Greetings, Seattle Metro Chamber members,
January marks the start of the state legislative session, and already, the clock is ticking away on our 60-day, short session. As a regional business advocate, our agenda focuses on action toward a competitive, equitable, and resilient economy, including state-level action and investment on one of our region’s most pressing issues, homelessness.
Our inaugural Index poll found that homelessness still dominates Seattleites’ list of concerns, with 65% of respondents identifying it as a top issue – and Seattle is not alone. Statewide polling found widespread support across Washington for state-level action on chronic homelessness, an issue that has grown in magnitude over the past five years.
Voters are right to be concerned. A report done by Challenge Seattle determined King County has the second-fastest growing chronically homeless population in the country, behind only Oakland, California. Over the past five years, many Washington state counties reported an increase in their chronically homeless populations. Spokane County’s chronically homeless population increased by 27%, Clark County’s by 33% and Snohomish County’s by 20%.
And, more of our neighbours are at risk for housing insecurity. More than 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 now.
Our members have long come together to advocate for public needs like transportation and education at the state level. It is clear homelessness is not just a local or regional issue – nor can solutions be found only at the local or regional scale. More than 6 in 10 Washington voters agree that homelessness is a statewide problem and state lawmakers are responsible for addressing the issue with state funding.
Especially this year, when our state has significant resources at its disposal, legislators have an opportunity and a responsibility to help Washington families and individuals who are experiencing homelessness and to prevent additional households from falling into homelessness. State tax revenues have been higher than forecasted, and the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) provided Washington state with billions of new dollars, many of which remain uncommitted and unspent. Those dollars should be used for 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.
Prioritizing increased funding for the Rapid Housing Acquisition Fund and the Housing Trust Fund is the right thing to do right now. We also want investments that help bring people inside and get the services they need, including enhanced shelter and expanded services, as well as investments to prevent homelessness, including utility assistance for households that are behind on payments and increased landlord assistance.
At a public hearing on Jan. 11, I urged Washington state lawmakers to use federal recovery resources to make significant investments in evidence-based, regional solutions to homelessness and affordable housing, as proposed in Gov. Jay Inslee’s supplemental operating budget and the “Combatting Washington’s homelessness crisis” policy brief released last month. I’m also proud to share that the Seattle Metro Chamber has signed on with numerous counties, cities, nonprofits, and private companies to form the House Washington Coalition to end chronic homelessness. The first step is securing these significant investments in solutions and services this legislative session.
There is so much at stake. With a generational opportunity to meet the scale of the problem and achieve visible results, we must act now.
I hope you will join us,
Rachel
Rachel Smith
President and CEO