The Washington Legislature’s 2023 session was coined “the year of housing,” and state lawmakers acted.

Legislators approved more than $1 billion to support housing and homelessness efforts in the next two years, matching the scale of investment for 2023–25 that Gov. Jay Inslee proposed last December. Lawmakers also passed about a dozen bills that will increase housing density, speed up permitting, reduce construction backlogs, and address historical barriers to homeownership among people of color.

“We are attacking this problem at its root, which is the lack of housing in the state of Washington,” Inslee said during a bill-signing ceremony on May 8.  You can read more about housing bills signed into law here.

That’s good news for everyone, including South Sound employers who struggle to recruit and retain talent when workers can’t find appropriate housing.

We’re seeing a lot of positive signs around Pierce County as communities respond to the dire need for quality, affordable housing. Next month, Onward will take a deeper dive into what’s in the housing pipeline.