Category: Latest News

Without a doubt, the public charge policy is the newest tool in the current Administration's toolkit to curb immigration, undermine the country's social safety net, and unsettle immigrant communities. This policy blatantly favors wealthy immigrants, and boldly inserts racist, white supremacist, and classist rhetoric into a process which should be open and equitable for all.

Earlier this year, state anti-poverty advocates successfully passed a bill that repealed some of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)’s harshest policies, meaning more families will be able to access TANF’s critical support during times of hardship.

This session, anti-poverty advocates were successful in passing important funding increases for several of the state's safety net programs, including Housing & Essential Needs (HEN) and Pregnant Women's Assistance (PWA). These increases recently went into effect on July 1.

Erin Hitomi, a senior studying Public Health and Global Health at the University of Washington, shared her views on her experience as our 2018 Listening Session Intern.

Thanks to the passage of a flurry of consumer protection bills on Monday, April 15, Washingtonians will now see more robust and transparent laws regarding debt collection and debt repayment than ever before. This is a huge step forward for Washington state, as it has historically had some of the most "punishing" laws regarding debt and collections in the country.

The 2019-2021 Senate budget proposal makes huge strides toward ensuring we have a tax code in which the wealthy pay their fair share, and low-income people get a much-needed break. It also makes significant investments in many of the basic needs assistance programs that low-income kids and adults rely on during hard times.

The House budget is heading in the right direction with progressive revenue proposals and vital investments in programs that support low-income families and individuals. But we can’t let up now – let’s make sure the House hears from us that their number one priority this session must be making bold, deep investments in low-income communities!

We often speak of federal or state budgets as "moral documents," meaning that it displays the values or intents of a certain administration or lawmaker. This certainly holds true for President Trump's 2020 Budget, but the proposals it puts forward show few actual morals.

Tony, a grandfather and retired truck-driver from Roy, WA., testified about his and his daughter's experience with medical debt at the public hearing for SHB 1531 on February 6, 2019. We worked with him to write this op-ed about the importance of legislation that addresses medical debt collection, and his call for lawmakers to vote … Continue reading Washington Lawmakers Must Prioritize Medical Debt Transparency This Session

On Wednesday, we issued a press release alongside Columbia Legal Services on House Bill 1531 and Senate Bill 5530, two companion bills that address medical debt collection in Washington. Read on for more. Olympia, WA – State Representative Laurie Jinkins (D-Tacoma) and Senator David Frockt (D-Seattle) have introduced companion bills – House Bill 1531 and … Continue reading Legislature Tackles Harms of Medical Debt