Senator Murray: “If we are going to build an economy that actually works for working people after this pandemic, then we need to do everything we can to strengthen our housing infrastructure and address this crisis.”
***WATCH VIDEO OF THE ROUNDTABLE HERE***
(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, held a virtual roundtable with Olympic Peninsula housing advocates to highlight federal funding secured by Senator Murray in the American Rescue Plan and 2022 government funding package. During the event, Senator Murray underscored her work to get direct federal funds for local housing projects to ensure all people can be safe, secure, and housed.
“If we are going to build an economy that actually works for working people after this pandemic, then we need to do everything we can to strengthen our housing infrastructure and address this crisis,” said Senator Murray. “I am doing everything I can to build support among my colleagues to recognize the seriousness of the housing crisis in this country—because I have said for a long time that if we really want to tackle this problem, we need a major federal investment in housing. But in the meantime, I’ll keep fighting to invest in affordable housing every way that I can—including by getting direct funding for local projects like these.”
Senator Murray was joined by Kate Dean, Jefferson County Commissioner; TJ Greene of the Makah Tribe; Sarah Martinez, Executive Director of the Peninsula Housing Authority; and Phedra Elliott, Housing Resources Bainbridge Island Executive Director.
Because of Senator Murray’s work, communities in the Olympic Peninsula will see development of new projects and facilities to expand access to affordable housing. Projects highlighted during the press call include:
- Port Hadlock Wastewater Facility in Jefferson County: $2.5 million will go to the Port Hadlock Wastewater Facility for the construction of a new municipal sewer and wastewater treatment system for the Phase I area of the Port Hadlock Urban Growth Area, eliminating reliance on septic tank systems. Importantly, construction of the sewer will allow for the construction of additional homes according to testimony from many local organizations like Jefferson County Habitat for Humanity.
- Makah Reservation Housing in Neah Bay: $675,000 will go to the Makah Tribe for the planning and development of an apartment complex to address the backlog of applications for housing on the Makah Reservation.
Senator Murray has a been a strong advocate for affordable housing investments, securing more than $400 million in rental assistance, $170 million in homeowner assistance, over 2,400 new Emergency Housing Vouchers, and nearly $100 million for housing and services to support people experiencing homelessness in Washington state specifically through the American Rescue Plan. Just last year, Senator Murray has already announced more than $100 million in federal awards to combat housing insecurity and invest in public housing infrastructure across Washington state.
As the second ranking Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Murray has been instrumental in securing major federal investments for Washington state priorities. Overall, Senator Murray secured more than $116 million in direct funding for local community projects across Washington state. A full list of local projects in Washington state that Murray secured funding for can be found HERE.
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