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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.

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

SEATTLE - December 17, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- City Council unanimously adopted a Resolution today relating to principle mortgage reduction and foreclosure. The resolution establishes a City of Seattle Interdepartmental Team, or IDT, which will evaluate whether principal reduction and other foreclosure prevention programs effectively provide assistance to low- income homeowners.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - November 21, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Mary Landrieu (D-LA), and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) introduced the Higher Education Access and Success for Homeless and Foster Youth Act, legislation that would remove unique, significant barriers to higher education for homeless and foster youth. Among other things, the legislation would require colleges and universities to improve outreach, resources, and policies for homeless and at risk youth, including housing options

SEATTLE - July 15, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, Mayor Mike McGinn announced the award of $105,500 to Sound Mental Health for behavioral health services to homeless families with young children

WASHINGTON, D.C. - July 12, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray, Chairman of the Senate Housing Appropriations Subcommittee and senior member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, announced that nine state non-profit community agencies will receive more than $7 million in federal funding to provide homelessness prevention and rapid re-housing assistance to veterans in Washington state

WASHINGTON, D.C. - June 4, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Washington Low Income Housing Alliance (Housing Alliance) has announced the 2013 awardees for their annual advocacy awards dinner

Washington, D.C. - May 29, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray, Chairman of the Senate Housing Appropriations Subcommittee and senior member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, announced that 260 housing vouchers will be allocated to eight different state Housing Authorities in order to help get Washington homeless veterans into housing. The Department of Housing and Urban Development and Department of Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) Program vouchers announced today are part of $75 million Senator Murray included in the 2013 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations bill to support the housing needs of homeless veterans across the country.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - April 26, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, Thursday, April 25th, 2013, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) announced the introduction of the Improving Access to Child Care for Homeless Families Act of 2013, legislation which aims to address the difficulties homeless families face in accessing reliable child care. She also introduced the Educational Success for Children and Youth Without Homes Act of 2013, which amends the McKinney-Vento Act’s Education for Homeless Children and Youth program to better allow school districts to identify and address the needs of children and youth affected by homelessness and to bolster opportunities that help them succeed in school

WASHINGTON, D.C. - March 21, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Federal homeless assistance funds totaling more than $21.2 million have been awarded to the City of Seattle and King County for 2013-2014, making it possible to continue to provide a range of housing and supportive services for individuals and families who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn and King County Executive Dow Constantine announced the renewal grants on March 20, 2013, following the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announcement of $1.5 billion awarded nationwide

SEATTLE - March 18, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- If you make minimum wage in Washington State, you’ll need to work 64 hours a week to afford a decent rental home.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 11, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray, Chairman of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee and the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development (THUD), made the following statement after the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, released the 2012 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report (AHAR). The report showed a 7.2 percent decline in veterans homelessness since 2011 and a 17.2 decline since 2009. However, the report also details a 1.4 percent increase among persons in families.

SEATTLE, WA - September 20, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Mayor McGinn today announced new investments in human services as part of his 2013-14 Proposed Budget, including an expansion of a City program providing child care to low- and moderate-income families and increased assistance to homeless families with children. McGinn's budget also includes an increase in funding for human services providers to cover the costs of inflation.

(Washington, D.C. - August 2, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Al Franken (D-MN), and John Kerry (D-MA) announced the introduction of the Improving Access to Child Care for Homeless Families Act of 2012, new legislation which aims to address the difficulties homeless families face in accessing reliable child care.

Washington, D.C. - July 18, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray, Chairman of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee and the Senate Housing Appropriations Subcommittee, announced that six state non-profit community agencies will receive homeless prevention grants in order to provide homelessness prevention and rapid re-housing assistance to veterans in Washington state. The grants are part of the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) Program.

Washington, D.C.) - January 25, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- A Government Accountability Office (GAO) report released today showed that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has had difficulty in planning for and meeting the unique needs of a growing number of homeless women veterans. The study, which was requested by U.S. Senator Patty Murray, Chairman of the Senate Veterans Affairs’ Committee, is one of the first of its kind to examine the troubling rise in homelessness among women who have served.

Seattle, WA - December 22, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Federal homeless assistance funds totaling more than $21.8 million have been awarded to the City of Seattle and King County for 2012-2013, making it possible to continue to provide a range of housing and supportive services for individuals and families who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. King County Executive Dow Constantine and Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn announced the renewal grants on Dec. 20, 2011, following the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announcement of $1.5 billion awarded nationwide.

Washington D.C. - December 14, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray, Chairman of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, issued the following statement after the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Housing and Urban Development announced that their annual point-in-time survey of veterans homelessness showed an estimated 12% decrease in homeless veterans.

SEATTLE, WA - November 14, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Mayor Mike McGinn today announced more than $27 million in capital funding for the construction of seven new apartment buildings that will serve homeless individuals, low-income families and seniors. The investment, primarily Seattle Housing Levy funds, will help create 476 new permanent apartments, including some set-aside to serve veterans.