The rental application and screening process presents a number of barriers for many people. For years, housing advocates in Washington have worked to make the process more transparent and fair. This year we celebrated a big victory when Fair Tenant Screening Act was signed into law. It protects survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking from discrimination when they are applying for housing.
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Many YWCA clients are recipients of Housing and Essential Needs (HEN) assistance and have been greatly impacted by recent cuts. HEN provides rental assistance for the thousands of Washingtonians who find themselves on the edge of homelessness due to an injury or illness. A related program, Aged, Blind & Disabled (ABD), provides medical care and up to $197/month in cash assistance to low-income adults who are permanently disabled. These programs helps the state's extremely vulnerable keep their homes, but they are often the most vulnerable programs when it comes to budget cuts. We advocate to protect these programs from further cuts.
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The Housing Trust Fund is the #1 tool for building, renovating, and maintaining affordable housing in Washington State. The majority of people living in housing supported by the Housing Trust Fund make less than $19,000/year for a family of three. With such an important impact on our community, we want to see a sizeable investment in the Housing Trust Fund and the future of families.
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With session over, it's time to say thank you to our legislators for investing in the Housing Trust Fund! The Fund is a capital investment fund that has built, rehabilitated and preserved more than 36,000 healthy and affordable homes across our state. Our state can and must address its budget deficit while maintaining critical support to the most vulnerable in our communities. Our leaders funded the Washington Housing Trust Fund at $67.1 million and invested in future economic growth opportunities.
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As of March 29, 2012, EHB 2048 was signed into law! This means that an existing $20 fee will be extended for four years and add a new $10 fee to compensate for lost revenue that goes towards critical state and county programs that address homelessness. As the need for these services increases, we are grateful to our legislators for passing this bill and helping to provide revenue sources. It is time to say thank you! Read More…