Let’s Talk About a BIG Housing Plan with Governor Jay Inslee (March 2, 2023)

Crossing Division

We’ve been talking about housing and homelessness regularly on Crossing Division, and in this episode, we have the chance to talk about a really big idea—a game changing big idea.

Governor Jay Inslee is proposing a housing referendum that would allow the state to issue bonds outside the state’s debt limit to frontload $4 billion of housing construction over the next six years. The state’s underlying capital budget will fund approximately 2,200 units between 2023 and 2025. The referendum would add approximately 5,300 additional units between 2023 and 2025 and 19,000 in the remainder of the six years. The referendum would require approval from legislators and voters.

The Governor’s plan involves using the referendum to fund several housing gaps including emergency housing for people experiencing homelessness, housing for people with special needs, additional capacity for behavioral health needs, affordable housing for lower- and middle-income workers and down payment assistance for low-income first-time homebuyers.

Governor Inslee joined host Evelyn Lopez in the lovely Moon Yard Studio to talk about his plans for the housing financing we desperately need.

Thoughts or questions? Get in touch!

Evelyn Lopez: [email protected] @True_Tacoma