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Today’s U.S. Supreme Court decision will do more harm to those who are homeless

This is a disappointing decision that will do nothing to solve homelessness. In fact, it will make it worse by giving cities free rein to prioritize criminalization while neglecting and diverting funds from proven solutions like housing. And fines and arrests often extend people’s experience of homelessness by making it harder for them to access housing and services in the future. 

Washington ranked 5th most unaffordable state for housing in new Out of Reach report

For the second year in a row, Washington was ranked with the fifth-highest hourly “housing wage” in the country. The state average “fair market rent” for a 2 bedroom is $2,097, meaning, in order to afford rent and utilities without paying more than 30% of one’s income for housing, one would need to earn $6,989 monthly.

Relief for renters clears important hurdle with WA House passage of measure to prevent excessive rent increases

Olympia, WA – An outpouring of support statewide from renters, small landlords, small businesses, service providers, faith leaders, labor leaders, union members, students and voters buoyed state lawmakers who voted tonight to approve HB 2114, a measure to stop rent gouging practices that are displacing hundreds of thousands of Washingtonians and increasing homelessness.

Washington’s housing wage rises to $36.33 per hour – fifth highest in the nation 

Full-time workers in Washington need to earn $36.33 per hour to afford a modest, two-bedroom apartment at fair market rent. This is Washington’s 2023 “Housing Wage” – an increase of $5 per hour over the housing wage in 2022 – according to a report published today by the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) and the Washington Low Income Housing Alliance. 

My experience at the NLIHC 2023 Housing Policy Forum

Last month I had the opportunity to attend the 2023 Housing Policy Forum: Onward to Housing Justice, hosted by the National Low Income Housing Coalition and held in Washington, D.C. There were several hundred attendees, as well as the NLIHC Board of Directors and State and Tribal Partners from across the country. The Forum is an annual event, but due to COVID, they had not held it in person since 2019. 

The shortage of affordable housing has worsened for renters with extremely low incomes, especially in Washington

The Gap: A Shortage of Affordable Homes, a new report released today by the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) and the Washington Low Income Housing Alliance, finds a national shortage of 7.3 million affordable and available rental homes for extremely low-income renter households – those with incomes at or below the poverty level or 30% of their area median income, whichever is greater.

State lawmakers must make bold investments this year to solve the affordable housing and homelessness crisis

Everyone should have a safe, stable place to call home. Stable and safe housing helps kids learn. It helps families stay together and younger adults stay in their home community. It helps ensure a healthy workforce and households that have money left to spend in their local economy. It helps communities stay resilient.