Link Source: https://www.atg.wa.gov/news/news-releases/ag-ferguson-sen-nguyen-propose-legislation-protect-washingtonians-utility
OLYMPIA — Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced that he and Sen. Joe Nguyen, D-White Center, will propose legislation in the 2023 legislative session to ensure a utility company cannot shut off Washingtonians’ power or water if the temperature is 95 degrees or higher. Nineteen other states have similar protections in place.
The legislation protects all Washingtonians’ access to electric fans, working refrigerators and running water during extreme heat, as well as air conditioning for residents with access.
Washington has experienced back-to-back record-breaking heat waves. The 2021 heat wave was the deadliest weather-related event in Washington state history, claiming 157 lives, according to the state Department of Health.
In 2021, record-setting temperatures were marked in Seattle (108 degrees), Spokane (109 degrees), Yakima (113 degrees), Pullman (106 degrees), Walla Walla (117 degrees), Moses Lake (114 degrees) and Omak (117 degrees). Global climate change will continue causing longer, hotter, and more volatile summers in Washington. These extreme weather events disproportionately harm vulnerable and oppressed communities.
This summer, the Seattle area set a new record at the end of July of six consecutive days with temperatures over 90 degrees. Highs in Eastern Washington reached approximately 110 degrees during that time, as well. The heat led to the deaths of at least 10 Washingtonians and caused hundreds more to seek medical care.
“Access to running water and electricity can be a matter of life and death during extreme heat,” Ferguson said. “Washingtonians should not suffer and die because they miss a payment on a utility bill. We can improve public safety by adopting this common sense reform already in effect in red, blue and purple states across the country.”
“In a time when we are experiencing climate crisis with extreme heat and smoke, we need to ensure that we have basic provisions to protect our most vulnerable populations,” said Sen. Nguyen.
The legislation advances equity
The 2021 heat wave disproportionately harmed Black, Indigenous and Pacific Islander communities according to the Department of Health’s heat-related death data.
In 2017, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People released a report on utility disconnection in colder months showing that it happened to African Americans at a higher rate than Caucasians, regardless of income.
At least 19 states and Washington, D.C. already have similar protections
At least 19 states and Washington, D.C. have protections against utility shutoffs during extreme heat: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, Texas and Wisconsin. Washington, D.C. also has protections against utility shutoffs.
Every legislative session Attorney General Ferguson introduces a slate of Attorney General Request bills. The majority pass with bipartisan support. Attorney General Ferguson is proposing this legislation as part of his commitment to environmental justice and his advocacy for Washington ratepayers. The Attorney General’s Public Counsel Unit represents the public in rate hearings and other matters that impact ratepayers.
The Attorney General Request legislation does not relieve Washingtonians of their obligation to pay their utility bills. It protects human health and safety by preventing electricity shutoffs for failure to pay during extreme heat. It does not prohibit utilities from shutting off power to prevent or mitigate damage from forest fires.
The legislation is garnering support across the state
“People with low incomes are getting hit hardest by recent shifts in weather patterns caused by climate change,” said Marcy Bowers, executive director of the Statewide Poverty Action Network. “They live in homes and apartments that are less likely to have energy efficiency upgrades or neighborhoods with few trees and limited shade. They are my neighbors, and yours. Now is the time for the state Legislature to support our vulnerable families and communities, not add to their hardships during the climate crisis.”
“Access to reliable and clean energy and water can have life or death consequences and this will only become more of an issue in the face of our changing climate,” said Rebecca Ponzio, Climate and Fossil Fuel Program director for the Washington Environmental Council. “Thank you, Attorney General Ferguson for introducing this legislation to build more resiliency and protective measures around utility services for community members most impacted by the climate crisis.”
“Vulnerable populations need to be safeguarded,” said Estela Ortega, executive director of El Centro de la Raza. “A moratorium is needed to prevent the disconnecting of utilities during heat waves to protect defenseless populations like the elderly, pregnant women, children, immigrants and those living in poverty including low-income neighborhoods. We urge policy makers to put in place protections for people’s health during periods of heat emergencies. Extreme heat is one of the greatest climate injustices vulnerable communities confront.”
“Heat waves kill more people in the United States than any other form of extreme weather,” said Paula Sardinas, president and founder of the Washington Build Back Black Alliance (WBBA). “As the founder of the WBBA, I keenly understand how this disproportionately impacts our Black and Brown communities. We are proud to lend a coalition of support from 240 Black, Indigenous and People of Color organizations in support of Attorney General Ferguson’s proposed legislation limiting a utility’s ability to shut off power for Washingtonians during unseasonably high and low temperatures. This good policy will save many lives.”
