Honoring Frank Chopp for a career in public service

LIHI co-founder and longtime Washington State Representative and Speaker of the House Frank Chopp was honored by colleagues, family and friends on November 2nd for his long career in public service at an event in Seattle.

LIHI Executive Director Sharon Lee was among the speakers at the event paying tribute to Frank. Sharon said that other speakers are praising Frank for what he accomplished for higher education, healthcare and public welfare, but we claim and praise Frank for being our Housing Hero. There is not a single nonprofit housing leader in the audience tonight that Frank did not help get their project funded. Frank cannot walk or drive by a piece of property without thinking of it's use for affordable housing. Frank led the significant expansion of the Housing Trust Fund. Look at the landmark legislation he created that resulted in the Apple Health and Home Program, the Covenant Homeownership Program, and legislation that requires Sound Transit to set aside 80% of its surplus property for low income TOD housing. Frank is truly a champion for Housing as a Human Right. 

Frank Chopp served as the Executive Director of the Fremont Public Association, now known as Solid Ground, for 17 years, from 1983 to 2000. Sharon worked for Frank in 1987 and established FPA's Housing Development Department. This was later merged into LIHI in 1991 as a new nonprofit, with Frank as a co-founder. LIHI was set up to address the urgent need for low-income housing and to find creative solutions to the homelessness crisis. Frank became LIHI's board president and he served on the board until he was elected to the state legislature. 

In 1995, Frank took his dedication to advocacy to Olympia, where he was elected as the state representative for Seattle’s 43rd District. His leadership and coalition-building skills quickly propelled him to the role of Co-Speaker of the House in 1999, and he became the sole Speaker in 2002. He led the Washington State House of Representatives for nearly two decades, from 1999 to 2019, marking one of the longest tenures as a state legislative Speaker in U.S. history.

Throughout his career, Frank was known for "creating a lot of good trouble," championing causes such as affordable housing, healthcare, and social services. He passionately advocated for behavioral health services, education and farmworker housing.

Frank was the lead on the Survival Services Coalition, which was the first step to the City of Seattle providing regular funding for basic services, like food banks. He made sure communities of color were included in the coalition. Frank led the First Things First Coaltion and the Yes for Homes campaign that resulted in passage of the Seattle Housing Levy. 

Although Frank is not seeking re-election, his commitment to advocating for children, youth, families, seniors, working people, the undocumented, and the unhoused remains unwavering. Frank Chopp leaves behind a remarkable legacy of service and continues to be a tireless advocate for those in need. We know he will continue fighting for justice in the community.

Please see the tributes and remembrances below. For more, visit Frank's Kudoboard.