WA’s housing crisis has rocked Tacoma. We’re doing what we can — but we need help | Opinion
As the mayor of Tacoma, I am deeply concerned about the growing housing crisis affecting our community. The lack of affordable housing is not just a local issue; it’s a statewide problem that demands urgent attention and decisive action. We need legislative action to help address the challenges of housing affordability and skyrocketing rent increases, as well as ways to convert underutilized properties into affordable housing.
Most importantly, we need the state to be able to help fund housing. This is not merely an economic challenge; it is a moral imperative that demands our urgent attention and action.
Our city, like many others across the nation, is facing a housing crisis where demand for affordable housing far exceeds supply. Skyrocketing rents and property prices have placed an immense burden on individuals and families, forcing many to choose between putting food on the table or keeping a roof over their heads. Too many families in our community are living in fear of sudden rent hikes that could force them out of their homes.
While we have already seen a community-initiated rental housing measure adopted in Tacoma that provides greater protection against significant rent increases, there is more that can be done and other communities could benefit from these protections.
To address this crisis, we must adopt a multi-faceted approach that combines both short-term interventions and long-term solutions. This includes increasing funding for affordable housing programs, incentivizing developers to build affordable units and implementing policies that protect tenants from exploitation and eviction. It also requires collaboration with stakeholders across the public, private and nonprofit sectors to leverage resources and expertise effectively. The consequences of inadequate housing and huge rent increases are far-reaching and profound. Families are displaced, children’s education suffers, and communities are fractured.
In Tacoma, we recently adopted an Anti-Displacement Strategy that builds on our Affordable Housing Action Strategy and focuses on the need to create more housing, keep people in housing, and create bold policy and consistent funding for housing. This strategy is vital to preserving the richly diverse tapestries of Tacoma and ensuring everyone can afford to live in our neighborhoods, and is one of many examples that illustrate Tacoma’s commitment to addressing this issue.
We have the opportunity to take significant steps to create affordable housing now. To ensure that everyone in our state has a safe and affordable place to live, historic efforts to create strong, statewide solutions for housing must be sustained and expanded.
This statewide crisis demands bold action so we can build a future where access to safe, affordable housing is a fundamental right rather than a luxury reserved for the privileged few.
Together, let’s make affordable housing a reality for all Washingtonians.
Victoria Woodards has served as Tacoma’s mayor since 2018. She previously served seven years on the City Council.
This story was originally published February 16, 2024 at 5:00 AM.