What a year for housing justice in Washington!  
 
On April 22, we came together to celebrate the incredible advocacy that drove this year's legislative victories, and some of the people who made that progress possible.  
 
These wins didn't just happen. They were powered by advocates across the state who raised their voices, shared their stories, showed up, and refused to back down.   
 
We were proud to honor some of the outstanding leaders behind that impact:   
 
Nancy Amidei Movement Builder Award: Evee Polanski (Spokane Community Against Racism) for her leadership on the "Get on the Bus" campaign that brought more than 60 advocates from Eastern and Central Washington to Olympia for Housing and Homelessness Advocacy Day!  This award honors the legacy of Nancy Amidei, a champion of civic engagement across Washington.  

 
2026 Legislative Champions: Representative Strom Peterson, Senator Emily Alvarado, and Representative Nicole Macri for their relentless leadership in advancing and delivering key housing justice priorities.  

This week starts our Spring Fund Drive. You can help us build the resources to continue supporting advocates fighting for housing justice with a donation today.
 
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Voice for Justice Award: Judy Ellis testified multiple times about how the Right to Counsel program protected her housing. Her story showed lawmakers the real impact of funding this program -- which was included in the final budget!  
 
Members in Action Award: Housing Alliance members, Jenn Henderson (Disability Rights Coalition) and Sarah Dickmeyer (Plymouth Housing Group) brought their organizations' voices to advocacy for house bill 2266. They were key partners in securing passage of this bill that will expand access to permanent supportive housing and shelter all across Washington.  
 
Rising Advocate Award: Shaena Garberich for stepping into leadership and making an immediate impact as a Legislative District Lead and advocate during the 2026 session.  
 
Racial Justice Champion Award: We honored Dr. Bernard Baca, who passed away in November, for a legacy that continues to inspire advocates statewide. We also recognized Representatives Julio Cortes and Lillian Ortiz-Self for their fierce and unwavering leadership to protect immigrants and advance housing justice.  
 
Housing Justice Lifetime Achievement Award: Representatives Steve Tharinger and Timm Ormsby, and Senator Rebecca Saldaña for years of extraordinary service--helping drive transformative investments in affordable housing across Washington.

We also celebrated 29 powerhouse advocates who responded every single time we asked advocates to speak up during the 2026 legislative session! Their actions, along with thousands of others, made sure that lawmakers heard directly from the communities they represent, and made housing priorities impossible to ignore!  

 
Congratulations to our 2026 award winners and thank you for being part of the movement for housing justice!