The Columbian recently reported a 5 percent increase in homelessness in Clark County, primarily due to a lack of affordable housing. The article states that an income of $38 an hour is needed to afford a two-bedroom apartment in the county. However, the average income is $36.23 an hour for men and $25.22 an hour for women, making it unaffordable for most single parents.
Why is the discussion on homelessness focused on shelters and support services rather than the policies contributing to this issue? Washington lacks rent caps, leading to unreasonable rent hikes. It’s unsustainable to rely on reactive and costly social assistance for a problem that could be addressed through proactive policy changes. It takes many organizations staff time and resources, funded by community donations and government grants, to provide necessary support services to those already homeless.
House Bill 2114, considered this year in the Legislature, proposes capping rent increases at 7 percent and requiring longer notice for increases over 3 percent. Legislators must advance protections for renters to tackle the root causes of homelessness in our county.
