From Don Fornoff, The Bishop’s Task Force on Homelessness:
We, the members of the Task Force, gather monthly to share ideas and to map out some possible activities all up and down the vast expanse of the Diocese of Olympia. We are all volunteers, so actions take place as we are able to take part. For my part as a member, I try to keep in touch with E-news readers through current issues and to present ideas for participation and ideas about causes of homelessness that pique our thoughts.
For the E-news, much of the past two months has been about the Washington State legislative session. A summary report as the session ends includes the passage of HB 1998 in the Senate on February 22, which expanded possibilities for co-living. HB 2276 is sitting in the House Rules Committee and SB 6191 is in Senate Ways and Means. Both of those have a chance, albeit slim, to still advance onto the floor of each branch.
The bill this column focused on failed to pass through the Senate, ESHB 2114, rent stabilization. It failed to clear the Senate Ways and Means Committee, meaning there was no vote on the floor. The House passed it after finding strong grass-roots support. The Senate, being more tied into business interests, again made sure to title the measure ‘rent control’ and, with the same excuses made in past years, allowed it to die without a vote. One description from the opposition said if the bill passed, it would reduce access to new affordable housing. No facts exist to back up that excuse. The ‘fact’ cited that it creates a hostile environment for property owners overlooks the hostile environment created for the thousands of low to middle-income households who are struggling to cope with 5% inflationary issues but not 12 to 15% increases in rent. Welcome to the unhoused, neighbor!
No matter how you view this issue about rent stabilization, it is not hard to understand that creation of new levels of poverty is not only costly and in no one’s interest, but I believe immoral in the deepest sense of the teachings of Jesus.
So, we are left to look at the causes of homelessness and to support the unhoused through the myriad issues that the unhoused cope with their situations. Wellspring Family Services cites that 10% of homelessness is chronic and 90% is other. Most are employed. Wellspring goes on to say the absence of a safety net (read HB 2114) affects those who live paycheck to paycheck (64%), with 24% having slipped off the edge.
Wellspring looked to root causes: 10% complex health issues, 7% child abuse and neglect, 29% rental increases (read HB 2114 again), domestic violence, 21% job loss, 14% family medical issues, 10%, and 9% other. Whether or not these figures are accurate is beside the point. The creation of homelessness is everyone’s responsibility and, frankly, everyone’s task to support the needs of the unhoused.
That is what we, as Episcopalians, are called to do- which is to alleviate the pain of poverty in whatever way we can. We, as a Diocese, are doing much. There is much more to do and to generate positive action in the world around us.
Go in peace to love and serve God!
Don Fornoff
Member, Bishop’s Task Force on Homelessness
