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Washington state lawmakers are engaging in important budget negotiations this session, including measures that deal with food assistance. (Zack Frank/Adobe Stock)

Anti-hunger advocates call for action at WA Capitol

It's Hunger Action Day at the Washington State Capitol. Advocates are in Olympia to meet with lawmakers and call for policies that curb hunger…

A public hearing on the rent stabilization bill was held in Olympia last week. (adonis_abril/Adobe Stock)

As housing crisis builds, rent stabilization measure before WA lawmakers

Housing is a major issue in this year's legislative session -- and for some, simply staying in their home is the goal. One measure in Olympia would …

Lack of housing is a critical issue in Washington state. (Kirk Fisher/Adobe Stock)

Housing, health care meet in innovative WA program

Having a home is critical to a person's health. Medicaid dollars in Washington state are helping bridge the gap between health care and housing…

Beneficial State Bank supports affordable housing, calling it a human right. (Dennis M. Swanson/Adobe Stock)

Bank Helps Bring Affordable Housing to WA

A new program in Washington state will provide homes to people who are most in need in the region. The project, known as Madrona Highlands in south …

In 2023, Washington state lawmakers introduced four bills regarding parking mandates - the requirement that developers include certain amounts of parking for their structures. (Eric BVD/Adobe Stock)

More States Consider Ending Parking Mandates

Parking lots dominate the landscapes in many cities, but state lawmakers across the country are cutting back on reserving room for these often …

Ilwaco, Wash., is a town in the state's southwest corner with a population of about 1,000. (Bob/Adobe Stock)

Congress Holds Hearing on Challenges for Rural Small Businesses

Rural small business owners are testifying before Congress on Wednesday about the unique challenges they face. Josh Phillips, owner of Spawn Fly …

Since July 2022, 2-1-1 has received more than 380,000 calls from residents in Washington state. (Gajus/Adobe Stock)

WA 211 Helpline Sees Jump in Calls

A helpline to help people connect with resources when they're in need has seen an uptick in calls to its service. However, funding remains a …

Evictions are traumatic experiences for families, and new project in King County, Washington, is providing support to prevent them. (Rick/Adobe Stock)

Eviction Prevention Program Moves Upstream to Help Families

An eviction prevention program is working to ensure evictions do not happen in the first place. The United Way of King County has provided $500,000 …

Gender affirming care can improve the mental health of young people. (AngelHerrezuelo/Adobe Stock)

WA Bill Supports Trans Youth as Attacks Across US Increase

As legislation across the country targets transgender people, Washington state lawmakers are moving in the opposite direction. The Legislature …

Washington state lawmakers will begin crafting their budgets as the session begins to wind down in April. (Zack Frank/Adobe Stock)

Housing Assistance on Docket for Lawmakers in Olympia

Affordable housing is a major concern in Washington state and lawmakers in Olympia are considering a slate of measures to address it. One option is …

AARP Washington set up a demonstration of an accessory dwelling unit near the Capitol in Olympia. (AARP Washington)

WA Lawmakers Consider Backyard Solution to State's Housing Crisis

Lawmakers in Olympia are looking for a solution that can fit in people's backyards to help ease the state's housing crisis. A bill in the Washington …

A bill in the Washington Legislature would lift cities' restrictions on multifamily housing like triplexes, seen above. (Imagenet/Adobe Stock)

WA Lawmakers Look to Add Affordable Housing for 'Missing Middle'

Washingtonians are being squeezed out of the housing market, and some state lawmakers want to see significant changes to cities' zoning laws to …

Gov. Jay Inslee's last live State of the State address to lawmakers was in 2020. (TVW)

Gov. Inslee's State of the State Covers WA's 'Multifaceted' Challenges

Gov. Jay Inslee delivered his State of the State speech on Tuesday to open up the 2023 legislative session, touching on a wide range of issues he …

Electric ranges have been shown to emit fewer toxic chemicals than gas stoves. (Di Studio/Adobe Stock)

Proposal Would Lower WA Residential Buildings' Carbon Footprint

Washington state is considering a cleaner future for its buildings. The Washington State Building Code Council is holding public hearings, including …

Ductless heat pumps are an energy-efficiency option that also provide air conditioning. (Andrey Popov/Adobe Stock)

WA Push Heats Up to Make Homes Greener, Healthier

Washington state wants to make homes for its most vulnerable residents greener and healthier. It started with a needs assessment from the Department …

People can wait up to three years to get into affordable housing in Spokane, Wash. (Zach/Adobe Stock)

Innovative 'Land Bank' Could Bring More Affordable Housing to WA

Washingtonians are feeling the squeeze from high housing prices, but a novel concept launching in Spokane could speed up the creation of affordable …

Pioneer Square is a neighborhood in downtown Seattle. (Toohool/Adobe Stock)

WA Program Model for Support in Homelessness Crisis

Washington state lawmakers made a historic investment of $850 million in housing this session. An effort in Seattle to get people housed could …

