Increasing the Availability of Affordable and Accessible Housing and Healthcare
2009 Legislative Agenda
#1. Maintain current funding level for the Housing Trust Fund
Budget “victory” in that the Housing Trust Fund was only cut in the Capital Budget by half (from $200M to $100M). LIHA (Low Income Housing Alliance) was one on the leaders on this effort.
#2. Increase Emergency Shelter Assistance Program Funding and maintain the THOR (Transitional Housing, Operating, Rent) Program
Budget victory. ESAP (Emergency Shelter Assistance Program) and THOR (Transitional Housing, Operations, & Rent) funding was not cut in the Operating budget. LPPO council member Phoebe Nelson’s women’s program relies on these monies to do its good work in Wenatchee. The Church Council of Greater Seattle is another LPPO partner that relies on these state funded programs.
#3. Maintain current funding level for the (BHP) Basic Health Plan
Basic Health Plan was cut by 42%. This was one of our worse budget losses of the session. It is estimated that close to 44K adults that rely on this for their health coverage will be eliminated from this program. The Healthy Washington Coalition, that LPPO is a part of, will be working with other health care advocates to delay implementation of this budget cut.
#4. Support funding in the Cover All Kids Law to 300% of FPL
HB 2128 was a policy victory. This bill will now further implement the Cover All Kids law passed in 2007. The Children’s Alliance was the key leader on this.
#5. Maintain funding for the Health Insurance Partnership Program for low income employees of Small Businesses
This program (HIP) Health Insurance Partnership (assistance for small businesses to cover their low income employees) was eliminated in the governor’s budget and stayed that way through the budget process. WACAN (Washington Community Action Network) was the leader on this.