January 11, 2022
Dear Chair Rolfes and members of the Senate Ways and Means Committee:
We are writing on behalf of our 2,500 members to strongly urge you to use federal recovery resources to make significant investments in evidence-based regional solutions to homelessness and affordable housing, as proposed in Governor Inslee’s supplemental operating budget and the “Combatting Washington’s homelessness crisis” policy brief released last month.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Washington state had one of the largest populations of people experiencing homelessness. This has only been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which increased economic instability and created new stresses and traumas. Over 80,000 Washington households reported that they were likely to face eviction or foreclosure within two months according to a U.S. Census Pulse Survey in October. With these growing challenges, it is paramount that the legislature makes substantial investments to address the ongoing homelessness crisis.
This year we have an opportunity to help Washington families and individuals who are experiencing homelessness and to prevent additional households from falling into homelessness. The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) provided Washington with billions of new dollars, many of which remain uncommitted and unspent. Those dollars should be used to grow the supply of shelter and affordable housing, including acquisition of property, construction, and conversion of existing buildings, as well as to provide more behavioural and mental health services. In particular, we applaud Gov. Inslee’s proposal to prioritize increased funding for the Rapid Housing Acquisition Fund and the Housing Trust Fund and for behavioural and mental health services. We also support investments to prevent people from falling into homelessness including utility assistance for households that are behind on payments and increased landlord assistance.
A recent poll on homelessness found that 92% of Washington voters believed that addressing the homelessness crisis should be a top priority of state lawmakers. Voters also agreed that we need to focus on the causes including better healthcare, mental health services, and substance abuse treatment (90%); we need to invest in housing (85%); and that state government should lead in responding to the homelessness crisis and use available federal funding (9 out of 10).
We agree and urge action this session in alignment with what Washington voters want and what Washingtonians need: investment in solutions to homelessness, including medically necessary supportive housing and permanent supportive housing.
Sincerely,
Rachel Smith
President & CEO
