If the legislature does not backfill the significant shortfall, all communities
would see reductions in July.
The Housing Alliance is also asking for $40 million to raise wages for homeless service workers. Washington’s frontline providers are the unsung heroes of our state’s efforts to end
homelessness and many are struggling to keep a roof over their heads. The Housing Alliance is continuing our campaign to support frontline workers and the $40 million we are seeking
will be tied to increased wages, benefits, and other worker investments.
Additionally, the Housing Alliance continues to push for a full $400 million investment in the Capital Budget for the state Housing Trust Fund. We applaud the Governor’s effort to go
big with a statewide housing referendum vote later this year. We also believe that the Legislature should take action now to ensure a larger investment in the Housing Trust Fund during
this session.
TAKE ACTION TODAY!
* Email your lawmakers TODAY to support rent stabilization and rent fairness using our simple action form: https://housingalliance.salsalabs.org/rentfairnessnow/index.html <https://default.salsalabs.
org/T0c9a2827-5a0b-482a-b2e7-b52b402ec299/d78f4f95-c470-42e9-947d-6619e8b97b6e>
* Record a video message to send to your legislators supporting rent fairness on rentfairness.org <https://default.salsalabs.org/T94444ec5-55c6-4248-92eb-84a00be040c6/d78f4f95-c470-42e9-947d-6619e8b9
7b6e>
* If you’ve experienced a significant rent increase, share your experience (and share the form with others): forms.gle/nNhMV3eLoEzpXnXK7 <https://default.salsalabs.org/Tb93b961a-c8cb-4703-a11b-b198f0
889a2c/d78f4f95-c470-42e9-947d-6619e8b97b6e>
* If you’re part of an organization, endorse the rent stabilization bills: forms.office.com/r/t2mcgybE9T <https://default.salsalabs.org/Ta850ffe4-1c60-4bf6-8430-fe1f01eade7f/d78f4f95-c470-42e9-947d-6
619e8b97b6e>
What’s coming this week:
* House Bill 1260 <https://default.salsalabs.org/Tced13438-87c6-4104-bf7e-b12500b851bc/d78f4f95-c470-42e9-947d-6619e8b97b6e> sponsored by Representative Emily Alvarado (D - 34) will
have a hearing in the House Appropriations Committee on Wednesday, Feb. 15, beginning at 4pm. This bill would remove the payback requirement for recipients of Aged, Blind, and Disabled
(ABD) cash assistance - an unfair and unreasonable requirement that for decades has penalized those who are extremely low income and disabled. The state currently collects $40 million
each year in payback funds, creating more hardship for those who are finally able to qualify for federal benefits.
Sign in PRO to support HB 1260/Alvarado before 3pm on Wednesday, Feb. 15: https://app.leg.wa.gov/csi/Testifier/Add?chamber=House&mId=30750&aId=151898&caId=21547&tId=3 <https://default.salsalabs.org/
Tdf374e6c-64e7-4b51-8269-45d14e6c9eb0/d78f4f95-c470-42e9-947d-6619e8b97b6e>
* Senate Bill 5435 <https://default.salsalabs.org/T504e8b00-43ef-4c9b-92f9-22f9befa836a/d78f4f95-c470-42e9-947d-6619e8b97b6e> sponsored by Senator Yasmin Trudeau (D - 27) still needs
to be voted out of the Senate Housing Committee by the cutoff deadline, and work continues to bring the bill up for a vote. If you are an advocate in the 49th (Vancouver) or 42nd (Bellingham)
legislative districts, now is the time to reach out to your senator to ask that they support rent stabilization! Your lawmakers have not yet confirmed that they will vote in support
of the bill. Please call the state’s toll free legislative hotline at 1-800-562-6000 to ask your senator to “vote yes on SB 5435.”
* House Bill 1628 <https://default.salsalabs.org/T4a3097fe-7d88-47a7-9367-e91fa279b986/d78f4f95-c470-42e9-947d-6619e8b97b6e> sponsored by Representative Frank Chopp should be scheduled
for a vote in the House Finance Committee soon as well, following its initial hearing last week.
