Widening inaccessibility to affordable homes and an increase in homeless young people across the state, means these issues have become a huge priority for communities across the state. Last year, the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction found more than 27,000 homeless young students across Washington with the largest jumps in young people who are “doubled-up”, which means couch-surfing or staying at the home of relatives or neighbors. In addition, the National Low Income Housing Coalition found that for every 100 extremely low-income families in the state earning less than $23,400 a year for a family of three, only 47 affordable apartments are available. These two facts taken together means the legislature must act to help create affordable homes and fund successful programs that transition people off of the streets into safe, healthy, affordable homes. This is also why this year’s theme is “…It All Starts at Home…” Advocates are increasingly making the connections between having a home and positive education and even healthcare outcomes.

Every year, the Washington Low Income Housing Alliance (Housing Alliance) celebrates and recognizes an individual, organization, and lawmaker who have gone above and beyond to advocate on affordable housing and homelessness issues. This year also marks the first time recognizing a nonprofit board for their dedication to legislative advocacy. The 2013 awardees for their annual advocacy awards dinner are: • Individual Advocate of the Year: Greg Winter • Advocacy Organization of the Year: Community Action of Skagit County • Legislator of the Year: State Senator Steve Hobbs (44th—Lake Stevens) • Leadership in Board Advocacy: Imagine Housing

If you make minimum wage in Washington State, you’ll need to work 64 hours a week to afford a decent rental home. This is one of the many findings from the report, Out of Reach 2013, jointly released by the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) and the Washington Low Income Housing Alliance (Housing Alliance) today, March 11. NLIHC is a national research and advocacy organization based in Washington, D.C. and the Housing Alliance is a statewide housing advocacy nonprofit. The report provides housing affordability data for every state, metropolitan area, and county, including the unique Housing Wage statistic. The Housing Wage is the hourly wage a family must earn, working 40 hours a week, to afford the rent and utilities for a safe and modest home in the private housing market. (In the U.S., HUD considers someone as rent-burdened if they are paying more than 30% of their income on housing.)

On Monday, February 11, over 600 people, representing 43 legislative districts will converge upon Olympia for the 10th annual Housing and Homelessness Advocacy Day. The event’s coordinator, the Washington Low Income Housing Alliance has a full day of advocacy planned, including a significant online presence. For instance, not only does the day have its own Twitter hashtag, #HHAD2013, but each of our State Legislative Agenda items also has its own hashtag. This allows advocates unable to attend, a chance to follow the day’s events and follow the developments of each legislative priority.

On February 11, hundreds from across Washington will converge upon Olympia for the 10th Annual Housing and Homelessness Advocacy Day. This year’s theme is “2-11: Hear the Call for Housing and an End to Homelessness.” Advocacy Day will help connect advocates to elected officials in order to make the call to increase access to affordable housing and services and programs that prevent and end homelessness. This year's theme was chosen in recognition that our date (2-11) is the same phone number (2-1-1) that struggling individuals and families call when trying to get connected to critical resources. We have a full day planned for our advocates, including teach-ins on our State Legislative Agenda, advocacy workshops, and even a rally on the north steps of the Capitol Building.

Today marks the start of significant new protections for all of Washington’s renters. The enactment of the “Fair Tenant Screening Act” means that every tenant will now know what criteria a landlord will use to make their rental decision. And if that landlord decides to not rent to the tenant, or takes another “adverse action” like charging a higher deposit, then the tenant will have the right to know why. This is the first time tenants in Washington State will have access to this information and this marks a major breakthrough in the barriers tenants face in accessing housing.