Yearly Archives: 2014

The Attorney General’s Office filed charges late yesterday against a former Washington Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) employee for allegedly using his access to confidential state databases to commit identity theft and steal more than $150,000 in unclaimed property through the Department of Revenue’s (DOR) ClaimYourCash.org website

Councilmember Mike O'Brienwill host a Public Hearing on the proposed micro-housing regulations proposed by the Seattle Department of Planning and Development. The Planning, Land Use and Sustainability (PLUS) Committee is considering legislation to improve how micro-housing (also known as "aPodments") fits into neighborhoods and make the housing more livable for renters, while continuing to support innovation in housing design to create affordable choices.

If your group needs funding to do a neighborhood project, the city’s Neighborhood Matching Fund may be able to help. However, you’ll need to be quick because the application deadline to the Small and Simple Projects Fund is Monday, June 2 at 5:00 p.m. This fund provides matching awards of up to $25,000 to neighborhood groups and community organizations for community-building projects

Doug Lasher, Clark County Treasurer, stated that first-half property taxes are due on Wednesday, April 30, 2014. “If you have not received your 2014 first-half tax statement or have lost it, you can visit our website at www.clark.wa.gov/treasurer or contact the Treasurer’s Office at 397-2252 for a duplicate statement.”

U.S. Senator Patty Murray, a senior member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, on Thursday introduced emergency legislation that would reverse a sudden and largely unexplained Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) policy change that has restricted homeless veterans' access to housing and services.

Four new developments will add affordable housing across the state, thanks to almost $29 million in Low-Income Housing Tax Credits allocated yesterday by the Washington State Housing Finance Commission.

Legal action taken by the Washington State Attorney General (AGO) against foreclosure trustee Quality Loan Service Corp. of Washington (QLS) has stopped unfair and deceptive business practices. QLS is one of the largest foreclosure trustees in Washington state.

Councilmembers considered presentations specific to mortgage principal reduction and other foreclosure prevention programs for homeowners who are struggling in Seattle, and options to revitalize the communities impacted.

King County Executive Dow Constantine has appointed TerryLynn Stewart to serve as a King County Housing Authority commissioner. Stewart was unanimously approved on Feb. 19 by the Metropolitan King County Council. Stewart replaces Commissioner Terry McLlarky, who died in July 2013.

The Washington State Attorney General’s Office and the Washington State Department of Financial Institutions are pleased to announce the screening of the foreclosure documentary American Winter in Olympia, Wash

To help meet the City’s strategic goal of being a safe, clean and attractive community, the City of Tacoma’s Code Compliance Section is conducting its annual visual survey of the properties along Tacoma’s main arterials to identify opportunities for individuals to improve their compliance with the City’s Nuisance and Minimum Building and Structures Code. Inspectors will be performing the survey now through March 14.

Widening inaccessibility to affordable homes and an increase in homeless young people across the state means these issues have become a huge priority for communities across the state.

Washington homeowners facing foreclosure can now access brochures about homeownership counseling and mediation services in 11 languages. The Washington State Legislature established the Foreclosure Fairness Act and the Mediation Program in 2011. The program, overseen by the Department of Commerce, is designed to help homeowners and their lenders explore possible alternatives to foreclosure and reach a resolution when possible.

Doug Lasher, Clark County Treasurer, announced that new this year, the annual Property Tax Foreclosure Auction will be held online via an Internet-based foreclosure auction provider called “bid4assets” .

The City of Tacoma Planning Commission is seeking public comment on proposed land use regulations concerning a Temporary Homeless Camps Permitting Process. The proposal would amend the Tacoma Municipal Code, Chapter 13.05 Land Use Permit Procedures and Chapter 13.06 Zoning, to add regulations for a permit review process for temporary homeless camps run by religious organizations.

Today, in a letter to Acting Assistant Secretary George Sheldon, U.S. Senator Patty Murray, Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Housing Subcommittee, urged the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to strongly consider a new federal grant application from YouthCare’s James W. Ray Orion Center in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood. Officials at the Orion Center learned in October of 2013 that the facility’s existing federal grant – totaling nearly $1 million – would not be renewed for 2014, meaning the center, one of only two in King County tailored for youth and young adults, would be forced to turn away those without a place to sleep and cut outreach services beginning next month

State Rep. Sherry Appleton (D-23rd, Poulsbo) has been tapped by her colleagues to chair the House committee on Community Development, Housing & Tribal Affairs. The panel is charged with considering issues relating to, among other things, community development, veteran-related legislation, tourism and the government-to-government relationship of the state and Indian tribes. The committee also considers bills relating to housing, including the accessibility and affordability of housing, state assistance to low-income housing, housing authorities, and the Housing Finance Commission.