Public News Service

The SUN Bucks program helps families in Washington and 36 other states buy groceries while school is out for the summer. (puhimec/Adobe Stock)

Deadline for summer food benefits for WA kids approaching

The deadline is approaching for families to apply for food benefits in Washington state. The national program known as SUN Bucks is the U-S …

The Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families provides subsidies to eligible families to help them pay for child care. (bernardbodo/Adobe Stock)

WA call center provides child care support for families experiencing homelessness

The high cost of child care in Washington can strain family budgets. It can be even harder when families are experiencing homelessness. A statewide …

El Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families concede subsidios a las familias que cumplen los requisitos para ayudarles a pagar la guarder�a. (bernardbodo/Adobe Stock)

Línea de ayuda en WA ofrece apoyo para cuidado de niños sin hogar

El alto costo del cuidado infantil en Washington puede afectar los presupuestos familiares. Puede ser aún más difícil cuando las …

Washington state has greater protections against predatory loans than other states. (Serge Aubert/Adobe Stock)

WA lawmakers approve greater predatory loan protections

Lawmakers in Olympia this session moved to add more protections for consumers against predatory loans. Washington state lawmakers passed Senate Bill …

Washington state lawmakers are engaging in important budget negotiations this session, including measures that deal with food assistance. (Zack Frank/Adobe Stock)

Anti-hunger advocates call for action at WA Capitol

It's Hunger Action Day at the Washington State Capitol. Advocates are in Olympia to meet with lawmakers and call for policies that curb hunger…

A public hearing on the rent stabilization bill was held in Olympia last week. (adonis_abril/Adobe Stock)

As housing crisis builds, rent stabilization measure before WA lawmakers

Housing is a major issue in this year's legislative session -- and for some, simply staying in their home is the goal. One measure in Olympia would …

The economic threshold for the Senior Property Tax Exemption program in King County will increase to $84,000 in 2024. (CascadeCreatives/Adobe Stock)

Underused programs could assist with older Washingtonians' budgets

Many older residents of Washington state are facing strains on their budgets -- and the government programs that could assist them are underused…

Lack of housing is a critical issue in Washington state. (Kirk Fisher/Adobe Stock)

Housing, health care meet in innovative WA program

Having a home is critical to a person's health. Medicaid dollars in Washington state are helping bridge the gap between health care and housing…

Washington state's minimum wage is more than twice the federal minimum wage. (Andrey Popov/Adobe Stock)

WA minimum wage to increase, but workers still feel financial strain

Washington state is raising its minimum wage in 2024, but workers likely will still feel financially squeezed. The Washington State Department of …

Beneficial State Bank supports affordable housing, calling it a human right. (Dennis M. Swanson/Adobe Stock)

Bank Helps Bring Affordable Housing to WA

A new program in Washington state will provide homes to people who are most in need in the region. The project, known as Madrona Highlands in south …

U.S. officials are meeting with representatives from around the Pacific Rim at the Seattle Convention Center on Sunday.(dbvirago/Adobe Stock)

Critics Call for Transparency at Seattle Global Trade Meetings

Global trade negotiations are happening this weekend in Seattle and critics say the process should come out from behind closed doors. Meetings for …

The Fair Start for Kids Act increases the income threshold to receive subisidies for child care. (Rawpixel.com/Adobe Stock)

With Industry in Crisis, WA Addresses Child Care Woes

Child care is one the costliest services for families across the country. Advocates for child well being say Washington state has positioned itself …

La ley Fair Start for Kids aumenta el umbral de ingresos para recibir subisidios para el cuidado de ni�os. (Rawpixel.com/Adobe Stock)

Con la industria en crisis, WA aborda problemas de cuidado infantil

El cuidado de los niños es uno de los servicios más caros para las familias de todo el país. Los defensores del bienestar infantil …

Since July 2022, 2-1-1 has received more than 380,000 calls from residents in Washington state. (Gajus/Adobe Stock)

WA 211 Helpline Sees Jump in Calls

A helpline to help people connect with resources when they're in need has seen an uptick in calls to its service. However, funding remains a …

Food insecurity ranged from 32% to 73% across Washington state counties in a hunger survey. (Mikhailov Studio/Adobe Stock)

Hunger Remains Top Concern for Many WA Families

Three years on from the start of the pandemic, securing food is one of the biggest challenges facing households in Washington state. The Washington …

A new report on child well-being ranks Washington state 10th in its family and community category. (Aleksei Potov/Adobe Stock)

Access to Care Among WA Children's Biggest Challenges

Washington state fares well in a new report released on child well-being, but is facing important challenges in child care. The Annie E. Casey …