* There are three bills we want everyone to sign in CON on this week:
SB 5332/King <https://default.salsalabs.org/Tb09ff8c4-3f96-4e19-b56e-4d90ee43f943/d78f4f95-c470-42e9-947d-6619e8b97b6e> would prohibit locating homeless encampments near schools and
early learning facilities. We are concerned that this bill will be used to further the negative and inaccurate stereotypes regarding those who are currently experiencing homelessness
across our state.
Sign in CON on SB 5332 by 7am on Tuesday, Feb. 14: https://app.leg.wa.gov/csi/Testifier/Add?chamber=Senate&mId=30684&aId=150836&caId=21496&tId=3 <https://default.salsalabs.org/T3dac3e32-9334-43de-a0
f1-b9f6ec6b6fa2/d78f4f95-c470-42e9-947d-6619e8b97b6e>
HB 1817/Rule <https://default.salsalabs.org/T84faa66a-3f35-430d-bca2-983931566b15/d78f4f95-c470-42e9-947d-6619e8b97b6e> and its companion SB 5741/Braun <https://default.salsalabs.org/T50f01949-70b5
-40a3-b6c5-c36345243e7d/d78f4f95-c470-42e9-947d-6619e8b97b6e> are being sponsored to counteract the bills and the movement to stabilize rents across Washington. These bills would instead
have the state pay landlords for their rent increases! Instead of capping rents, they would transfer state funds directly to landlords while not addressing rising rents. While rental
assistance and vouchers are important emergency interventions to stabilize housing, they are not a solution to unchecked rent increases!
Sign in CON on HB 1817 by 3pm on Tuesday, Feb. 14: https://app.leg.wa.gov/csi/Testifier/Add?chamber=House&mId=30803&aId=151878&caId=21537&tId=3 <https://default.salsalabs.org/T66627a68-3900-49c0-bca
5-a3585ef86043/d78f4f95-c470-42e9-947d-6619e8b97b6e>
Sign in CON on SB 5741 by 9:30am on Friday, Feb. 15: https://app.leg.wa.gov/csi/Testifier/Add?chamber=Senate&mId=30765&aId=151979&caId=21566&tId=3 <https://default.salsalabs.org/T986aff48-7305-43a9-
8d87-134936285da6/d78f4f95-c470-42e9-947d-6619e8b97b6e>
Highlights from last week:
<https://default.salsalabs.org/8efee893-b86b-4b65-aa1e-62d3ff0ddeda/fbb709b6-e424-4453-b6d4-5ed8fb00dc5d.png> Thank you to everyone who participated in Housing and Homelessness Advocacy
Days 2023 last week! More than 400 people registered, and many of you participated in lawmaker meetings following the opening day of HHAD 2023 last Monday. A small number of lawmaker
meetings will continue this week.
Both HB 1388/Macri <https://default.salsalabs.org/T25a50826-3e04-49b0-b6f1-d6dc0b44c409/d78f4f95-c470-42e9-947d-6619e8b97b6e> and HB 1389/Ramel <https://default.salsalabs.org/T299980f6-e97d-40d1-b0c
4-cd6aac69f46a/d78f4f95-c470-42e9-947d-6619e8b97b6e> moved forward to the House Appropriations Committee last week after they both passed out of the House Housing Committee! This means
that three rent related bills have moved forward out of this committee, including HB 1124/Peterson <https://default.salsalabs.org/T04bbd9d6-bad5-4c18-9c98-ba9b1348bec2/d78f4f95-c470-42e9-947d-6619e8
b97b6e> earlier in the session!
Thank you to the many advocates who testified in favor of Senate Bill 5697 <https://default.salsalabs.org/T368eebcf-2603-4b63-93d8-6bdb39ffc5da/d78f4f95-c470-42e9-947d-6619e8b97b6e>
last Friday in the Senate Housing Committee. This rent stabilization bill would provide protections for owners of manufactured housing, and the primary sponsor Senator Kevin Van De
Wege (D - 24) shared moving points while he spoke to the bill to the committee. Michele noted that the fact this bill has come forward is a great testament to the power of advocates.
