||| FROM THE OFFICE OF REP. ALEX RAMEL |||
The urgency for rent stabilization in Washington State cannot be overstated. Skyrocketing rents continue to inflict a devastating impact on our communities, forcing many to make impossible choices between essential needs like food, healthcare, and maintaining stable housing. You’ve been generous in sharing countless heart-wrenching stories with me about your experiences with rent increases. We were able to share parts of some of these stories during the debate on the House floor this week.
We’ve heard from people who have had to take second jobs and spend time away from their families. You’ve told us about skipping days of medication and delaying cancer treatment. Some have taken on credit card debt to avoid homelessness. I have also talked to many small landlords who are struggling to compete in an unstable housing market.
To hear stories from both renters and small landlords, we’ve put together nine short videos in this rent stabilization playlist. I hope you find these stories meaningful and encourages you to share your own story with me.
This week, I feel like we have made real progress – HB 1217 passed off of the House floor . This is a reasonable bill to address the biggest cost of living for about half of Washingtonians who rent their homes. The current market isn’t working for the majority of Washingtonians – a market that ultimately has impacts on small businesses, homelessness, and the overall well-being of our communities.
This is not sustainable for individuals, families, or our communities. The good news is that change is possible. To maintain our momentum, Senators need to hear from you. Please click here or on the image above to sign up for notification to testify on HB 1217.
Sudden rent increases, abusive rental practices, and inaccessibility of homeownership are just a few examples of stories that are powerful to share as we build a coalition of renters, homeowners, and concerned citizens seeking housing affordability and stability for all.
**If you are reading theOrcasonian for free, thank your fellow islanders. If you would like to support theOrcasonian CLICK HERE to set your modestly-priced, voluntary subscription. Otherwise, no worries; we’re happy to share with you.**
Other than mentioning a 7% cap on rental increases, I don’t see anything about any solutions, only lots of people saying, “It’s a problem.” If these politicians actually want to do something real about housing affordability then they need to change the zoning, the building code and taxation so that it makes financial sense to build new rental housing. As usual, the only response is MORE regulations! Urban slum lords probably do need to be regulated to limit their abuses but how is that going to help anyone in San Juan County?
More restrictions, regulation and fees only make the construction of more rental housing more difficult. This leads to less rather than more supply.
This legislation is going to defeat its original purpose. It will create more problems than it solves. People needing rental housing will suffer even more.
Want to solve the problem? Fix the zoning. Reduce the restrictions on construction. Make it easier to build new housing. Increase the supply. Let the free market work.