At our September 2026 Membership Meeting, we heard from the Community Health Plan of Washington and the Northwest Health Law Advocates about upcoming changes to Medicaid that will impact single adults experiencing homelessness. We reviewed new legislation passed in Seattle that bans “junk fees” for Seattle renters, talked about proposed legislation in Seattle that would impact RV residents, and shared opportunities to use your advocacy muscles this budget season.
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Coalition Announcements
Our next General Membership Meeting is Thursday, October 15 IN PERSON at Washington Hall from 9-11 a.m. This meeting will be focused on voting rights and is intended for program staff who can help share good, nonpartisan voting rights information with their clients, guests, and residents. You’ll leave the meeting being able to help others understand:
- How to vote while experiencing homelessness
- Voting rights restoration for people with past felony conviction
- Other accessible voting resources
We invite you to join us or share this opportunity with someone on your team who could help steward this information at your program. There will be materials provided for taking back to your programs including voter registration forms in multiple languages.
If you missed our most recent Helping Homeless Students training, you can find the full recap on our blog here.
Federal Changes to Apple Health (Medicaid) Starting Oct 2026 and Jan 2027
You can find a toolkit with downloadable resources provided by the Community Health Plan of Washington online here.
Advocacy Updates in Seattle and King County
Thanks to amazing advocacy by many in the Seattle community, including the Stay Housed Stay Health Coalition, Seattle recently banned pet rent and junk fees for leases that start on or after July 1, 2027. Some fees are still allowed including RUBS, move in fees, pet deposits, etc. To learn more about what’s included and what’s excluded, read our blog post here.
New legislation has been proposed in Seattle that would impact RV residents. If you are currently living in an RV or working with people who do, the Coalition would love to hear how this legislation would impact you. You can call 206-204-8353 and leave a message or email Hali Willis at hali[@]homelessinfo[.]org.
Get Active this Budget Season
The Seattle & King County budget season is upon us! This fall, Seattle & King County councilmembers will make important choices about the future of shelter, housing, and essential human services in our communities. The Coalition will be releasing our fall budget priorities soon and we are offering multiple opportunities to get involved with budget advocacy this year:
ONLINE Budget Advocacy Training – Thursday, Oct 1, 12-1:30 p.m., Zoom
Join the Seattle Human Services Coalition (SHSC), the Seattle/King County Coalition on Homelessness (SKCCH), and Poverty Action for an online housing justice & human services advocacy training!
This training is open to anyone who wants to raise their voice to make sure Seattle, King County, and all levels of government pass policies and budgets that support people experiencing homelessness and housing instability. You’ll learn different ways to make your voice heard (it’s easy!), how to help someone else speak up, and get a chance to practice different ways to take action. We will have a special focus on the upcoming budget season in Seattle and King County.
Weekly Budget Advocacy Power Half Hours – Tuesdays, 12-12:30 p.m., Zoom
Join us for a quick call each week to get the scoop on what’s going on in city hall and county council chambers and how you can raise your voice and help build a future where more people have a safe place to live. We make it easy to speak up!
These meetings are open to EVERYONE who lives, works or plays in King County, whether you’re a seasoned advocate, or you’ve never raised your voice before.
Our Next Meeting
Our next two general membership meetings are IN PERSON:
Thursday, Oct 15 at Washington Hall – Nonpartisan Voting Rights Teach In
Thursday, Nov 19, location TBD – Presented in partnership with the Coalition Ending Gender Based Violence