HHAD 2026! Advocates Use Their Voice To Shape State Housing Priorities! You Can Too!
- aaronl67
- 9 hours ago
- 3 min read
On Monday, January 26th, Low Income Housing Institute's (LIHI) staff, residents and clients attended the Washington Low Income Housing Alliance's (WLIHA) annual Housing and Homelessness Advocacy Day (HHAD) at the State Capitol in Olympia. This event provided an opportunity for advocates to meet with legislators to share our priorities on housing and homelessness bills during the legislative session.Â
Approximately 750 people from throughout the state held 130 meetings with senators and representatives to advocate for WLIHA lead policy priorities and to address housing and homelessness issues in Washington.
On the Capitol steps, WLIHAÂ Director of Equity, Racial Justice, and Culture, Caroline Malabanan Alonzo Lopez, introduced members of Chief Seattle Club as they made a drumming offering. Attendees heard from WLIHA Director of Policy and Advocacy Michele Thomas, Council for the Homeless CEO Sesany Fennie Jones, Balance Our Tax Code Executive Director Emma Scalzo, Spokane NAACP Youth Council member Jada Richardson, Rep. Shaun Scott, Rep. April Berg, Senator Noel Frame, Senator Yasmin Trudeau, and Senator Emily Alvarado.Â
WLIHA and LIHI’s policy priorities include a request for Capital Budget investments to include Governor Ferguson’s $225 million proposal for the Housing Trust Fund. These dollars are the backbone of affordable housing development, and we need this amount or more to build and preserve critically needed affordable housing. House Bill 2266/Senate Bill 6069 will enable providers to develop new shelter and permanent supportive housing in areas already zoned for dense developments. This will significantly reduce the barriers we and other providers face when attempting to find sites for shelters.Â
In an effort to end the criminalization of homelessness, advocates elevated House Bill 2489. We need local jurisdictions to fund expansions of shelter and housing instead of punitive measures. Supporting this bill will hold cities accountable to implementing solutions to homelessness that are evidence based and respect human rights. Additionally, Senate Bill 6256 will allow unoccupied property used by nonprofits for affordable housing to be tax-exempt, removing a funding barrier to building sufficient housing in the region.Â
Youth are a highly vulnerable homeless population. House Bill 2455/Senate Bill 5940 will enact a housing voucher program for youth in extended foster care who are experiencing homelessness. This initiative would act to protect youth from ever entering homelessness, stabilizing their lives and decreasing their future need for emergency housing and services. House Bill 2594 ensures that unhoused children and youths in Washington have equal access to free, appropriate public education. This bill is an effort to ratify the legal and funding protections of the McKinney-Vento Act. This decades-old safeguard is at risk at the federal level and we have the opportunity to secure these rights for children in our state.Â
As many in our state are facing an uncertain future, without new revenue, Washington risks rolling back hard-won progress and leaving more people without stable housing, food assistance, and basic support. Lawmakers should reject an all-cuts budget and ensure that the wealthiest individuals and most profitable corporations pay what they truly owe to our communities. TAKE ACTION and advocate for progressive revenue to protect Washingtonians.
BE AN ADVOCATE
YOUR VOICE MATTERS! We invite you to be an advocate and join WLIHA and LIHI in our advocacy efforts by emailing your local Senators and Representatives (use the WA District Finder) to express your support for these priorities.
