Governor Inslee signs bills to combat housing crisis, racist covenants

The bills allow more multi-family housing in most neighborhoods, encourage property owners to build accessory dwelling units and streamline regulations for development.

By Adam Smith May 9, 2023 4:15 pm

Associated PressFILE - Washington Gov. Jay Inslee arrives at the University of Washington's Hans Rosling Center for Population Health ahead of signing several bills aimed at protecting reproductive health and gender-affirming care in Washington, Thursday, April 27, 2023, in Seattle. On Monday, May 1, 2023, Inslee announced he does not plan to seek a fourth term. He was most recently re-elected in 2020, making him only the second Washington state governor to serve three consecutive terms. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson, File)

OLYMPIA, Wash. – Governor Jay Inslee signed ten bills on Monday, May 8th, that are aimed at easing the housing crisis facing our state.

“We’ve had a million new Washingtonians move into the state in the last decade and we simply have not built enough housing for them to live in,” said Inslee. “The bill we are signing today I believe will make significant progress at removing the barriers for that housing.”

The bills allow more multi-family housing in most neighborhoods, encourage property owners to build accessory dwelling units and streamline regulations for development.

Inslee also applauded lawmakers at the bill signing for making a big investment in affordable housing.

“The legislature this year responded to my call to go big in public investment,” said Inslee. “I think it’s a great thing that they’ve put in over a billion dollars this year in housing in the state of Washington. This is a great achievement that will be in the budget that I sign.”

A recent state Department of Revenue report estimates Washington will need one million new housing units over the next decade.

Later on Monday, the governor traveled to the North African American Museum in Seattle to sign a bill that provides help to people or their descendants who were affected by past racist housing covenants.

Federal Way Democrat Jamila Taylor sponsored the legislation and told those gathered that it’s been a long time coming.

“I know some of you have been advocating for social justice since long before I was born,” said Taylor. “Long before some of the folks here were born and in office in the 70s. And this is to honor your legacy. This is to honor the work that you’ve done and didn’t think that you would see in your lifetime.”

The law will create the Covenant Homeownership Account that will provide help with down payments and closing costs for first time home buyers who were affected by the covenants.

A University of Washington study found that 1,400 properties in Whatcom County alone were once covered by covenants that restricted ownership by race or religion.