Activists decry dearth of affordable housing

Activists who crowded into the Capitol wearing bright-red rain ponchos Thursday said the need for more public financing of affordable-housing units is becoming an emergency. Nearly 200 people marched to the Legislature to get a message through.

"I think we have an emergency ... a crisis," said Shannon Deighan, homeless-outreach coordinator for Behavioral Health Resources in Olympia.

There's wide agreement at the Capitol to put $50 million more into housing trust-fund financing this year, including up to $10 million to help recent Chehalis River flood victims.

House Speaker Frank Chopp has agreed generally with the activists, seeing a need to get more housing into urban areas that is affordable for lower- and middle-wage workers. He has been working on a plan that could let the state get around its debt-limit concerns and perhaps increase its housing investment to $100 million.

Chris Lowell, executive director for Housing Authority of Thurston County, said the money is needed. One local project that might benefit would add 24 units of two and three-bedrooms for low-income families, she said.

"A two-bedroom apartment typically is running around $750 a month. For a family that earns $10 an hour ... it simply is not affordable," Lowell said. She said a homeless count showed more than 500 households needed affordable housing this year.

Lowell estimated that there are 2,000 South Sound households on a waiting list for federal Section 8 rent vouchers, and that can range from three to five years. A family of four must be at or below $33,050 yearly income to qualify, but 80 percent of those getting aid are at or below $19,850, rental-assistance program manager Maureen Hill said.

Leaders in the Senate and House and Gov. Chris Gregoire have agreed to boost financing through the Housing Trust Financing Commission by $50 million.