Tereasa Staley in Forks and her mother, among many other constituents of the 24th legislative district have educated Sen. Van De Wege and his seatmates on how rent increases are impacting
them – and these advocates are moving lawmakers and are making a difference!
Covenant Investment Act update:
* The Housing Alliance testified in support of HB 1474 <https://default.salsalabs.org/T991f6866-ac7c-4ee1-ab25-1e7dc25bb6c3/d78f4f95-c470-42e9-947d-6619e8b97b6e> sponsored by Representative
Jamila Taylor (D - 30) last week and on its companion, SB 5496 <https://default.salsalabs.org/Tb53bfcac-193a-4c66-8dc8-15d64b3ef5b6/d78f4f95-c470-42e9-947d-6619e8b97b6e> by Senator
Lovick. The house bill moved out of the House Housing Committee with all Democrats voting in favor. The bill creates the “Covenant Investment Act” which would create a first-in-the-nation
targeted homeownership program to help address the harm done by racially restrictive covenants. These covenants were common throughout Washington and throughout the nation and testifiers
shared the impacts on their family that continue today.
Watch for additional sign-on letters and timely action alerts this week. And don’t forget to visit RentFairness.org <https://default.salsalabs.org/T651ef21e-e1e9-404f-bea2-99460b3e738c/d78f4f95-c470-
42e9-947d-6619e8b97b6e> and send a letter to your lawmakers, as well as record a video message on how rent increases have impacted you or why you support rent stabilization! We need
to keep the pressure on to ensure that lawmakers seize the opportunity this session to pass the policy and budget investments needed to move our communities out of our affordable housing
and homelessness crisis.
In solidarity,
Rob Huff
Communications Specialist
Follow Us
<https://www.facebook.com/groups/residentactionproject/> <https://twitter.com/intent/follow?screen_name=RAPWashington> <https://www.linkedin.com/company/3027173/>
WASHINGTON LOW INCOME HOUSING ALLIANCE
304 Alaskan Way S., Suite 302
Seattle, Washington 98104
(206) 442-9455
info@wliha.org
View this email in your web browser <https://housingalliance.salsalabs.org/2023legsessionweek5?wvpId=d78f4f95-c470-42e9-947d-6619e8b97b6e>
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on investment in the Capital Budget for the state Housing Trust Fund. We applaud the Governor’s effort to go big with a statewide housing referendum vote later this year. We also believe
that the Legislature should take action now to ensure a larger investment in the Housing Trust Fund during this session.
TAKE ACTION TODAY!
* Email your lawmakers TODAY to support rent stabilization and rent fairness using our simple action form: https://housingalliance.salsalabs.org/rentfairnessnow/index.html <https://default.salsalabs.
org/T0c9a2827-5a0b-482a-b2e7-b52b402ec299/d78f4f95-c470-42e9-947d-6619e8b97b6e>
* Record a video message to send to your legislators supporting rent fairness on rentfairness.org <https://default.salsalabs.org/T94444ec5-55c6-4248-92eb-84a00be040c6/d78f4f95-c470-42e9-947d-6619e8b9
7b6e>
* If you’ve experienced a significant rent increase, share your experience (and share the form with others): forms.gle/nNhMV3eLoEzpXnXK7 <https://default.salsalabs.org/Tb93b961a-c8cb-4703-a11b-b198f0
889a2c/d78f4f95-c470-42e9-947d-6619e8b97b6e>
* If you’re part of an organization, endorse the rent stabilization bills: forms.office.com/r/t2mcgybE9T <https://default.salsalabs.org/Ta850ffe4-1c60-4bf6-8430-fe1f01eade7f/d78f4f95-c470-42e9-947d-6
619e8b97b6e>
What’s coming this week:
* House Bill 1260 <https://default.salsalabs.org/Tced13438-87c6-4104-bf7e-b12500b851bc/d78f4f95-c470-42e9-947d-6619e8b97b6e> sponsored by Representative Emily Alvarado (D - 34) will
have a hearing in the House Appropriations Committee on Wednesday, Feb. 15, beginning at 4pm. This bill would remove the payback requirement for recipients of Aged, Blind, and Disabled
(ABD) cash assistance - an unfair and unreasonable requirement that for decades has penalized those who are extremely low income and disabled. The state currently collects $40 million
each year in payback funds, creating more hardship for those who are finally able to qualify for federal benefits.
