Building Momentum: Preparing for the 2021 Legislative Session!
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
Building Momentum: Preparing for the 2021 Legislative Session!
Agenda • Introductions & Logistics • Brief overview of 2021 legislative priorities • The 2021 legislative environment • Key advocacy takeaways and tips, plus effective Zoom testimony • Question & Answer • Housing and Homelessness Advocacy Day announcements • Getting involved in advocacy this session!
Lead Agenda Items Increase and Preserve Affordable Housing: Invest $240 million for the Housing Trust Fund and an additional $10 million from the Capital Budget for preservation of affordable housing (USDA and other properties at risk of loss). Keep people in their homes and prevent an increase in homelessness: • Pass statewide protections against discriminatory and arbitrary evictions (good cause termination requirements), • Prevent evictions based on nonpayment of rent with improved legal protections and rental assistance, • Significantly increase the state’s document recording fee to increase resources to prevent homelessness Protect against any cuts to affordable housing, homelessness and human services programs by passing significant new progressive revenue.
Lead Agenda Items Increase and Preserve Affordable Housing: Invest $240 million for the Housing Trust Fund and an additional $10 million from the Capital Budget for preservation of affordable housing (USDA and other properties at risk of loss). Keep people in their homes and prevent an increase in homelessness: • Pass statewide protections against discriminatory and arbitrary evictions (good cause termination requirements), • Prevent evictions based on nonpayment of rent with improved legal protections and rental assistance, • Significantly increase the state’s document recording fee to increase resources to prevent homelessness Protect against any cuts to affordable housing, homelessness and human services programs by passing significant new progressive revenue.
Lead Agenda Items Increase and Preserve Affordable Housing: Invest $240 million for the Housing Trust Fund and an additional $10 million from the Capital Budget for preservation of affordable housing (USDA and other properties at risk of loss). Keep people in their homes and prevent an increase in homelessness: • Pass statewide protections against discriminatory and arbitrary evictions (good cause termination requirements), • Prevent evictions based on nonpayment of rent with improved legal protections and rental assistance, • Significantly increase the state’s document recording fee to increase resources to prevent homelessness Protect against any cuts to affordable housing, homelessness and human services programs by passing significant new progressive revenue.
Additional Lead Agenda Items • Ban discrimination against renters based on a prior criminal record (Housing Justice Act). • Foreclosure prevention. • Equity and racial justice: support a racial justice and/or immigrant rights ask (if appropriate and asked to do so). • Prevent any expansion of the MFTE program without requiring deeper affordability, tenant protections and anti-displacement protections. • Support the state Health Care Authority’s ask to the legislature for Foundation Community Supports (FCS) renewal authority and a state funding match.
a keup
Elec i tte em
t ions om m
= ne w c
w la Ne
wm
ake
rs
The 2021 Legislative
Environment
New v
irtual
enviro
nm
y
ent
cit
it Fe
pa
efi c de
tD l ca ra lu
e
dg nc
bil
Bu e rt
ed
ain
ty
n
rai
nst
CoHouse Housing, Human Services & Veterans Representative LD Peterson, Strom (D) Chair 21, Lynnwood, Snohomish County Taylor, Jamila (D) Vice Chair 30, Federal Way Bateman, Jessica (D) 22, Olympia Chopp, Frank (D) 43, Seattle Leavitt, Mari (D) 28, Pierce County Thai, My-Linh (D) 41, East King County
Senate Housing & Local Government Senator LD Kuderer, Patty (D) Chair 48th, East King County Das, Mona (D) Vice Chair 47, Kent, South King County Cleveland, Annette (D) 49, Vancouver, Clark County Lovelett, Liz (D) 40, Skagit and Whatcom Counties Salomon, Jesse (D) 32, Shoreline, North King County
Key advocacy takeaways and tips • Get familiar with Zoom! Watch Zoom tutorial videos here. • Accessibility will be crucial for advocates to weigh in • Dept. of Commerce drive-in wifi hotspots • Can your organization (safely) provide a space/assistance with computers? • Language access – Let WLIHA know about any interpretation needs early • Call in by phone for lawmaker meetings, but not bill hearings for testimony • Legislature's remote testimony page • Bookmark and track bills on leg.wa.gov • Sign up for Housing Alliance action alerts to be notified of key moments to contact your legislators! • Know which committees your lawmakers are in!
Tips for Zoom testimony
• Try to have a clear background, work through distractions if possible
• Focus testimony a little shorter than the limit
• Use a timer – Google "stopwatch timer"
• Look straight into the camera
• Address the Chair and committee members by name
• Name co-sponsors of the bill present
• Use virtual backgrounds strategically, as well as thoughtful propsQuestions?
Housing and Homelessness Advocacy Days! February 8-12, 2021 • Registration opens January 4! • LD mtg schedule by end of January • What to expect @ #HHAD2021 • Prep with your legislative district group the week before HHAD • Monday morning: Welcome, call to action and workshops • Monday afternoon to Friday morning: Legislative District meetings • Friday afternoon: Rally for Homes!
Join our growing advocacy community! • Testify in a legislative committee! • Send emails or make phone calls to your state lawmakers! • Share petitions, sign-on letters and action alerts around your community! • Join us for (virtual) Housing and Homelessness Advocacy Day! • Sign up to advocate here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/20 21AdvocatesSignUp
• Do you have a story to share?
Speak your • Do you know someone who may want to share
truth! Tell your their experiences of housing instability or of
story! housing success?
• Get connected with us!
https://forms.gle/RU3Z7aunHNEM83aW81, 2, 3! Take action
today!
1) Sign up for Housing Alliance action alerts!
https://wliha.salsalabs.org/wlihaemailsign
up/index.html
2) Email your lawmakers today to fund rental
assistance and invest in affordable
housing! (stay tuned for action alert
tomorrow!)
3) Are you a nonprofit board member or
director? Pass a board resolution in
support of progressive revenue! Email John
Stovall at johns@wliha.orgQuestions? Contact: Michele Thomas Director of Policy and Advocacy Michelet@wliha.org John Stovall Member Organizer johns@wliha.org
You can also read