In other State News Headlines.
Inslee honors state employee efforts during annual leadership ceremony.
Commerce to host open house at new Kennewick hub office Monday, Oct. 17.
State infrastructure grants support over 1,000 new units of affordable housing across Washington.
Commerce awards nearly $5 million to 12 projects through Connecting Housing to Infrastructure Program
OLYMPIA, WA — The Washington State Department of Commerce today announced a third round of Connecting Housing to Infrastructure Program (CHIP) grants that will help expedite construction of 1,102 affordable housing units in 12 counties statewide. The nearly $5 million in funding awarded to local governments can be used to pay for water, sewer and stormwater infrastructure costs and waived connection fees for projects with affordable housing.
Leaking hazardous waste container leads to $37,000 fine for Clean Earth Specialty Waste Solutions.
New business competition puts environment-focused entrepreneurs in front of like-minded investors.
Updated COVID-19 booster eligibility expanded to people ages 5 and older.
Both Pfizer-BioNTech’s and Moderna’s bivalent vaccines have received authorization
OLYMPIA – The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) and other healthcare providers will soon begin offering Omicron variant-targeted bivalent booster doses of COVID-19 vaccines to people ages 5 and older, following guidance and recommendations from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup.
State disciplines health care providers.
(2) News From our Congressional Delegation to DC.
Port Orchard, WA – On October 19, 2022, at 5:30 pm, U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-06) will partner with the Kitsap County Board of Commissioners and the Kitsap County Veterans Advisory Board to hold a Congressional pinning ceremony for veterans of the Vietnam Period at the Kitsap County Administration Building in Port Orchard.
Cantwell Statement on Social Security Rate Increase
Cantwell: Infusion of federal funding for I-5 Bridge project to go toward seismic analysis study.
(3) WORLD NEWS HEADLINES.
Haiti: ‘Bearers of hope’, saving newborn lives, amid growing turmoil.
World Food Day: Another year of global record hunger looms amid food and climate crisis.
Yemen: End of nationwide truce heralds ‘heightened risk of war’, Security Council hears.
Disaster risk reduction: Only half the world equipped with adequate early warning systems.
Remarks at a UN Security Council Briefing on Yemen--USUN
NATIONAL & BUSINESS NEWS.
For Northcom, Autonomous Systems May Be Key to Homeland Defense--DOD
U.S. Northern Command is responsible for defending the U.S. homeland against threats from adversaries—and there are many such threats, said Air Force Gen. Glen D. VanHerck, who serves as commander of both Northcom and the North American Aerospace Defense Command.
National Security Strategy Aims to Address New Challenges.
The world is at an inflection point, and the new National Security Strategy unveiled yesterday is designed to address this new world, Jake Sullivan, President Joe Biden's national security advisor, said.--DOD
The Justice Department’s Antitrust Division Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter, Federal Trade Commission Chair (FTC) Lina M. Khan and Executive Vice President Margrethe Vestager of the European Commission met today in Brussels for the second meeting of the U.S.-EU Joint Technology Competition Policy Dialogue (TCPD). The three leaders met to take stock of the progress made on their cooperation efforts to ensure and promote fair competition in the digital economy, since the agencies launched the TCPD on Dec. 7, 2021.--DOJ
The U.S. Department of Education’s Office of English Language Acquisition (OELA) recently announced awards of nearly $120 million over five years under the National Professional Development Program (NPD) to support educators of English learner students.
CDC Expands Updated COVID-19 Vaccines to Include Children Ages 5 Through 11.
Today, CDC’s Director Rochelle P. Walensky, M.D., M.P.H., signed a decision memo expanding the use of updated (bivalent) COVID-19 vaccines to children ages 5 through 11 years. This follows the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) authorization of updated COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer-BioNTech for children ages 5 through 11 years, and from Moderna for children and adolescents ages 6 through 17 years.
HUD Announces $12.4 Million Loan Guarantee for Baltimore, MD
Renovation and Expansion of a Historic Recreation Center Supported by Loan Guarantee
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today announced a $12.4 million loan guarantee for the renovation and expansion of the Chick Webb Recreation Center in East Baltimore, Maryland.
Feature Article: Drone Piloting Proficiency Takes Flight with Certification Course--DHS
Proposed changes would streamline processes and improve compliance of NAGPRA; public comment period opens.