Sign in PRO to support HB 1260/Alvarado before 3pm on Wednesday, Feb. 15: https://app.leg.wa.gov/csi/Testifier/Add?chamber=House&mId=30750&aId=151898&caId=21547&tId=3 <https://default.salsalabs.org/
Tdf374e6c-64e7-4b51-8269-45d14e6c9eb0/d78f4f95-c470-42e9-947d-6619e8b97b6e>
* Senate Bill 5435 <https://default.salsalabs.org/T504e8b00-43ef-4c9b-92f9-22f9befa836a/d78f4f95-c470-42e9-947d-6619e8b97b6e> sponsored by Senator Yasmin Trudeau (D - 27) still needs
to be voted out of the Senate Housing Committee by the cutoff deadline, and work continues to bring the bill up for a vote. If you are an advocate in the 49th (Vancouver) or 42nd (Bellingham)
legislative districts, now is the time to reach out to your senator to ask that they support rent stabilization! Your lawmakers have not yet confirmed that they will vote in support
of the bill. Please call the state’s toll free legislative hotline at 1-800-562-6000 to ask your senator to “vote yes on SB 5435.”
* House Bill 1628 <https://default.salsalabs.org/T4a3097fe-7d88-47a7-9367-e91fa279b986/d78f4f95-c470-42e9-947d-6619e8b97b6e> sponsored by Representative Frank Chopp should be scheduled
for a vote in the House Finance Committee soon as well, following its initial hearing last week.
* There are three bills we want everyone to sign in CON on this week:
SB 5332/King <https://default.salsalabs.org/Tb09ff8c4-3f96-4e19-b56e-4d90ee43f943/d78f4f95-c470-42e9-947d-6619e8b97b6e> would prohibit locating homeless encampments near schools and
early learning facilities. We are concerned that this bill will be used to further the negative and inaccurate stereotypes regarding those who are currently experiencing homelessness
across our state.
Sign in CON on SB 5332 by 7am on Tuesday, Feb. 14: https://app.leg.wa.gov/csi/Testifier/Add?chamber=Senate&mId=30684&aId=150836&caId=21496&tId=3 <https://default.salsalabs.org/T3dac3e32-9334-43de-a0
f1-b9f6ec6b6fa2/d78f4f95-c470-42e9-947d-6619e8b97b6e>
HB 1817/Rule <https://default.salsalabs.org/T84faa66a-3f35-430d-bca2-983931566b15/d78f4f95-c470-42e9-947d-6619e8b97b6e> and its companion SB 5741/Braun <https://default.salsalabs.org/T50f01949-70b5
-40a3-b6c5-c36345243e7d/d78f4f95-c470-42e9-947d-6619e8b97b6e> are being sponsored to counteract the bills and the movement to stabilize rents across Washington. These bills would instead
have the state pay landlords for their rent increases! Instead of capping rents, they would transfer state funds directly to landlords while not addressing rising rents. While rental
assistance and vouchers are important emergency interventions to stabilize housing, they are not a solution to unchecked rent increases!
