Hello everyone,

Thank you for joining our statewide call last Friday. So much has happened in the last few weeks and we are glad to be able to get the word out with your help! This call was absolutely packed with updates about the Governor’s Housing Stability Bridge Proclamation as well as several programs and policies passed during this year’s legislative session. In case you missed it, here is a recording of the call and notes are attached.

For an up-to-date list of eviction prevention resources in Washington (including many referenced on the call), see the Eviction Prevention page on our website. Additionally, Northwest Justice Project has a recently updated page with important information for tenants. Please share both of these resources with your communities!

Many other resources were shared on the call – see below for a full list.

If you would like to follow up with any of the speakers on the call, you will find their contact information below.

Advocacy by you and fellow advocates from across the state has ensured that eviction protections are in place, but there is much more work to do. Please take action today with the National Low Income Housing Coalition to urge our state’s federal delegation to support deep investments and pass critical eviction protections. As Sarah shared on Friday’s call, we face an unprecedented opportunity to secure far-reaching and much needed federal investments. 

Thank you and please help us get the word out about the below resources.

In community,

Sarah

Sarah Cohn (she/her) 

Communications Associate

Washington Low Income Housing Alliance

425.200.8553  I  wliha.org  I  fb /wliha  I  tw @wliha

Contact information for speakers:

• Tedd Kelleher, Department of Commerce Senior Manager, Office of Family & Adult Homelessness: tedd.kelleher@commerce.wa.gov
• Patricio Marquez, State Attorney General’s Office Civil Rights Division. All questions should be submitted via this form
• Jim Bamberger, Director Office of Civil Legal Aid: jim.bamberger@ocla.wa.gov
• Sarah Saadian, Vice President of Public Policy, National Low Income Housing Coalition: ssaadian@nlihc.org
• Pam Taylor, King County Housing Authority Director of Housing Choice Voucher Programs: pamt@kcha.org
• Nathan Lichti, Department of Commerce Housing Trust Fund Managing Director: nathan.lichti@commerce.wa.gov

Resources shared on the call:

• Link to “I got your back” by Stressed Out Entertainment featuring Kingpin X, Mr Mav, Jay Sears and Smooth JZ3 (Stressedoutentertainment.com): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-6Xvg0qKjI

Rental Assistance

• For information on county rental assistance providers see this page on the Department of Commerce’s website: https://www.commerce.wa.gov/serving-communities/homelessness/eviction-rent-assistance-program/
• For more background, here is the U.S. Department of Treasury’s webpage on the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (Washington State is calling this “TRAP” for Treasury Rental Assistance to differentiate this program from earlier federal rental assistance funding that had different rules): https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/coronavirus/assistance-for-state-local-and-tribal-governments/emergency-rental-assistance-program

Bridge Proclamation 

• Here is a link to the full “Housing Stability Bridge Proclamation” which went into effect on July 1: https://www.governor.wa.gov/news-media/inslee-issues-housing-stability-%E2%80%9Cbridge%E2%80%9D-proclamation?eType=EmailBlastContent&eId=e5746941-67b6-4049-8ff8-c62b063219e0
• Here is the link to the Washington State Attorney General’s question/complain form. You can submit questions or concerns via this link: https://fortress.wa.gov/atg/formhandler/ago/COVID19TenancyProclamationQuestionForm.aspx
• You can also call 1-833-660-4877 to leave a message.

Right to Counsel 

• Here is a link to the report on the implementation of Washington’s Right to Counsel program: https://ocla.wa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Implementation-Plan-Right-to-Counsel-for-Indigent-Tenants-7-15-21-Final.pdf 

Federal advocacy  

• Take Action! Urge Our Members of Congress to Join Dear Colleague Letter in Support of HoUsed Campaign’s Infrastructure Priorities! https://nlihc.secure.force.com/actions/TakeActionNew?actionId=AR00915%22%20\t%20%22_blank
 

Emergency Housing Assistance vouchers 

• For more background on the new Emergency Housing Voucher program, see Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) information page: https://www.hud.gov/ehv 

State Capital Budget 

• HTF Trainings & Resources webpage: https://www.commerce.wa.gov/building-infrastructure/housing/housing-trust-fund/resources-trainings/
• Summary of Biennial Appropriations: https://deptofcommerce.app.box.com/file/822939076430?s=usgongfovj53pww7jj9rjfh68vloshv9  
• Housing Trust Fund Policy Advisory Team webpage: https://www.commerce.wa.gov/building-infrastructure/housing/housing-trust-fund/policy-advisory-team/

Conference on Ending Homelessness (Oct 6, 7 & 8)

• Register: https://coeh2021.hubilo.com
• Scholarship application (due July 21): https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/69HQVCP