Washington state lawmakers passed a budget of about $64 billion over the next two years. (Arpad/Adobe Stock)

Looking Back at What WA Lawmakers Accomplished in 2022 Session

Lawmakers have wrapped up their short session in Olympia - another virtual affair due to the pandemic. The majority Democrats moved quickly to pass …

A woman named Amelia was living outside in Tacoma before she moved to a hotel that was turned into a homeless shelter. (Frank Hopper/YES! Media)

Native Perspective Could Shift Views on Homelessness

By Frank Hopper for Yes! Media.Broadcast version by Eric Tegethoff for Washington News Service reporting for the YES! Media/Public News Service …

Gov. Jay Inslee opened Washington state's legislative session, which is a short, 60-day session in 2022. (TVW)

WA State of the State: Housing, Climate, Countering 'Big Lie'

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee launched the 2022 legislative session with his State of the State address on Tuesday. The theme of the speech was "action…

One survey found nearly 30% of Washington state young people who were in foster care had a child by age 21. (yufan sun-EyeEm/Adobe Stock)

Housing, Other Challenges Face WA Youth After Foster Care

SEATTLE - The holidays can be a tough time for young people who have aged out of the foster-care system. For young Washingtonians, housing is an …

At least 11 states have introduced legislation guaranteeing the right to counsel for tenants in eviction cases. (pixelrobot/Adobe Stock)

WA First to Guarantee Right to Counsel in Eviction Cases

SEATTLE - With the threats of evictions rising as the pandemic eases, Washington state took a major step this year to protect tenants. In the 2021 …

King County plans to buy up to a dozen hotels to continue its experiment providing rooms for people without housing. (edb3_16/Adobe Stock)

Pandemic Could Change Housing Approach for WA Unsheltered

By Isobel Whitcomb for Yes! Media. Broadcast version by Eric Tegethoff for Washington News Service reporting for the YES! Media-Public News Service …

A revision to Washington's estate tax would create an equity-in-housing fund. (Eric Fredericks/Flickr)

WA Bill's Tax on Wealthy Would Fund Housing Equity

OLYMPIA, Wash. -- Washington state is home to some of the wealthiest people in the country and it also is facing a housing crisis, so lawmakers may …

People can register to vote using a nearby address if they are living unsheltered. (David Lee/Flickr)

Washingtonians Don't Need a Home Address to Vote by Mail

SEATTLE - How do you vote by mail in Washington if you don't have an address? People who are homeless have some options to get their ballots counted i…

During his 2020 State of the State address, Gov. Jay Inslee called on lawmakers to act to remedy the state's affordable housing crisis. (Office of the Governor)

WA State of State: "Bold Direction" from Inslee on Housing Crisis

OLYMPIA, Wash. -- Gov. Jay Inslee called on lawmakers Tuesday to make affordable housing and ending homelessness their top priorities this session…

More than 130,000 adults in Washington state were evicted from rental properties between 2013 and 2017. (designer491/Adobe Stock)

Eviction Likely When Tenants Lack Legal Representation

SEATTLE — Most renters facing eviction lack access to legal counsel, and because of that, are set up to fail, says a new analysis. The Center …

A project in north Seattle has been awarded a grant to make neighborhoods safer and more pedestrian-friendly. (Spotmatik/iStock)

Wash. Projects Receive Grants to Make Communities More Livable

PORT ORCHARD, Wash. – Two projects in Washington state have been selected for the 2018 AARP Community Challenge grant program. The Community …

Seattle's preference for single-family homes leads to more driving and more cars. (Joe Wolf/Flickr)

Add a Basement Apartment to Your Home, Fight Climate Change?

SEATTLE — For most cities in Washington state, cars are the number one source of greenhouse gas emissions. Could a change to the state's zoning …

A big jump in housing costs has coincided with the growing issue of homelessness in Washington state. (Kid Clutch/Flickr)

Wash. Rent Prices Leaving Wages Behind, Linked to Homeless Numbers

SEATTLE — A person earning minimum wage would have to work 75 hours a week to afford a one-bedroom apartment in Washington state. That's …

Last year, a Community Challenge grant funded a Seattle hackathon to develop an app aimed at making the city more livable for aging residents. (Seattle.gov)

Grant Program Open to Help Communities Become Age-Friendly

SEATTLE – A grant program is looking for project submissions to help make cities and towns in Washington state and nationwide friendlier to peop…

The sun is down on Washington's legislative session, and older residents scored big victories, including improvements to the senior property-tax exemption. (dannymac15_1999/Flickr)

Older Washingtonians Get Legislative Wins This Session

OLYMPIA, Wash. – Older Washingtonians' pocketbooks got some much-needed relief in the legislative session that wrapped up last week. AARP …

The Legislature passed a plethora of affordable housing solutions this session, including $100 million in the Biennial Capital Budget for Housing Trust Fund. (fumigene/Flickr)

