Campion Advocacy Fund

?? A big THANK YOU ?? to King County Executive Dow Constantine for his 16 years of service to our community. Among his many accomplishments, we particularly appreciate his leadership and investment in affordable housing and wraparound services for our unhoused neighbors. Can't wait to see what's next for you, sir! #leadership #kingcountyexec #housing #homelessness #countygovernment #endhomelessness #affordablehousing #KCRHA https://lnkd.in/g_DcYqpx

Washingtonians also have the opportunity this November to make one of the most important decisions on climate change in the nation by voting no on I-2117. In 2021, the state passed the Climate Commitment Act, a bill considered the “gold standard” of climate laws in the nation. By capping and reducing carbon pollution from Washington’s largest polluters and industries, it allows businesses to find the most efficient path to lower their carbon emissions, creating a healthier Washington for us all. Washington state is experiencing climate change in profound ways from dangerous heat waves to summers filled with smoke. We cannot afford to go backward. The industries most responsible for climate and air pollution must be held accountable. In an 8/30/24 editorial, The Seattle Times agreed, urging voters to vote no, pointing out that a yes vote not only overturns the Climate Commitment Act, but it also prohibits state lawmakers from passing any sort of similar economic legislation that would achieve meaningful environmental protections. https://lnkd.in/gPZjakEf By voting NO on I-2117, you’re voting for the state to continue funding programs that lower carbon pollution, improve our public health, and monitor air quality in historically marginalized communities with the goal of improving health and pollution disparities. You’re also voting to create more jobs both in existing industries and in new emerging technologies, such as sustainable aviation fuel and advanced auto batteries. A coalition of 450 businesses, organizations, and Tribal Nations all oppose I-2117 including Microsoft, Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO, Washington State Nurses Association, and hundreds of community groups. Vote NO on I-2117 to say YES to clean air, clean water, healthier forests and local jobs. #democracy #electionseason #publiclands #vote #no2117 #climatechange #climateaction #cleanair

“We see prevention — keeping people in their homes — as the key to reducing the amount of homelessness,” said Gordon McHenry, Jr., CEO and president of the United Way of King County. “There’s so much pain and trauma?to go through to be dislocated and evicted from your home and to find yourself, more than likely in this community, homeless.” We completely agree. #affordablehousing #endhomelessness #housingfirst https://lnkd.in/gZHWgG8A

Washington state voters have a choice at the polls—enact a tax cut for the ultra-wealthy or preserve nearly a billion dollars for childcare and education. By enacting a capital gains tax in 2022, our state took a huge step forward in making our tax code more equitable. The capital gains tax—paid by only 0.2% of Washingtonians (that’s less than 4,000 of Washington’s wealthiest taxpayers)—taxes profits on the sale of stock and other financial assets. It does?NOT?apply to stocks in retirement accounts, real estate, farms, or small businesses. But if I-2109 passes, the folks who will feel the tax pressure and be most impacted are small businesses and working families across Washington state. A mega-millionaire hedge fund manager (part of the 0.2%) is trying to repeal this tax. Don’t let him. Keep the playing field equitable. If Washington is serious about maintaining our quality of life, managing the cost of living, and undoing the inequitable structures of our tax code, then we need to oppose I-2109.?Vote NO. Learn more: https://www.no2109.org/ #vote #democracy #education #capitalgains #no2109

On Indigenous Peoples Day, Campion honors our Indigenous partners and their powerful commitment to the land and their communities, past, present, and future. We're proud to partner with organizations such as Chief Seattle Club which works to provide housing and healing to urban Native people in the Seattle area and Native Movement for their steadfast defense of key public lands in Alaska. Learn more about the history of Indigenous Peoples Day?in the article below. #indigenouspeoplesday #decolonization #publiclands #climateaction #affordablehousing https://lnkd.in/gsdPuZkj

Today is World Homeless Day. It’s not a day of celebration. It’s a day of recognition and acknowledgement. We are making progress in Washington state. It’s taking a lot of time, energy, heart, and innovation from our whole community, but we are doing it. Everyone deserves a safe place to live. With all of us committed, we will get there. #HomelessnessisSolveable

Outside of Austin, TX, is a tiny home village of permanent, supportive housing for people who have been homeless and typically have a disability or health issues. One resident proclaimed, "This place saved my life." Here at home, Pierce County is planning to build 285 cottages in Spanaway to create a supportive village for its currently unhoused residents based on the successful Austin model. To learn more, read this article by The Seattle Times reporter Greg Kim. #housingfirst #affordablehousing #dignity #endhomelessness #wraparoundservices #supportivehousing #publichealth https://lnkd.in/dCi8jmrH

Earlier this week, the Biden Administration concluded their public comment period on how to update protections in the Western Arctic. ? Joining a chorus of more than 50 Members of Congress, three Alaska Native organizations -- Grandmothers Growing Goodness, Sovereign I?upiat for a Living Arctic and Native Movement -- submitted joint comments calling for expanded federal protections in the Western Arctic. ? “I hope the Administration will heed these recommendations and expand protections for new special areas in Nuiqsut to protect the areas my village depends on most for subsistence as well as the migration routes and wintering grounds of the Teshekpuk Caribou Herd,” said Rosemary Ahtuangaruak, founder of Grandmothers Growing Goodness and a former mayor of Nuiqsut. ? Learn more about the Biden administration's efforts to protect Special Areas in the Western Arctic ?? #westernarctic #protectpubliclands #biden #alaskanatives #climateaction #climateprotection https://lnkd.in/gJEctbfy

The?research?is clear (see video below). The cost of housing is the main driver of housing instability.?Rising rents that do not match wages are putting thousands of households at risk of losing their home. We will need all of our government partners—at the federal, state, and local level to work with communities to increase affordable and available housing. As this article from CNN highlights, nearly half of all renters in the United States are paying over 30% of their income on housing.?This leaves little room for other necessary expenses, such as healthcare, childcare, and food. Too many are one emergency away from eviction. https://lnkd.in/gHBkASKM These unsustainable housing costs are particularly impacting households of color, with 2.5 million black households paying over half of their income to housing costs. We need to do better—as a state and country—to stem the increasing housing costs and create stability for families. #affordablehousing #rentstability #endhomelessness #housingfirst

Earlier this week, officials from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), including Dep. Secretary Andrea Palm, Principal Dep. Assistant Secretary Jeff Hild, and Administration for Children and Families Commissioner Rebecca Jones Gaston, traveled to Tacoma to learn about what’s contributing to the ? 40% reduction in young people experiencing homelessness.?? Governor Jay Inslee and First Lady Trudi Inslee spoke as did leaders from the state’s Office of Homeless Youth and from nonprofit service providers Cocoon House, the YMCA of Greater Seattle Social Impact Center, and The Coffee Oasis, as well as from youth leaders at the The Mockingbird Society. ? Sonya Campion and Sheila Babb Anderson represented Campion Advocacy Fund. The message to our federal partners was clear—better coordination from government, youth-driven decision making, a focus on equitable outcomes, and philanthropic partnerships have spurred innovative programs across our state. ?Roughly 10,000 fewer young people are experiencing homelessness this year in Washington than were eight years ago.?? Thank you to our federal leadership for traveling to Washington. Let’s continue to partner on our goal to make Washington state the first in the nation to prevent and end youth homelessness. This success *can* and *should* be replicated by communities across the country. #endhomelessness #youthhomelessness #affordablehousing #leadership #wagov #fedgov