HOUSING CRISIS

Thurston County is struggling to solve a housing crisis that disproportionately impacts low-income residents. Recent studies show that we have 12,000 households on the edge of homelessness and 1,000+ are homeless. Rising housing prices and the increasing cost of living continue to exacerbate the affordable housing crisis in our region. Affordable housing is defined as paying no more than 30% of household income for rent. With a one-bedroom apartment’s rent locally averaging $1,310 a month, someone earning minimum wage must work three full-time jobs to afford this rent.

“Housing and health are inextricably linked. Their complex interplay determines whether neighborhoods, cities, and regions flourish or fall behind, and whether children thrive, and families succeed. Weaving together smart housing, health, and economic security policy can create stronger, resilient, inclusive, prosperous communities.” Kalima Rose and Teddy K`y-Nam Miller (policylink. org/resources-tools/healthycommunities-of-opportunity).

Homes First knows from its 33 years of working in this field that no statement could be more true. People of color are disproportionately impacted by the housing affordability crisis—an alarming trend that threatens the fate and wellbeing of the nation’s emerging majority, and indeed, the nation’s very prosperity. In growing and gentrifying areas, rising housing costs and stagnant wages have narrowed housing options and displaced vulnerable communities; at the same time, disinvesting to neighborhoods where housing is less expensive.

This is why using our scattered site model is more equitable and inclusive and drives a more diverse community. Rather than being set apart from the community in large apartment complexes, our residents remain anonymous which allows them to rejoin their community and honors their dignity. As we think about future housing policy, we need to be careful that we don’t focus so much on increasing production of new housing— important as that is—that we lose sight of a vast resource of housing hiding in plain sight that can be preserved for the long-term for low- and very low-income households at a fraction of the cost of building new.

We couldn’t be more proud of the work all our staff did in 2022, to add six new homes to our portfolio. Bringing us up to 51 homes serving over 300 people every year. Two of those homes were donated to Homes First, one from a private community member and one from a partnership between LOTT and the City of Tumwater. If you want to get involved in the work we do to give more people safe and healthy homes they can afford, we hope you’ll reach out and let us match your goals with our mission. president@homesfirst.org or ceo@homesfirst.org.

Mary Roberts, Board President

Trudy Soucoup, CEO