John –

So, often people ask me: What exactly does a Lieutenant Governor actually do?

Well, there are my constitutionally mandated duties – serving as President of the Senate and as Acting Governor whenever the Governor is out of state.

But the Lieutenant Governor also has the opportunity to shine a spotlight on critical policy issues. Both during my time in Congress and now as Lieutenant Governor I have focused on pushing to improve our housing policy.

Regardless of where you live, housing is a problem in urban, suburban, and rural communities. Simply put, we have a housing crisis across the board in America. But here's a fact you probably don't know:

The housing crisis is worse in Washington than in 48 other states.

And, yes, you read that right.

Too few young people are able to buy their first home because prices are climbing higher and higher. But the problem is not isolated to young people. Even more established individuals, cannot afford homes in the communities closest to their work. Forcing them to buy or rent farther and farther away, simultaneously increasing their commute.

And worst of all: too many people find themselves houseless, forced to live under bridges, in parking lots, or in tents on the side of the highway.

Failure to act on the housing crisis will only result in more homelessness, lower rates of home ownership, reduced security in retirement, a growing racial wealth gap, and lower standards of living as rents or mortgage payments balloon.

In general terms, the solution is obvious: we need to build more homes of all kinds for all our neighbors.

Around the Capitol this year has become known as "The Year of Housing" because of the progress we made. But now is not the time to rest on our laurels, results take time to show up and even longer to be felt. We have a lot of work to do and I'm not stopping until it's done.

Please help me continue this important work by chipping in what you can today.

Denny