BUSINESS NEWS:
New program will increase water conservation and water efficiency within the Colorado River Basin.
The United States filed a complaint to stop a food manufacturer in Antioch, California, from making and selling adulterated and misbranded noodle products, the Justice Department announced today.--DOJ
Forward Guidance as a Monetary Policy Tool: Considerations for the Current Economic Environment
Governor Michelle W. Bowman--THE FED
5 Things Large Companies Can Do Right Now to Help Small Businesses--US CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
FTC Approves Petition by Gilbarco, Inc. for Partial Exemption to the Agency’s Fuel Rating Rule--FTC
(4)
IN FOCUS!
FROM HUD...
FACT SHEET:
HUD Marks Important New Milestone in American Rescue Plan’s Emergency Housing Voucher Program.
https://www.hud.gov/press/press_releases_media_advisories/HUD_No_22_213
“At HUD we are pleased that over 35,000 households have been averted from homelessness and have successfully leased their own rental housing thanks to our Emergency Housing Voucher Program. This marks a major step forward in our efforts to realize the ambitious goals we set when the program was established through the President’s American Rescue Plan. We will continue to meet the challenge of addressing our nation’s homelessness and affordability crises with the urgency they require through this program, our House America initiative, and all of the housing assistance we provide.”
- HUD Secretary Marcia L. Fudge
Today, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Marcia L. Fudge will travel to Atlanta, Georgia, where she will meet with several representatives from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) to discuss homeownership and asset building within their communities. Secretary Fudge will then travel to Columbus, Georgia to attend a meeting with NeighborWorks, where she will meet with residents to announce an important milestone in the Emergency Housing Voucher (EHV) program: With this milestone, 50 percent of the total number of EHVs provided through President Biden’s American Rescue Plan have been leased up.
The Emergency Housing Voucher program is the first-ever special purpose voucher program within HUD to address homelessness not specific to veterans. The program is leasing at a rate faster than any previous housing voucher program within HUD and is driving unprecedented collaboration among public housing agencies (PHAs), homeless services organizations, and victim services organizations to provide housing assistance to vulnerable populations, including individuals and families who are experiencing or at-risk of homelessness; fleeing, or attempting to flee, domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, or human trafficking; or were recently homeless or have a high risk of housing instability. The EHV program is an anchor program of HUD’s House America initiative in which HUD, the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH), and other federal agencies have enlisted leaders in 105 state and local communities to make specific commitments to re-house people experiencing homelessness into permanent housing.
The EHV program provides communities new flexibilities and resources to help individuals and families with higher barriers successfully use housing vouchers. This includes robust administrative funding and a new service fee that allows program administrators to pay for costs necessary to help families find and retain housing. PHAs are required to coordinate with their CoC partners to provide housing search assistance and can also use service fees for landlord incentives, tenants’ security and utility deposits, and even for furniture and household goods, which are often a significant expense for families who are directly transitioning from homelessness.
HUD is taking aggressive action to ensure that more individuals and families can secure and retain homes. HUD and the Biden-Harris Administration will continue to build on this progress to make sure more households have a safe and stable place to call home. The Administration recognizes the importance of housing vouchers to securing affordable housing, and is fighting for an additional increase to the program. The President’s Fiscal Year 2023 HUD Budget requests $1.6 billion for an additional 200,000 new housing vouchers.
Highlights to date include:
IMPROVING VOUCHER ISSUANCES AND UTILIZATION, WITH AN EMPHASIS ON THE MOST VULNERABLE HOUSEHOLDS
The EHV program has already helped over 35,000 households who were homeless, survivors of domestic violence, or otherwise at risk to afford a safe, stable place to call home. At the current rate - the fastest leasing rate of any previous HUD housing voucher program - the program is on track to reach full lease-up by the end of next year.
All 613 EHV PHAs have executed a memorandum of understanding with a homeless service provider or victim service provider, and, at 50% utilized to date, the EHV program is leasing at a rate faster than any previous housing voucher program within HUD.
To date, approximately 100 percent of EHVs are in use - either leased or currently issued. Over 35,000 households have been housed, while another 36,000 voucher holders are in the process of searching for a unit or completing the lease process.
PHAs continue to issue roughly 700 EHVs per week, and the time for issuance to lease is averaging 77 days. Of the vouchers issued 180 or more days ago, about 57% have been housed. At this rate, the program is on track to reach full lease-up by the end of 2023.
