Regional Roundtable on Housing Affordability
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| I joined housing authorities and social service providers at a roundtable in Seattle on April 6th, where a new affordable housing task force was announced. Thanks to the YWCA Opportunity Place for hosting our meeting. |
Housing affordability is a growing problem for Washington state residents and businesses.
On Friday, April 6th, with the help of the Puget Sound Regional Council and the Housing Development Consortium of King County, I convened a roundtable to discuss the impacts of rising housing costs in the Puget Sound region.
A Broad Panel of Leaders
The panel included representatives of local housing authorities and social service providers, the Washington State Labor Council, Cascade Land Conservancy, Washington Health Foundation, Washington Mutual, Puget Sound Educational Services District, Sound Transit, the Washington Association of Realtors and the Master Builders of King and Snohomish Counties.
Focusing on Affordable Rentals and Expanding Homeownership
Moderated by Bob Drewel, the Executive Director of the Puget Sound Regional Council, this diverse group talked about the importance of bringing homeownership and affordable rental units back into reach for working families, fixed-income seniors, disabled people, and veterans.
Impacts Reach Beyond Housing
We also discussed how the high cost of housing ties into other key issues, like promoting economic and job growth, improving our transportation system, addressing health care needs, ensuring children are ready to learn when they reach the classroom, and protecting the environment.
New Task Force Launched
The discussion concluded with an announcement by Rita Ryder, President, Strategic Initiatives of the YWCA of Seattle-King County-Snohomish County, that a task force will be formed under the auspices of the Prosperity Partnership to look at realistic solutions for addressing the housing affordability challenge in the region. I applaud Rita and Bill Longbrake, Vice Chairman of Washington Mutual for co-chairing this effort and I look forward to seeing the group’s recommendations.
I also discussed our roundtable in Washington, D.C. at a hearing with HUD Secretary Alphonso Jackson. - Full Story
For more see:
Seattle Times: How the high cost of homes is reshaping the way we live
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003655840_housing07m.html
Seattle P-I: "Affordable housing takes center stage: Murray urges effort to solve Seattle's crisis" http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/310655_housing07.html
Housing Development Consortium (April Newsletter) http://housingconsortium.intellicontact.com/housingnews/april_hdc_housingnews.html
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Washington Housing Leaders Visit Me in the U.S. Senate
On March 20th, about 30 housing leaders from across our state came to Washington, D.C. to advocate for higher housing budgets and better federal policies.
Andrew J. Lofton |
Andrew J. Lofton (Deputy Executive Director of the Seattle Housing Authority) said:
"We are here to continue the work that Senator Murray has been doing to advocate not only for housing, but ultimately for low-income people across the country. That’s what this is really about; helping people improve their own lot, and helping them live in safe and affordable housing." |
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Christina Pegg |
Christina Pegg (Executive Director of the Longview Housing Authority)
explained why 30 housing leaders from Washington state traveled to the U.S. Capitol to meet with elected officials:
"We are here advocating for housing; decent, safe, and sanitary housing for every American in the United States. There are far too many Americans that are homeless, every night in the street, and it’s not right." |
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Renée Rooker |
Renée Rooker, Executive Director of the Walla Walla Housing Authority, said after our meeting:
"It’s important that we continue to raise the consciousness of the American people, that housing is important to all Americans." |
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Farmworker Housing
On April 12th, I had a chance to support farmworker housing leaders from Washington, Oregon and Idaho. I spoke by phone with participants at the 6th Biennial Farmworker Housing Conference held in The Dalles, Oregon. The two-day conference was co-hosted by the Office of Rural and Farmworker (ORFH) Housing of Washington and the Community And Shelter Assistance Corporation (CASA) of Oregon.
The conference dealt with many critical issues including funding, property management and immigration reform.
I am so proud of the work of the growers and farmworker housing professionals who address housing for farmworker families. Organizations like the Farmworker Housing Trust Board of Washington, ORFH, CASA and others are making a difference in the lives of farmworkers and in the communities where they work.
When the families who harvest our crops have safe, decent and affordable housing, positive things happen that resonate throughout the entire community:
Farmworker housing owners and managers have been a mechanism for change in these communities.
I look forward to my continued partnership with growers and community housing providers as we continue to address the challenges of housing for farmworkers.
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The President's Housing Budget: What It Means for Washington State
On Thursday, May 3rd, I questioned the HUD Secretary about the President's budget proposal for America's housing programs.
As I told Secretary Jackson –
"I do not see the same sense of urgency or importance being devoted to the problem of affordable housing. Instead, I see a budget that abdicates responsibility and shortchanges programs serving some of the nation's neediest citizens."
Here's how the President's proposal will affect some key programs:
Community Development Block Grants – The President proposes a 20% cut (a reduction of almost three quarters of a billion dollars).
Section 8 tenant-based housing assistance program - The President's budget fails to provide even an inflation adjustment
HUD's program for housing the elderly is cut by 22 percent - a reduction of $160 million in the President's budget proposal.
HUD's program to house citizens with disabilities is slashed by 47 percent - a cut of almost $110 million – in the President's budget.
Public Housing maintenance and safety code updates – cut by 17 percent, or $415 million. Even programs designed to remove lead paint from low-income housing units with children are cut by 23 percent under the President's HUD budget.
HOPE VI program (which has allowed us to tear down some of the most dilapidated public housing and replace it with modern, mixed-income units) is proposed for complete elimination under the President's proposal.
At the hearing, I also spoke about –
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housing challenges in Seattle,
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how FHA can help buyers facing foreclosure and can support first-time home buyers,
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and help for residents displaced by Hurricane Katrina.
More...
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Senator Murray's Prior Housing Updates:
Increases Under the Joint Funding Resolution
for FY 2007
http://murray.senate.gov/economy/update4.html
Politics by HUD Secretary?; Farmworker Housing; NAHRO Conference;
CDBG:
http://murray.senate.gov/economy/update3.html
Help Save CDBG: http://murray.senate.gov/economy/update2.html
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Receive Housing Updates from Senator Murray: http://murray.senate.gov/economy/housingcomments.cfm |
