Alliance Sees Historic Legislative Session in 2008

In an historic step for working families throughout Washington, the House, Senate & Governor released a final budget that invests $80 million in critical housing programs. These resources will be used to provide the stable homes that our children need to succeed in school and in life.

The legislature, along with the Governor, committed to:

• $50 million in new resources for the Housing Trust Fund.
  
• $10 Million in a new “Rapid Response Land Acquisition Fund.”
  
• $10 million in a new “Nonprofit Equity Fund.”
  
• More than $10 million in operating subsidies to nonprofits and housing authorities serving the homeless and homeowners in need.

"Right now more than 13,000 kids in our public school system are homeless. The Governor, the Speaker of the House and the Majority Leader of the Senate have shown that it is possible for government to make a substantive commitment to improving the lives of its citizens,” said Ben Gitenstein, Executive Director of the Washington Low Income Housing Alliance. 

The budget also offers $6 million for the Washington Families Fund, $2.5 million for the Transitional Housing, Operating, and Rent (THOR) program, and $1.5 million for mortgage counseling.