Current Housing Action Issues

Housing is Major Unmet Need

A Huge Housing Need Exists

Our Center receives more calls for affordable housing than for any other need.  Because of the lack of resources, it is our most frustrating type of call.

Statement of Principle

The WCCD strongly supports the goals of integration and equality of opportunity in housing for people with disabilities.  People with disabilities are entitled to the same range of choices of neighborhoods and styles of housing that other people enjoy.  To reach this goal, zoning, architectural design and attitudinal barriers must be eliminated.

Who is Considered Disabled_

According to the 1990 U.S. Census, 18.86% of the population has a significant disability.  This includes 10.12% with a “moderate” disability (Census Bureau category includes all those with developmental, mental and emotional disabilities, those who have difficulty doing housework, getting around, or are limited in employment). The category of “severe disability” is 8.52% and is defined as “those that have used a wheelchair or other aid device for 6 months or more,…those who needed assistance with basic tasks,…those 16-67 who were prevented from working in a job or from doing housework, those who has a selected condition including autism, cerebral palsy, Alzheimer’s disease, senility, dementia or mental retardation and all those under 65 that were covered by Medicare or SSI.

Statistics from the study show the working-age persons with mobility limitations are far less likely than the general population to participate in the workforce (90% vs. 30% for men, 72% vs. 23% for women, ages 16 - 64.)

Other data comes from a 1999 housing study by the California State Independent Living Council, a governor-appointed independent group.  Notably, the California study states:

• 50% of the homeless are people with disabilities—conservative estimate, includes mental impairments (ADA definition, 19.4% of population) While 1.62% of the general population live alone, 21.2% of people with disabilities live alone—more units are needed per capita. (14.16% live in a group setting.)
• The percentage of people with severe disabilities has been rising at a rate of 3.16% a year from 1991 through 1994.  Extrapolated to 2010, people with severe disabilities will represent 15.65% of the population.
• The per-capita income of people with disabilities is only 60% of the general population;  Of those with only SSDI, it would be 82.6% of the average, and those with only SSI, 52% of the statewide (California) average.
• According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition study “Out of Reach,” the Housing Wage in Washington is $12.47.  This is the amount a worker would have to earn per hour in order to be able to work 40 hours per week and afford a two-bedroom unit at the state's Fair Market rent ($648).  For a one-bedroom unit, FMR is $511.  Comparable FMRs for King County are $736 for a two-bedroom unit and $582 for a one-bedroom (15% higher). (National Low Income Housing Coalition website: www.nilhc.org]

Accessibility Gap

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (36C.F.R.§ 1190.31) requires that 5% of multi-family housing with 4 or more units be wheelchair-accessible, 2% for people with limited vision and 2% for people with limited hearing.  In new construction, programs receiving federal funds of 5 or more units must have 5% or at least one accessible unit.

The 5% set-aside was determined arbitrarily.  We believe it underestimates the need of mobility-impaired residents—who are far less likely to be employed and far more likely to be living on a fixed income.  A Washington State Independent Living Council study in 1997 determined that 1.7% of the population has a mobility limitation. 

Poorest of the Poor

On a TANF grant of $546 per month, the maximum affordable housing cost, at 30%, is $164.  On SSI benefits for individuals living independently, the maximum benefit is $512, and maximum affordable housing cost is $154.  There is no adjustment for high-cost areas within the state.  Clearly for those living independently on very low incomes, assisted housing is the only alternative.

An SSI recipient gets $6,144 per year.  To afford a one-bedroom apartment in the area, she or he would need to earn at least $23,280.  An estimated 32% of renters in the area cannot afford Fair Market Rents. 

Actions Requested by People with Disabilities

• Continue to do everything possible to retain and increase the stock of affordable housing.
• Favor vouchers over projects. Most people with disabilities don’t want to be segregated, or to live in age-inappropriate senior housing.
• Pass a city or county Visitability Ordinance, based on those of Atlanta, Austin or Texas State available from the Washington coalition of Citizens with disAbilities.  This would require all new housing receiving any benefits from the city or county to include: at least one no-step entrance, hallways at least 36” wide, and one bathroom with a 32” doorway.  This concept would remove barriers encountered by members of our community, our children’s school friends, our parents or aging grandparents, anyone who breaks a leg, those who use wheeled luggage, and those who move into and out of their homes—all of us.
• Develop a database of assisted housing.  Post it to a website so information & referral agencies can assist in locating appropriate housing.  Define what accessibility features are offered.  Add exterior and interior photos. 
• Include in the public housing application whether or not the applicant family needs a wheelchair-accessible unit
• In public housing, fill the accessible units only with a person or family who needs them.  There is no shortage of needy, homeless wheelchair users, only a shortage of information!
• Survey the current stock of accessible, affordable units, public and private, and determine how many are occupied by people with mobility impairments.
• Pass an ordinance to ensure that when an accessible unit is occupied by a non-mobility-impaired person, that their lease includes an agreement to move into the next available non-accessible unit.
• Set up an information exchange to help landlords find mobility-impaired renters and vice versa.  Keep a central list.  Aggressively promote this service in various minority communities, and among case managers and social service agencies.
• Ensure that any townhouses built with public monies include one-story accessible units.

What is Visitability_

Visitability focuses on homes—all homes, not just special homes.  It asks developers to incorporate a no-step entrance, hallways at least 36” wide, and one bathroom with a 32” doorway in all the homes and apartments they build.  This concept would remove barriers encountered by members of our community, our children’s school friends, our parents or aging grandparents, anyone who breaks a leg, those who use wheeled luggage, and those who move into and out of their homes—all of us.  The total cost of this change is estimated as $200 for a single-family home.  The cities of Atlanta and Austin, and the United Kingdom have passed Visitability Ordinances.

