Overview of Housing Assistance, Legal Assistance, Fair Housing, and Equity Work in Washington State

​Created July 2020 by Theresa Slusher, Housing Stability Manager, DSHS, ESA.

Read the Washington Low Income Housing Alliance June Report.

Rental Assistance
History to present – Prior to 2020, funding to address homelessness in WA has not been adequate to meet the need. At the start of the 2020 Legislative Session, Governor Inslee called for unprecedented funding developing affordable housing, supportive housing, rent assistance and for increasing the availability of shelter. Some of those priorities were funded by the end of Session. Federal funding supports the state’s investments in affordable housing and homeless assistance. State and Federal resources have been made available since the COVID pandemic, but they are not projected to meet the need.

Coordinated Entry List

Income Replacement as a means to pay for housing costs

Legal Advocacy
Attorney General – An eviction moratorium is in place to October 15th in WA. The Attorney General’s Office will investigate complaints of landlord’s who violate the moratorium.

Columbia Legal Services

Northwest Justice Project

Fair Housing

Equity Work (scan state for action and list TBD)
Tacoma Rental Assistance during COVID