By Brenda Schallberger, Council for the Homeless

Council for the Homeless and REACH invite the public to learn about housing and homelessness advocacy priorities for the legislative session and how to communicate in person, by phone, or in writing with elected officials. “It is important for all constituents to share what matters to them with their elected officials,” states Kate Budd, Deputy Director, Council for the Homeless. “We want to help people convey their story in a way that will be heard and provide education about the key bills to follow this legislative session.”

Housing and Homelessness Advocacy Training

• Date: January 23, 2018

• Time: 6:00pm-7:30pm

• Location: Community Room at the Vancouver Housing Authority, 2500 Main Street, Vancouver, 98660. Parking in upper and lower building lot and on street.

• No RSVP required.

Housing and Homelessness Advocacy Day (HHAD)

HHAD is February 1, 2018, 8am-4pm, in Olympia, WA. At this annual event, community members from around
Washington visit the capital to talk with their elected officials about the need for policies that support affordable
housing and homelessness solutions. People can register to attend HHAD on the Washington Low Income Housing
Alliance website.

New this year, Council for the Homeless is coordinating bus transportation for local advocates to journey together to
Olympia. There is no charge to ride the bus and space is limited. Registration to ride the bus is required by emailing
info@councilforthehomeless.org or by phone at (360) 993-9561. Deadline to register for
this bus is Monday Jan. 29. The bus will leave First Church of Christ Scientist, 204 E. Fourth Plain Blvd., Vancouver,
98660 at 7:00am on February 1 and return at approximately 6:00pm to the same location. People may leave their cars in
the church parking lot for the day.

Top Housing and Homelessness Legislative Priorities for this session

• Rising housing costs and low vacancy rates are driving increases in homelessness all along the west coast. Washington must need this growing need by sustaining and increasing the primary source of flexible funding for programs that prevent and end homelessness by passing HB 1570.

• Housing Trust Fund – Build and preserve safe, healthy, and affordable homes. Invest at least $106 million in the Housing Trust Fund.

• Source of Income Protection – Ban Discrimination Based on a Renter’s Source of Income. Close a fair housing loophole that allows landlords to discriminate against tenants who use rental assistance by passing HB 1633 or SB 5407.

• Read the WLIHA legislative priorities here!