As people with disabilities living in Snohomish County who desire to participate fully in the lives of our community, we petition the City of Everett, the County of Snohomish and other local housing planning and development entities, public and private, to establish a planning principle of "visitability," so that every dwelling constructed from this point forward would allow people with disabilities who use wheelchairs to visit their families and friends in their homes.

Visitability focuses on homes—all homes, not just special homes. It asks developers to incorporate:

• one no-step entrance,
• hallways at least 36" wide
• one bathroom with a 32" doorway in all the homes and apartments they build.

This concept would remove barriers encountered by members of the disability community, our children’s school friends, our parents or aging grandparents, anyone who breaks a leg, those who use wheeled luggage, and those who move into and out of their homes—all of us.

The total cost of this change is estimated as $200 for a single-family home. The cities of Atlanta and Austin, the state of Texas and the United Kingdom have passed Visitability Ordinances.

We, the Advisory Committee of the disAbility Resource Center, Everett WA, wish to promote the use of visitability guidelines or requirements in all new housing construction in this community.

Housing: Our Community Campaign

February 24, 2000

*** SPECIAL UPDATE:  IMMEDIATE ACTION NEEDED ***



ACTION ITEM #1:

Mobile Home Bill in House Appropriations


PLEASE CALL YOUR REPRESENTATIVES ON THE COMMITTEE!
 

SB 6004 would establish a Certification Program for managers of mobile home
parks.  Mobile home owners, who are predominately elderly and low income,
need protection from untrained and unfair park managers.  Certifying park
managers would help alleviate abuses by managers in parks.

Committee Members (with last four digits of phone number following
360-786-____): Tom Huff, Co-Chair (R-26) -7802 * Helen Sommers, Co-Chair
(D-36) -7814 * Kelly Barlean, Vice chair (R-10) -7914 * Mark Doumit, Vice
chair (D-19) -7870 * Dave Schmidt, Vice chair (R-44) -7982 * Gary Alexander
(R-20) -7990 * Brad Benson (R-6) -7922 * Marc Boldt (R-17) -7994 * Jim
Clements (R-14) -7856 * Eileen Cody (D-11) -7978 * Larry Crouse (R-4) -7982
* Jeff Gombosky (D-3) -7946* Bill Grant (D-16) -9828 * Ruth Kagi (D-32)
-7910 * Karen Keiser (D-33) -7868 * Phyllis Gutierrez Kenney (D-46) -7818 *
Lynn Kessler (D-24) -7904 * Kathy Lambert (R-45) -7878 * Kelli Linville
(D-42) -7854* Barbara Lisk (R-15) -7874* Jim McIntire (D-46) -7886 * Dave
Mastin (R-16) -7836 * Cathy McMorris (R-7) -7988 * Joyce Mulliken (R-13)
-7808* Linda Evans Parlette (R-12) -7832 * Debbie Regala (D-27) -7974 * Phil
Rockefeller (D-23) -7934 * Laura Ruderman (D-45) -7822 * Brian Sullivan
(D-29) -7996 * Bob Sump (R-7) -7908 * Kip Tokuda (D-37) -7838 * Mike Wensman
(R-41) -7894

ACTION ITEM #2:

Section 8 Notification & Home Ownership Bill in House Rules


PLEASE CALL MEMBERS OF THE RULES COMMITTEE
AND ASK THEM TO SEND SB 6663 TO THE HOUSE FLOOR!

SB 6663 has passed out of the Appropriations Committee and is now in the
Rules Committee.  SB 6663 strengthens and expands the notification provided
to tenants by landlords of federally subsidized housing, such as Section 8,
prior to the termination of the federal subsidy contract.  SB 6663 also now
includes the provisions of  SB 6442 by amendment.  These additional
provisions increase low income home ownership opportunities by deleting the
income percentage restrictions for home ownership as part of the Statešs
Affordable Housing Program and directing the Department of Community, Trade
& Economic Development to develop policies regarding income and debt
limitations. 


House Rules Committee Members (with last four digits of phone number
following 360-786-____): Clyde Ballard, Co-chair (R-12) -7999 * Frank Chopp,
Co-chair (D-43) -7920 * Marc Boldt (R-17) -7994 * Tom Campbell (R-2) -7912 *
Richard DeBolt (R-20) -7896 * Bill Grant (D-16) -7828 * Shirley Hankins
(R-8) -7882 * Phyllis Gutierrez Kenney (D-46) -7818 * Lynn Kessler (D-24)
-7904 * Barbara Lisk (R-15) -7874 * Dave Mastin (R-16) -7836 * Val Ogden
(D-49) -7872 * John Pennington (R-18) -7812 * Erik Poulsen (D-34) -7938 *
Dave Quall (D-40) -7800 * Mark Schoesler (R-9) -7844 * Brian Sullivan (D-29)
-7996* Velma Veloria (D-11) -7862 * Mike Wensman (R-41) -7894* Cathy Wolfe
(D-22) -7992


FOR REPRESENTATIVES' EMAIL ADDRESSES, USE THIS LINK: 
http://www.leg.wa.gov/house/hadm/e-mail.htm

TO LEAVE A MESSAGE, CALL THE LEGISLATIVE HOTLINE AT  1-800-562-6000

This Legislative Alert is prepared by the WA Low Income Housing Congress *
206/442-9455 *