John –
I not only want to tell you more about why I work so hard on housing, but I also want to fill you in on the progress we've made.

So often, housing policy is detached from what a home really is – a safe place, a place for family – and why homes are important.

When I think of the homes I have lived in and the opportunities they afforded me, I'm deeply grateful. The security and support I found there have driven me to make housing policy a central element of my public service career.

To put it simply, John: everyone deserves a place to call home.

And that's why I find the housing crisis in the United States, and especially here in Washington state, so devastating.

The source of the crisis isn't hard to pin down; we just haven't built enough housing over the last few decades. But while it's simple to diagnose, it's complicated to treat.

Washington state has 1.06 housing units per household, meaning there is just over one home per family. Now compare that to the national average, 1.14 housing units per household. In order for Washington to achieve the national average, we would need to build over 190,000 new housing units today.

You and I could grab a hammer and some nails right now to head out to start building, but it's not that simple. We also need to navigate the Four L's of housing policy – Land, Lumber, Labor, and Loans:

Land – local land use policy, zoning, proximity to work, and proximity to transit, all complicate the question of where we can, and should, build new housing.

Lumber – We need something to build houses with, and in most cases that means wood. During the pandemic, there were shortages of lumber and other building materials. Those shortages have largely been resolved, but with rising prices for materials, we see rising prices for new housing.

Labor – We need more skilled builders to frame homes, lay tile, install electrical wiring, shingling roofs, and so much more. These are critical skills developed over time with experience and training, and Washington state does not have enough folks with these skills.

Loans – We need money to build houses, and folks need money to buy homes. But loans are getting more expensive for both builders and buyers, so fewer houses are being built and fewer new home buyers can afford the homes they need.

Before we can build more homes, we have to resolve all of these questions, so we need to throw the kitchen sink at them. (Forgive the pun)

And that's what I'm doing.

I spent my first term as Lieutenant Governor laying the groundwork for Washington state to make dramatic progress in taking on the housing crisis:

*The Legislative Committee on Economic Development and International Relations, which I chair, published an influential report, which established that lack of housing supply was the top barrier to economic growth in our state.
* I testified in support of HB 1474, which created a first in the nation homeownership assistance program for people (and their direct descendents) who've been harmed by racial housing covenants.
* I worked with Sen. Yasmin Trudeau to bring together divergent stakeholders – environmentalists, renter-rights advocates, builders, realtors, and many more around the state – to work on areas of common ground and address our housing crisis.

As a result, this year, 2023, has been the "Year of Housing" in Olympia. I'm glad to say that the Washington State Legislature passed more bills to address the housing crisis than any previous legislative session and made historic investments to build affordable housing across the state.

But the work isn't done. If we're serious about this issue, then we need to make 2024 the Year of Housing as well. And 2025. And so on, until all Washingtonians have someplace to go home to.

I will continue working to ensure all Washingtonians can afford a home for themselves and their family. Because a home is more than four walls and a roof, it's a place where memories are made and people feel safe, happy, and loved.

Denny

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