WMFHA Secures $50K Grant to Support PAH’s Anti-Rent Control Efforts

In February, Partnership for Affordable Housing (PAH), a coalition aligned to fight rent control, developed a new campaign to address the ren control efforts under consideration in Olympia.  PAH also exists to fight rent control at all levels in Washington, including any effort to pass a statewide initiative or referendum. PAH budgeted up to $200,000 for the legislative effort with the understanding that much of the strategy, tactics and materials can also be used for future legislative sessions as well as any statewide fight.  Although the efforts of WMFHA, PAH and its partners were successful during legislative session, we know that the effort to pass rent control will continue next session and if it fails there, it is likely a statewide initiative will be filed.

Working with NAA staff, WMFHA submitted an application for a $50,000 HAP grant to support these efforts through the creation of “evergreen” materials. These include print and digital collateral, a website refresh, social media kits and new videos/ads to support our efforts. To qualify for the grant these items need to be reusable, with updates and jurisdiction specific data, by NAA affiliates throughout the US.

The application was submitted in early late February, passing staff review shortly thereafter. It then went before the HAP committee for review, where WMFHA Director of Government Affairs, Ryan Makinster presented the proposal.  Since the proposal was above the $10,000 threshold for HAP committee approval, the proposal then was passed to the NAA Legislative Committee, by unanimous vote, for their review.

During Advocate, Mr. Makinster was once again given the opportunity to present the proposal, this time to the Legislative Committee, which passed it with a unanimous vote after a short round of questions. The following day, the full NAA Board of Directors unanimously passed the recommendations to award the grant to WMFHA.

If you would like to learn more about the efforts of PAH or to get involved, contact Ryan Makinster.