Colleagues,

We talked about this bill briefly at Friday's Tacoma Pierce County Coalition to End Homelessness meeting.  It's the one with the clear and respectful language -
New Section 3 from the bill: People experiencing homelessness enjoy constitutional and civil rights, including the right to survive, regardless of their housing status.  1591 is Rep. Gregerson's bill - "A Homeless Bill of Rights" and it is scheduled for a hearing Wednesday, Feb. 12 at 10 Am in Rep. Laurie Jinkins' House Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee.  

I've attached the entire bill but here's the rest of New Section 3:

Accordingly:

    (1) Discrimination based on housing status is prohibited;

(2) Every person experiencing homelessness and who has no reasonable alternative but to survive in public space has the following rights in public space without being subject to criminal or civil penalties or harassment by law enforcement, public or private security personnel, or any agents of any public-private partnership established under any state or local law:

    (a) The right to survive in a nonobstructive manner;

(b) The right to shelter oneself from the elements in a nonobstructive manner;

(c) The right to eat, share, accept, or give food in any public space where food is not prohibited;

(d) The right to occupy a motor vehicle or recreational vehicle, provided that the vehicle or recreational vehicle is legally parked on public property or parked on private property with the permission of the property owner; and

(e) The right to a reasonable expectation of privacy in one's personal property.

(3) A person experiencing homelessness may not be subject to criminal or civil penalties or harassment by law enforcement, public or private security personnel, or any agents of any public-private partnership established under any state or local law, for surviving in public space when that person has no reasonable alternative but to survive in public space and existing local shelters are inadequate in number or are functionally inaccessible.

Michele  

1591 is a bill we should support.  1591 would codify Martin v Boise and provide damages to people whose rights have been violated.  The language of the bill spells out the reality of homelessness in our State.  


If you are interested in testifying (weather permitting), please let Michele Thomas, Director of Policy and Advocacy for the Washington Low Income Housing Alliance know: MicheleT@wliha.org.   If you have thoughts or specific points about the bill don’t hesitate to otherwise reach out to Michele as well.

 

Michele says that if people are interested in weighing in but are unable to testify, she recommends that they email all members of the committee with their testimony/comments and she thoughtfully provided the email addresses as well as telephone numbers.  

 

Representative

LD

Office Location 

Phone

Email 

Jinkins, Laurie (D)
Chair

27th (Tacoma)

308 John L. O'Brien Building

(360) 786-7930

Laurie.Jinkins@leg.wa.gov

Thai, My-Linh (D), Vice Chair

41st (Mercer Island)

John L. O'Brien Building

(360) 786-7926

My-Linh.Thai@leg.wa.gov

Kilduff, Christine (D)

28th (Lakewood, DuPont)

334 John L. O'Brien Building

(360) 786-7958

Christine.Kilduff@leg.wa.gov

Irwin, Morgan, Ranking Minority

31st (Bukley)

430 John L. O'Brien Building

(360) 786-7866

Morgan.Irwin@leg.wa.gov

Goodman, Roger (D)

45th (Sammamish) 

436B Legislative Building

(360) 786-7878

Roger.Goodman@leg.wa.gov

Graves, Paul (R)

5th (Issaquah, Snoqualmie)

122B Legislative Building

(360) 786-7876

Paul.Graves@leg.wa.gov

Hansen, Drew (D)

23rd (Bainbridge Island)

370 John L. O'Brien Building

(360) 786-7842

Drew.Hansen@leg.wa.gov

Kirby, Steve (D)

29th (S Tacoma, Spanaway)

437B Legislative Building

(360) 786-7996

Steve.Kirby@leg.wa.gov

Klippert, Brad (R)

8th (Kennewick)

122A Legislative Building

(360) 786-7882

Brad.Klippert@leg.wa.gov

Orwall, Tina (D)

33rd (Des Moines, parts of Kent)

326 John L. O'Brien Building

(360) 786-7834

Tina.Orwall@leg.wa.gov

Shea, Matt (R)

4th (Spokane Valley)

427A Legislative Building

(360) 786-7984

Matt.Shea@leg.wa.gov

Valdez, Javier (D)

46th (North Seattle)

306 John L. O'Brien Building

(360) 786-7818

Javier.Valdez@leg.wa.gov

Walen, Amy

48th (Kirkland)

418 John L. O'Brien Building

(360) 786-7848

Amy.Walen@leg.wa.gov

I encourage you to contact the committee and tell them you/your organization (f possible) supports HB1591 and why.

Thank you for your work,
Maureen


MaureenHowardConsulting
maureenhowardconsulting@gmail.com

Tel:  253-756-8146

3320 S. 8th Street
Tacoma, WA 98405