Senator Murray's Latino News Update
August 2005Celebrating Our Progress on Farmworker Housing.................................................................................... "Working families
have the right to dignity. They have the right to safe, decent, affordable
housing, and the Trust and Buena Nueva Housing make that a reality."
Dear Friend:On Tuesday, August 2nd, I joined dozens of farmworkers, growers, advocates, and community
We gathered in Buena (just outside Yakima) at Buena Nueva, a beautiful, two-year old farmworker housing community. With dozens of friends and neighbors gathered near the community center, I announced that I've secured another $1.5 million in federal funding to support farmworker housing. Leaders from across the state spoke about the progress we've made and the challenges that lie ahead. This update summarizes our celebration. Listen
to Senator Murray's Remarks ........................................................................ A Challenge for Our StateAs I told the audience: "All of us recognize
that farmworker housing is a moral issue, an economic issue, and a
family issue. Too many workers and their families face very difficult
living conditions. Some live in their cars. Others share run-down,
overcrowded rooms with other families. These are not the kinds of
living conditions we can tolerate in the United States in the 21st
Century. They are certainly not suitable for the people who help put
food on our tables and who keep our state's economy strong. We can
do better, and all of you recognized that and got to work."
From Division to UnityFor many years, the challenge of farmworker housing seemed like it was stuck in neutral. There was a
But with help from the federal and state governments, a dedicated group of leaders started bringing people together. Several years ago, I secured $1 million to help growers with on-farm infrastructure. The State of Washington established a $40 million fund to address community-based housing shortages. We had seed money, but we needed leaders who could bring people together. So in 2003, I called together 16 leaders from around the state to form the Washington State Farmworker Housing Trust. ........................................................................ As I told the audience in Buena: "You turned farmworker housing
from a stalemate to a success. You built a partnership that is housing
families, helping growers, and supporting communities. Now, when people
in other states try to address farmworker housing, they look at Washington
State and say – 'It can be done!' " The Trust Is Making ProgressThe Trust and its members have soared beyond my own
expectations. They created a partnership between agencies, growers,
and farm worker advocates. They incorporated as a non-profit, figured
out the needs, and surveyed the best practices from around the country. Seeking Out New Sources of FundingThe Trust has also brought many new players to the table, including the philanthropic community. Now
....................................................................... Bringing People TogetherThe Trust has built a partnership that houses families, helps growers, and supports communities. At our celebration in Yakima County, Erik Nicholson of the United Farmworkers of America, captured this feeling best. "[Farmworkers and growers] talk to each other. We have monthly meetings where we duke it out. We figure out how we
This level of cooperation has produced significant change in the battle for decent, affordable housing. As Mario Villanueva, the Executive Director of the Diocese of Yakima
Housing Services, expressed in his remarks, this effort has brought
together a wide range of organizations from the Washington's Growers
League to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. ........................................................................ Buena Nueva Agricultural Worker HousingNew, affordable housing like Buena Nueva Agricultural Worker
The celebration also included remarks by county leaders and residents. Isabel Suarez, a Buena resident who has eight children, told the celebration: "More than anything else, I am happy to see that my children are living in a place that is very appropriate for them."
Ruthanna Rebman,
the Chair of Buena Nueva Community Council, said, "It has been
helpful for many people to have a good, clean, reliable, desirable place
to live. ........................................................................ A Community CelebratesAt the celebration, advocates, community leaders, and growers also shared their thoughts on the
State Representative Phyllis Kenney, an advocate for farmworker related issues over the years, shared her own experiences.
"Doing what is right is not always easy at times. Coming from
a farmworker family, having lived in the car, having lived by the
riverbanks, having lived in chicken coops, I know what it is like
first-hand. And to see people working together to create housing like
this, it is not only right, but it is absolutely great. And as Senator
Murray says, people have the right and the dignity to live good lives
like human beings and all citizens of this state should have that
right, and especially farmworkers who are a critical part of our economic
stability in this state and economic development because without them,
this state would not do as well as it does…This housing project
is beautiful because it tells you that when we come together to do
the right thing, things will happen." ........................................................................ Mike Gempler of Washington Growers League also shared why he and the state's growers are
"The reason the Washington Growers League is involved in this is because the Washington State Housing Trust and the work that it is doing and the funding secured by Senator Murray are all good for growers. It is good for growers because it helps our industry be stable over the long-term. This funding and the state's Farmworker Housing Trust will help growers and communities build housing that is needed for the workers who come and grow and harvest our crops." ........................................................................ More Federal FundingI was pleased to announce that I've secured $1.5 million in federal funding for the Washington State Farmworker Housing Trust. "These dollars will help you serve more people, improve the infrastructure, and provide a range of
At the celebration, Erik Nicholson explained how this additional funding will help address the need for an additional 40,000 units. Juan Aguilar, the President of the Trust, shared how the Trust will use the funds to reach that objective. "In the coming months, the Trust Board will work to double this appropriation by securing grants
........................................................................ With this additional funding, we must answer the call of women like Maria Aguiar, a Buena resident. Maria implored us, "Keep fighting for this. There are a lot of us who
Washington State House of Representatives Speaker Frank Chopp reported on the progress made in the Washington state legislature. "This session, we doubled the amount of money for farmworker housing from $8 million to $16 million—$16 million dollars to help duplicate this kind of great effort."
........................................................................ Sharing Moments with the Buena CommunityAt the end of the program, three children who live in the community presented me with pictures
I want to thank the Diocese of Yakima Housing Services, Buena Housing Associates Limited Partnership, and all of the partners for hosting our celebration. ........................................................................ Get UpdatesTo get updates on Latino issues, please visit: To get updates on Housing issues, please visit To get weekly updates on all issues affecting Washington state, please
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