CREATIVELY USING SERVICE FEES TO HELP HOUSE INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES
PHAs across the country are creatively and successfully using their service fees to help house individuals and families, including through landlord incentives, housing search services, and application fees and security deposit assistance. Examples:
Housing Authority of Santa Barbara (California): The Housing Authority of Santa Barbara (HASB) - which has a 84% EHV utilization rate and has used 67% of its service fees - offers a $1,500 signing bonus to landlords leasing to an EHV family and a $2,000 security deposit for each unit leased to an EHV family. HASB established a Landlord Mitigation Fund that provides financial assistance to landlords to mitigate damages to units.
Greenville Housing Authority (North Carolina): The Greenville Housing Authority (GHA) - which has a 96% EHV utilization rate and has used 59% of its service fees - provides a landlord leasing incentive that consists of $1,000 for a new landlord who has not previously participated as a landlord in a GHA program in the past 12 months and $250 for each additional unit leased, as well as a $500 one-time bonus for current landlords for the first unit leased and $250 for each additional unit leased to an EHV family. GHA also provides a Landlord Mitigation Fund that enables landlords to apply for up to $2,500 per unit for damages. Additionally, households may apply for application fee costs up to $50 and for security deposit assistance.
San Diego Housing Commission (California): The San Diego Housing Commission (SDHC) - which has a 95% EHV utilization rate and has used 63% of its service fees - provides application fee assistance to EHV families, up to two times the contract rent in security deposits and an average of $100 in utility assistance per household, and “holding deposits” that are credited toward security deposit amounts upon approval of the rental application. SDHC also provides landlords renting to EHV recipients $500 for the first unit rented and $250 for each subsequent unit. SDHC hired full-time staff to serve as housing specialists/navigators. Staff members are specifically assigned to EHV families, facilitating landlord incentives, housing search services, service provider coordination, and rental assistance staff communication. Additionally, SDHC leverages funding from the City of San Diego Affordable Housing Fund to reserve vacancies while Housing Specialists identify candidate applicants and facilitate rental application submissions, process voucher documents, and execute the move-in processes. This Vacancy Loss Incentive serves as a benefit to give the Housing Specialists time to line up suitable tenant options while the owner is compensated for their collaboration with SDHC.
PROVIDING DIRECT SUPPORT AND LANDLORD ENGAGEMENT IN RESPONSE TO UTILIZATION CHALLENGES
From rising rental costs to difficulty finding landlords to the higher barriers to housing experienced by EHV households, the challenges around housing the most disadvantage are real. That is why HUD is proactively working with PHAs, providing direct support through technical assistance, engaging landlords, and providing other support and resources to address these challenges head on and ensure that more households can obtain decent, stable housing through the EHV program.
The Department is preparing landlord symposiums in housing markets across the U.S. to encourage more landlord participation in HUD’s housing voucher programs and to dispel myths and misconceptions of voucher-assisted households.
HUD provides monthly office hours to discuss a wide range of topics related to EHV best practices. Recent office hours topics include serving survivors of domestic violence, serving returning citizens, and serving youth households. The August 9, 2022 event on serving returning citizens featured presentations from Philadelphia and Baltimore on partnerships and using service fees to effectively serve formerly incarcerated individuals.
HUD has provided direct technical assistance to 90 communities, including San Francisco, New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta, Tucson/Pima County, New Orleans, and others, to expand understanding of the program and its flexibilities and to build coordinated landlord engagement approaches. Examples of the types of technical assistance (TA) provided include:
New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA)/ New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (NYHPD) (New York) - HUD assigned TA to NYCHA and NYHPD to reduce bottlenecks in the referral process from the Continuum of Care (CoC) and other partner agencies. The TA provider worked closely with NYCHA and NYHPD to refine how applicants were guided through the system and provided helpful feedback on NYCHA’s portal system to reduce wait times. The two PHAs have issued 7,345 EHVs as a result.
Regarding the benefits of EHV technical assistance, NYHPD stated: “Envisioning and building New York City’s sweeping Emergency Housing Voucher initiative demanded we navigate a thousand complexities tied to launching a new program with a new set of partners. HUD’s Technical Advisors assisted with devising solutions to help us deliver. Our TA partners brought housing groups together to plan through challenges; helped develop communications, training resources, and new media campaigns. Their support was crucial to shortening the learning curve as we worked to meet the needs of communities not historically given priority for federal vouchers. We look forward to continued collaboration to help New Yorkers navigate an especially competitive rental market.”
Tucson and Pima County (Arizona) - HUD assigned TA to help develop and refine landlord incentive policies and landlord outreach. As a result, the PHAs have leased 127 families and 55 additional families are searching for housing.