WA Legislature Passes Major Wins in Fight Against Homelessness

OLYMPIA, Wash. — Advocates fighting homelessness are notching some major wins from the Washington state Legislature. With the session now …

The ballooning cost of housing could also be fueling the rise in homelessness across Washington state. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

Door Closes on Affordable Housing for Low-Income WA Workers

SEATTLE -- The door to even modest housing is shut to Washingtonians working low-income jobs, according to a new report. The National Low Income …

Seattle has joined more than 100 other communities, including Puyallap, in AARP's Network of Age-Friendly Cities. (Coffee Party USA/Flickr)

Seattle Joins List of Age-Friendly Communities

SEATTLE - Seattle is being officially recognized as an "Age-Friendly" city today, joining more than 100 communities around the world. Over the next …

Protesters are marching against poverty at the Democratic National Convention. (Paul Downey/flickr)

Protesters March Against Poverty at DNC

SEATTLE -- Washington state's 118 delegates in Philadelphia for the Democratic National Convention could be met by hundreds of anti-poverty protesters…

Nearly one million Washingtonians were served by community health centers in 2014. (pixabay)

Community Health Centers Have Past Bipartisan Support

SEATTLE – Community health centers provide care for people all across the state and many them live below the poverty line. Presumptive …

This multi-family housing unit in Cashmere, Wash., was developed by the Office of Rural and Farmworker Housing to serve farmworkers' families. (Marty Miller/ORFH)

With Busy Summer Ahead, WA Farmworkers Find Safe Housing

YAKIMA, Wash. – As grocery stores and farmers markets stock the fresh cherry crop for which Washington is famous, one organization is focused …

About one in 14 Washington children has had a parent in prison during their childhood. (Pixabay)

Report: Children Pay the Price When Parents are Incarcerated

SEATTLE – When parents are sent to prison, there is a hidden toll on the children they leave behind. In Washington state, 109,000 children …

HUD says landlords could be in violation of the Fair Housing Act if they issue blanket rejections to people with criminal records. (click/morguefile)

HUD to Landlords: Stop Discriminating Against People with Criminal Records

SEATTLE - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, or "HUD," gave new guidance to landlords this week, telling them not to reject …

Supporters say the CARE Act would keep family caregivers better informed and better prepared when loved ones are released from the hospital. (Xenia/morguefile)

WA Lawmakers Asked to Give Helping Hand to Family Caregivers

OLYMPIA, Wash. - Washington legislators are considering an idea that just became a state law in Oregon and Nevada. The CARE Act outlines rules for …

Every penny counts for young families, and the Annie E. Casey Foundation has recommendations for federal policies to help lower-income families build assets. (cohdra/morguefile)

Asset Building: Doing More to Help WA Families Save

SEATTLE - Every penny counts when you're raising a family, and a new policy brief says the federal government could be doing more to help people sock …

Amidst this summer's devastating wildfires in Washington, a team of attorneys is offering legal assistance free of charge. Credit: U.S. Interior Department

Free Legal Advice for WA Wildfire Victims

ELLENSBURG, Wash. - As hundreds of acres continue to burn in Washington, a team of attorneys across the state is helping wildfire victims with their …

PHOTO: No one wants a repeat of the Mills Canyon fire or any other summer wildfire. But if blazes ignite, dozens of Washington State Association for Justice members say they're ready to help fire victims with legal advice, quickly and free of charge. Photo courtesy Washington Commission on Hispanic Affairs.

Washington Attorneys Offer Help for Wildfire Victims

TACOMA, Wash. – When someone's home or barn is going up in flames, their first thought is probably not, "Where's an attorney?" But soon enough…

PHOTO: Bus drivers and mechanics from the Renton School District enjoy their time at the Renton Community Suppers so much that they've made it a monthly volunteer commitment. Photo courtesy Darlene Larsen.

Renton School Bus Drivers, Mechanics Set Charitable Example

RENTON, Wash. - Christmas is on a Wednesday this year, but many Wednesdays will be special days in the New Year for the bus drivers and mechanics of …

PHOTO: The Morrison was renovated in 2005 as studio apartments. It is the largest emergency shelter in the Seattle area, with on-site addiction and mental health services. Courtesy of Downtown Emergency Service Center.

New Year's Wish List: Affordable Housing for WA Cities

SEATTLE - Affordable housing advocates are lining up their priorities for the coming legislative session, and more money for the state's Housing …

WA Foreclosure Fairness Act Reaches 2,300 Mark

SEATTLE - Progress is being reported in the second year of Washington State's Foreclosure Fairness Act (HB 1362), but local attorneys say there is …

PHOTO: Seattle is full of apartments and condos. Now renters can learn which ones are the most energy-efficient. Photo credit: Benjamin Morton.

Can Condos, Apartments Use Less Energy? Seattle Thinks So

SEATTLE - Owners of big apartment buildings and condo complexes in Seattle will be tracking and reporting their energy use to the city starting Monday…

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WA: Housing/Homelessness