On Wednesday, while touring a homeless shelter in Seattle, Inslee outlined some of his agenda items for January to address the state’s housing crisis.
He says the state needs more housing and soon. In the short term, he says he wants more shelters and transitional housing to get people back on their feet. The state estimates Washington has 12,000 unhoused residents.
In the longer term, the governor says affordable housing needs to become available. He credits the high rent and home prices to a lack of housing. The governor touted two initiatives he signed in 2022 as helping to reduce homelessness, with hopes to continue and expand upon them in 2023. The first is the “Right of Way Initiative.” Since this spring, the initiative has meant removing encampments from the side of state roadways by providing housing alternatives. Already it’s been implemented in King, Pierce and Thurston counties.Inslee says another success is the investment in the “Rapid Capital Acquisition Program.
Meeting the state’s housing needs will require more than just construction crews; it requires legislative backing and legislation. In 2022, the state spent $829 million in housing and homeless services, according to the Washington Office of Financial Management. Inslee says 2023 will require a more aggressive approach and, therefore, more funding.
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