Sign in CON on HB 1817 by 3pm on Tuesday, Feb. 14: https://app.leg.wa.gov/csi/Testifier/Add?chamber=House&mId=30803&aId=151878&caId=21537&tId=3 <https://default.salsalabs.org/T66627a68-3900-49c0-bca
5-a3585ef86043/d78f4f95-c470-42e9-947d-6619e8b97b6e>
Sign in CON on SB 5741 by 9:30am on Friday, Feb. 15: https://app.leg.wa.gov/csi/Testifier/Add?chamber=Senate&mId=30765&aId=151979&caId=21566&tId=3 <https://default.salsalabs.org/T986aff48-7305-43a9-
8d87-134936285da6/d78f4f95-c470-42e9-947d-6619e8b97b6e>
Highlights from last week:
<https://default.salsalabs.org/8efee893-b86b-4b65-aa1e-62d3ff0ddeda/fbb709b6-e424-4453-b6d4-5ed8fb00dc5d.png> Thank you to everyone who participated in Housing and Homelessness Advocacy
Days 2023 last week! More than 400 people registered, and many of you participated in lawmaker meetings following the opening day of HHAD 2023 last Monday. A small number of lawmaker
meetings will continue this week.
Both HB 1388/Macri <https://default.salsalabs.org/T25a50826-3e04-49b0-b6f1-d6dc0b44c409/d78f4f95-c470-42e9-947d-6619e8b97b6e> and HB 1389/Ramel <https://default.salsalabs.org/T299980f6-e97d-40d1-b0c
4-cd6aac69f46a/d78f4f95-c470-42e9-947d-6619e8b97b6e> moved forward to the House Appropriations Committee last week after they both passed out of the House Housing Committee! This means
that three rent related bills have moved forward out of this committee, including HB 1124/Peterson <https://default.salsalabs.org/T04bbd9d6-bad5-4c18-9c98-ba9b1348bec2/d78f4f95-c470-42e9-947d-6619e8
b97b6e> earlier in the session!
Thank you to the many advocates who testified in favor of Senate Bill 5697 <https://default.salsalabs.org/T368eebcf-2603-4b63-93d8-6bdb39ffc5da/d78f4f95-c470-42e9-947d-6619e8b97b6e>
last Friday in the Senate Housing Committee. This rent stabilization bill would provide protections for owners of manufactured housing, and the primary sponsor Senator Kevin Van De
Wege (D - 24) shared moving points while he spoke to the bill to the committee. Michele noted that the fact this bill has come forward is a great testament to the power of advocates.
Tereasa Staley in Forks and her mother, among many other constituents of the 24th legislative district have educated Sen. Van De Wege and his seatmates on how rent increases are impacting
them – and these advocates are moving lawmakers and are making a difference!
Covenant Investment Act update:
* The Housing Alliance testified in support of HB 1474 <https://default.salsalabs.org/T991f6866-ac7c-4ee1-ab25-1e7dc25bb6c3/d78f4f95-c470-42e9-947d-6619e8b97b6e> sponsored by Representative
Jamila Taylor (D - 30) last week and on its companion, SB 5496 <https://default.salsalabs.org/Tb53bfcac-193a-4c66-8dc8-15d64b3ef5b6/d78f4f95-c470-42e9-947d-6619e8b97b6e> by Senator
Lovick. The house bill moved out of the House Housing Committee with all Democrats voting in favor. The bill creates the “Covenant Investment Act” which would create a first-in-the-nation
targeted homeownership program to help address the harm done by racially restrictive covenants. These covenants were common throughout Washington and throughout the nation and testifiers
shared the impacts on their family that continue today.
Watch for additional sign-on letters and timely action alerts this week. And don’t forget to visit RentFairness.org <https://default.salsalabs.org/T651ef21e-e1e9-404f-bea2-99460b3e738c/d78f4f95-c470-
42e9-947d-6619e8b97b6e> and send a letter to your lawmakers, as well as record a video message on how rent increases have impacted you or why you support rent stabilization! We need
to keep the pressure on to ensure that lawmakers seize the opportunity this session to pass the policy and budget investments needed to move our communities out of our affordable housing
and homelessness crisis.
In solidarity,
Rob Huff
Communications Specialist
Follow Us
<https://www.facebook.com/groups/residentactionproject/> <https://twitter.com/intent/follow?screen_name=RAPWashington> <https://www.linkedin.com/company/3027173/>
WASHINGTON LOW INCOME HOUSING ALLIANCE
304 Alaskan Way S., Suite 302
Seattle, Washington 98104
(206) 442-9455
info@wliha.org
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