Video Hearing Testimony HB 1147
Legislative Session 2023 is off with a bang, and Habitat is very happy!
Habitat Washington’s prime agenda has centered on equity for affordable homeownership funds in WA State’s Housing Trust Fund. Past funding levels were very low compared to other housing sectors. Habitat Washington and the hundreds of volunteers and activists at the Affiliate level have helped raise the Legislative awareness of this shortfall. The lack of investment has contributed to the current housing crisis.
Last year, the Legislature made a historic investment of $25M designated to affordable homeownership, up from $9M in 2021. Habitat worked with Legislative champion, Rep. David Hackney (11th Dist.) to introduce the investment. Capital budget committee members recognized that affordable homeownership is the final step in moving people through the affordable housing path to self-sustainability. Habitat is one of the agencies making homeownership happen for low-income families, and we need more sizable investments to scale up to where our State needs us to be as a primary solution provider.
Governor Inslee published his proposed budget for the 2023-2024 biennium, and it boldly calls for $75M for affordable homeownership, as well as a referendum for a $4B bond investment for affordable housing. These two funds have been introduced as HB 1147 and 1149. The video clip is of Carly Colgan, CEO of South Puget Sound Habitat and HFH Washington’s Board Vice President – testifying in pro on Governor Inslee’s budget bill.
Habitat will work hard this session to meet with our Legislators and convey the importance of a $75M investment in affordable homeownership for the biennium. Join us in this important work and send your lawmakers an email letting them know you support Affordable Homeownership and $75M investment.
As we wrap up week 1, Habitat Affiliates and other affordable homeownership stakeholders are finishing their Housing Trust Fund applications for the $25M allocated last session. These dollars will help move families out of rental housing and into homeownership, making room for more families to enter those vacated rental units. Homeownership will bring generational wealth – and a place to put down roots and invest in a community.