Invest in the Housing Trust Fund

Monica and her son Eric were on the verge of homelessness a few years ago. Then they found an affordable apartment at YWCA Family Village at Issaquah, a community built in part by the Housing Trust Fund. Image credit: Degale Cooper.

The top solution for ending homelessness is creating more affordable homes. The Housing Trust Fund is Washington’s best tool for building and maintaining affordable homes. Because soaring market-rate rent prices are out… [More]

2014: Invest in the Housing Trust Fund

The Housing Trust Fund is Washington’s best tool for creating and maintaining affordable homes. Because soaring market-rate rent prices are out of reach for many low-income families, the Fund is vital for keeping families in safe, decent homes. The majority of people living in homes built by the Fund have extremely low incomes, earning less than $19,000 for a family of three. [More]

2014: Remove Housing Barriers & Enact Fair Tenant Screening Act, Part 3

If you’ve had to look for rental housing, then you know that the screening fees can add up quickly. During a single housing search, the average prospective tenant spends more than $166 in fees. This can be a real challenge for low-income families, and it’s an unnecessary burden because much of the information in the reports is the same. Advocates are working to create a portable, standardized report that a renter could share with multiple potential landlords. [More]

2014: Protect Programs for Homeless People & Make Document Recording Fees Permanent

Temporary recording fees on some real estate-related documents provide significant funding for housing and homelessness programs across Washington state. We’re advocating to make the fees permanent so effective programs can keep Washington on the path of reducing homelessness. [More]

2013: Remove Housing Barriers & Enact Fair Tenant Screening Act

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. [More]