HSN has always been a grassroots organization — ordinary people working from the “bottom-up” to create housing solutions. But so often many of the solutions we chase are tied to policy at the state level — restricting possibilities in some cases and mandating it in others. For this reason HSN has gradually been scaling up our involvement at the state level and aim to be a greater voice for issues and solutions impacting Jefferson County and other rural communities.
To that end, this year HSN facilitated the coordination among seven organizations addressing housing affordability in Jefferson County to issue a statement of aligned legislative priorities. Our inaugural submission was modest, but focussed, highlighting two mechanisms that would fund affordable housing projects locally.
The legislative session officially kicked off on the 12th, and this past week HSN pushed out our first Advocacy Alert of the year, highlighting an easy way to support three bills that would impact housing opportunities locally. Thank you all who signed in to support these; expect more opportunities as the session continues!
Our local governments doing their parts as well with leadership from both Jefferson County and Port Townsend active multiple days down in Olympia. Both the city’s legislative priorities and Jefferson County’s legislative priorities include housing related objectives.
Interested to learn more about this kinda stuff or pass on your legislative experience? Next Wednesday’s happy hour would be the perfect place as we talk all things related to the state legislature.
In Community,
Eric JonesActing Director