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Senate passes Home Security Fund
Measure would devote $25 million to assist low income
families and the homeless
March 3, 2006
OLYMPIA—Following Thursday’s opening act that gave local governments a
new tool to promote affordable housing — on Friday the Senate passed the House’s
Home Security Fund (HB 2418) which will designate $25 million of the state’s
general fund to build new housing throughout Washington.
“The increasing gap between average family incomes and the cost of the average
home has led to a major housing crisis in our state,” said Rep. Larry
Springer (D—Kirkland), sponsor of the bill. “Much of the additional state
revenue we have seen this past year is directly linked to the real estate boom
and it only makes sense that we reinvest this money to help families get into a
home.”
Rising home costs have made it nearly impossible for more than 405,000
Washington families to find a decent, safe and affordable place to live. Over
51,000 individuals are homeless and over 50,000 households are on waiting lists
for public housing authorities.
Springer’s proposal directs $25 million of the State’s $1.5 billion in
additional revenue to Washington’s Housing Trust Fund. The funds will help
provide rent vouchers, services to homeless families, housing for victims of
domestic violence and funds for low-income housing and aid for farm worker
housing.
The measure is part of a larger emphasis by the House to address rising home
costs. Just last year the House created a new Housing Committee to focus on
policies that can help increase the availability of affordable homes throughout
the state.
Springer, who is vice chair of the committee, sponsored the Home Security Fund
along with legislation passed on Thursday that gives local governments the
authority to change local zoning laws as an incentive for builders to include
low income housing units in new developments.
“A lack of affordable housing is a strain on all aspects of our budget,” said
Springer. “If children don’t have a safe home in which to study—if people are
commuting hours to work every day because they can’t find an affordable home—we
all end up paying for it through the strain on our schools and on our roads.
This is a positive investment that will add to long-term health of our
community.”
Both bills were passed out of the Senate with near unanimous support and will
now be sent to the Governor for final approval.
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Contact: Rep. Larry Springer (360) 786-7822
Staff Contact: Derek Baker (360) 786-7697
Bill information House Bill 2418:
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=2418&year=2006
Link to Release on HB 2984:
http://housedemocrats.wa.gov/members/springer/20060302_affordable_housing.asp
Radio and TV News Directors: To obtain broadcast-quality audio on this issue,
or to arrange for TV or radio interviews, please contact Dan Frizzell, caucus
broadcast coordinator, at frizzell.dan@leg.wa.gov or (360) 786-7208
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