Ferguson proposes $244M boost for housing programs

SEATTLE — Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson is asking lawmakers to fund $244 million in additional housing investments as part of a budget proposal released Thursday.

His plan comes as the state grapples with an ongoing shortage of affordable housing, and after lawmakers have already pumped hundreds of millions of dollars toward the state’s main housing account over the past few years. Some of the funding Ferguson is proposing would go to help people whose homes were damaged in record flooding over the past two weeks.

Almost all of the money would be from the state’s capital budget, which is healthier than the cash-strapped operating budget.

The governor also signed an executive order to get the ball rolling on establishing a new cabinet-level Department of Housing.

https://www.heraldnet.com/northwest/ferguson-proposes-244m-boost-for-housing-programs/