2022 Advocacy Wins

In 2022, HDC and our partners advocated for historic investments and policy changes to address the affordable housing crisis—and your voices made a difference! Together, we secured more funding for affordable homes, built and maintained inclusive communities, and improved the health and stability of housing throughout our region.

Read on for a full list of our 2022 advocacy wins.

In 2022, HDC and our partners:

  • In partnership with the Washington Low Income Housing Alliance (WLIHA), secured $440 million in new housing priority funds in the Supplemental Capital Budget, including $114 million for the Housing Trust Fund and $240 million for Rapid Housing Acquisition.
  • Working with WLIHA and other partners, ensured significant investments in the State Operating Budget, which, among other investments, included $68.5 million for Rental Assistance and $55 million for frontline homeless service providers.
  • Successfully passed HB 1643, which exempts a sale or transfer of real property for affordable housing to a nonprofit entity, housing authority, public corporation, county, or municipal corporation from the real estate excise tax.
  • Working with a broad coalition of supporters, advocated for and passed HB 1866, creating the Apple Health and Homes Program, the Health and Homes Account, and the Office of Health and Homes within the Department of Commerce. The culmination of this bill increases and streamlines production of permanent supportive housing and pairs it with health services, acquires sufficient supportive housing units to fulfill the needs of persons enrolled in the program, and creates an account to be used for supportive housing programs.
  • Worked with supportive housing advocates to pass HB 1724. This bill ensures oversight and coordination of permanent supportive housing (PSH) resources to maximize high-quality housing opportunities for people living with disabling conditions. It also creates a PSH providers task force with the Department of Commerce and adds a seat on the Affordable Housing Advisory Board for a PSH housing provider.
  • After years of effective coordination, advocacy, and partnership throughout South King County, South King County Housing & Homelessness Partnership (SKHHP) unveiled its Housing Capital Fund to create and preserve affordable housing in South King County.
  • In partnership with the King County Housing Authority, ensured that Public Housing Authorities can keep rents affordable through the continued use of property management companies by passing HB 1975.
  • Joined a vast coalition of advocates to pass HB 1748 which permanently increases the cash grant for the Aged, Blind, or Disabled Program from $197 per month to $417 per month.
  • Worked to pass SB 5818 that promotes construction in cities through amendments to and limiting appeals under the State Environmental Policy Act and Growth Management Act.
  • Joined a BIPOC-led community coalition that urged the King County Council to establish an equitable development initiative that would offer funding and opportunities for BIPOC communities to lead land development projects to combat gentrification and displacement.
  • Successfully advocated for the transfer of Sound Transit-owned land near light rail stations to affordable housing projects in Kent-Des Moines, Redmond Overlake, and U District.
  • Alongside Eastside for All and the Stay Housed/Stay Healthy Coalition, HDC and the Eastside Affordable Housing Coalition (EAHC) mobilized advocates to secure passage of meaningful pass tenant protection ordinances in Redmond, Kirkland, and Issaquah.
  • Through sustained advocacy, HDC and the EAHC successfully prevented harmful barriers from being created to build and access emergency and supportive housing in Bellevue. Through the combination of local and state level advocacy, emergency and supportive housing is now allowed in significantly more areas throughout Bellevue.
  • Joined a broad coalition to advocates and passed HB 1593 to expand the Landlord Mitigation Program to alleviate the financial burden on victims attempting to flee domestic violence, sexual assault, unlawful harassment, or stalking. Landlords are offered incentive and added security to work with tenants receiving rental assistance.
  • Worked with supportive housing advocates to pass HB 1724. This bill ensures oversight and coordination of permanent supportive housing (PSH) resources to maximize high-quality housing opportunities for people living with disabling conditions. It also creates a PSH providers task force with the Department of Commerce and adds a seat on the Affordable Housing Advisory Board for a PSH housing provider.
  • Passed SB 5722 to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in buildings through a new tier for Building Performance Standards for existing buildings. This bill requires the Department of Commerce to adopt energy management and benchmarking requirements for certain buildings and multifamily residential buildings.
  • Convened key stakeholders, including elected officials, to call on bargaining partners to negotiate and conclude the prolonged concrete strike with a fair contract for workers.

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