In response to the utilization challenges PHAs are experiencing in competitive rental markets across the country, HUD hosted a four-part EHV landlord engagement series. More information about the webinar series is available at www.hud.gov/ehv.
ADVANCING BEST PRACTICES AND ENGAGING PEOPLE WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE TO HELP MORE HOUSEHOLDS SECURE HOUSING
HUD is bringing together PHAs and people with lived experience to foster collaboration, address inequities, and strengthen support and resources to improve outcomes of the EHV program and other voucher programs administered by the Department.
HUD accepted 10 EHV communities to participate in the first cohort of a Community of Practice focused on advancing equity in the EHV program. HUD plans to use this Community of Practice to draw upon the strengths of communities to foster and encourage resource sharing, innovative thinking, and connections among PHAs, while exploring inequalities within their existing systems and developing system adjustments to ensure efforts to advance equity throughout the EHV program.
Earlier this year, HUD released the Emergency Housing Vouchers (EHV): A How-To Guide for Public Housing Agencies to provide an overview of EHV operating requirements, outline considerations for PHAs in the design of their EHV programs, and highlight best practices in program implementation.
HUD’s efforts around the EHV program are informing work around the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program - the federal government’s major program for providing housing assistance to over 2.3 million American families - and other Special Purpose Voucher (SPV) programs. HUD will bring the innovative approach of the EHV program to these other voucher programs to improve housing outcomes for households across the U.S.
King County Housing Authority and Seattle Housing Authority - After an initial slow start in issuances and utilization, the two public housing agencies in Seattle/King County are now leading the region in their lease-up of Emergency Housing Vouchers. At the time of this writing, King County Housing Authority has leased 88.71% of their 762 awarded EHVs and Seattle Housing Authority has leased 80% of their 498 EHVs. Both housing authorities and their referring partner, the King County Regional Homelessness Authority, attribute this turn-around to improvements in coordination between the two PHAs and the King County Regional Homelessness Authority, leading to an increase in the pace of referrals of people experiencing homelessness, as well as a more coordinated and centralized approach to landlord recruitment.
ENSURING TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN THE EHV PROGRAM
HUD has prioritized informing the public on EHV leasing, issuances, and unit utilization to provide transparency and ensure accountability in the program.
In 2021, HUD launched the Emergency Housing Voucher (EHV) Data Dashboard to provide unprecedented transparency and accountability for this new special purpose voucher program. The dashboard provides updates (with potential delays as PHAs gather and submit data) on leasing, issuances, unit utilization, services fee spending, and information on voucher awards and funding by PHA. The dashboard showcases EHV data at the national, regional, field office, state, and PHA-level for ease of use by a variety of audiences. The dashboard is also a valuable tool for identifying communities that are facing challenges and that could benefit from additional assistance.
MAKING IT EASIER TO ACCESS AFFORDABLE HOUSING WITH VOUCHERS
The 2023 Fair Market Rents (FMRs), which HUD published on September 1 and which went into effect on October 1, will make it easier for voucher holders to lease in most markets. The new FMR levels will enable the voucher program to keep up with rent increases in the private market, particularly in areas with rapidly rising rents. These new FMRs will allow voucher holders to access and secure leases in more units so that they can benefit from the housing affordability and stability that vouchers provide. HUD’s action on FMRs will improve the utilization of both the baseline vouchers and the supplemental vouchers created under the Biden-Harris Administration.
LOCAL MEETINGS
CLALLAM COUNTY MEETINGS.
Clallam County Commission work session for 10/17/22
https://clallam.granicus.com/GeneratedAgendaViewer.php?view_id=2&event_id=1337
Clallam County Commission board meeting for 10/18/22
https://clallam.granicus.com/GeneratedAgendaViewer.php?view_id=2&event_id=7339
Clallam County Board of health meeting for 10/18/22
Peninsula Housing Authority meeting for 10/19/22
City of Port Angeles Council 10/18/22
https://www.cityofpa.us/DocumentCenter/View/12178/CC-10182022-City-Council-Packet
JEFFERSON COUNTY MEETINGS.
Jefferson County Commission meeting for 10/17/22
https://media.avcaptureall.cloud/meeting/37fa91bd-8e9c-4b16-bcbc-67bf719f86e6
PORT TOWNSEND CITY COUNCIL BUSINESS MEETING AGENDA
for 10/17/22
https://cityofpt.granicus.com/GeneratedAgendaViewer.php?view_id=4&event_id=1711
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