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Bring Washington Home Act Provides Significant Funds For Affordable Homes

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IMMEDIATE RELEASE
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2016
Contact:
Reiny Cohen, 206.251.4083
reinyc@wliha.org

 

Bring Washington Home Act Provides Significant Funds For Affordable Homes
The Housing Alliance applauds Senate Democrats for leading on homelessness

 

Olympia – The Washington Low Income Housing Alliance applauds Senator Nelson for her strong leadership in addressing the state’s homelessness emergency. SB 6647, also known at The Bring Washington Home Act, will provide much needed funds for shelter, build and preserve affordable homes, and is a bold step toward ending homelessness in our state.

“Homelessness is a public health emergency that impacts people and families in every community in Washington,” says Rachael Myers, Executive Director of the Washington Low Income Housing Alliance. “Last week’s point in time count in Snohomish county showed a 54% increase in unsheltered homelessness. In King County that number grew 19%, and the number of students experiencing homelessness statewide has grown 9% over the past year. It is imperative that the state partner with local communities, and take action right now to address this crisis.”

Recognizing that we’re facing an emergency, the proposal addresses immediate needs. It funds shelter, services, and permanent housing for people who need long-term support to get and stay off the streets. It addresses the needs of people with mental illnesses, homeless youth, families with children, and more. 

The Housing Alliance’s highest priorities this year include increasing funding for the Housing Trust Fund and addressing the shortfall in the Consolidate Homeless Grant. This package does both, and includes funding for HOPE beds for homeless youth and new rental assistance vouchers for vulnerable people across the state. Additional priorities for addressing homelessness are eliminating unnecessary and unfair barriers to rental housing. (HB 1565 / Miloscia, SB 5378 / Ormsby and HB 2811 / Walkinshaw, SB 6413 / Mullet.)

“Addressing the crisis of homelessness should be one of the legislature’s top priorities,” says Myers. “The Housing Alliance joins in the call to take meaningful steps to end this crisis. It’s raining, it’s cold, let’s get people indoors and give everyone in Washington the opportunity to live in a safe, healthy, affordable home.”

The Washington Low Income Housing Alliance is the statewide leader and champion for affordable homes for all. As a powerful coalition of diverse organizations and individuals we work together to ensure that everyone in Washington has the opportunity to live in safe, healthy, affordable homes in thriving communities.

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