Evictions are traumatic experiences for families, and new project in King County, Washington, is providing support to prevent them. (Rick/Adobe Stock)

Eviction Prevention Program Moves Upstream to Help Families

An eviction prevention program is working to ensure evictions do not happen in the first place. The United Way of King County has provided $500,000 …

Dental therapists are authorized to practice in at least a dozen states. (Friends Stock/Adobe Stock)

New WA Law Will Bring Dental Care to Underserved Communities

Legislation passed in Olympia this year will provide more dental-care access to underserved communities. House Bill 1678 authorizes dental …

Washington state lawmakers will begin crafting their budgets as the session begins to wind down in April. (Zack Frank/Adobe Stock)

Housing Assistance on Docket for Lawmakers in Olympia

Affordable housing is a major concern in Washington state and lawmakers in Olympia are considering a slate of measures to address it. One option is …

In the midst of a housing crisis, a program in the state Legislature would create a fund for low-income Washingtonians to buy a home. (Kirk Fisher/Adobe Stock)

WA Baby Bond Bill Could Help Address Racial Wealth Gap

In Olympia, lawmakers want to address the wealth gap early with a fund set aside for children of low-income households. The Washington future fund …

More than 40 million Americans receive aid through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. (jetcityimage/Adobe Stock)

WA Bill Provides Food Assistance in Face of Federal 'Cliff' to Aid

The pandemic-era boost to federal food aid is scheduled to end soon, but legislation in Olympia aims to help fill the gap in hunger relief. The …

A three-pound sockeye salmon filet is now one of the options in the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations for the Lummi Nation. (O'Kelly Photography/Adobe Stock)

Locally Caught Salmon Provide Step Toward Food Independence for WA Tribe

Under a new project, locally sourced food is part of a food assistance program for members of the Lummi Tribe in northwest Washington. The Food …

Lawmakers are coming back to Olympia for a long, 105-day session in January. (Brian/Adobe Stock)

WA Group Urges Lawmakers to Resist Austerity, Invest in 'Public Good'

The Washington state 2023 legislative session is fast approaching, and one group is urging lawmakers to prioritize investments over budget cuts…

Child poverty dropped to 5.2% during the pandemic because of the expanded Child Tax Credit and other relief efforts. (ktay21/Adobe Stock)

No Corporate Tax Cuts without Family Tax Relief, Dems Say

CORRECTION: Monthly amounts of the expanded Child Tax Credits were $250 (ages 0 to 5) to $300 (ages 6 to 17). An earlier version of this story had …

The United Way of King County's free tax-preparation program has entered its 20th year. (Rick/Adobe Stock)

WA Tax Program Puts Out Call for Volunteers as Year Ends

It may seem early, but programs across the country are preparing to help people with their 2022 income tax returns. In Washington state, United Way …

A public-health state of emergency had been in place in Washington state since February 2020. (fabrus/Adobe Stock)

Fallout Reverberates from End of WA Pandemic Emergency Declaration

Washington state has ended its COVID-19 state of emergency, and that's having effects on the public benefits people were relying on to get through …

The expanded Child Tax Credit went out to parents of 60 million children when it started in July 2021. (Aleksei Potov/Adobe Stock)

Campaign to Reinstate Child Tax Credit Program for WA Families

The expanded Child Tax Credit lifted 3.7 million kids out of poverty in the United States, including many in Washington. The tax credit expired last …

Kids have been heavily impacted by the pandemic. Advocates are in Washington, D.C., to bring attention to the issues. (Sergey Novikov/Adobe Stock)

Child Advocates Meet with Leaders in DC, Call for Investments in Kids

Advocates for child well-being are in the nation's capital today, calling on lawmakers to invest in children. The Save the Children advocacy summit …

People can wait up to three years to get into affordable housing in Spokane, Wash. (Zach/Adobe Stock)

Innovative 'Land Bank' Could Bring More Affordable Housing to WA

Washingtonians are feeling the squeeze from high housing prices, but a novel concept launching in Spokane could speed up the creation of affordable …

Washington state is the country's leading producer of apples. (Bernt Rostad/Flickr)

Groups Fill Food-Access Gaps in WA School District

When school districts are not able to provide summer-school classes, it can have a big effect on how children get meals. Case in point: the Mount …

Pioneer Square is a neighborhood in downtown Seattle. (Toohool/Adobe Stock)

WA Program Model for Support in Homelessness Crisis

Washington state lawmakers made a historic investment of $850 million in housing this session. An effort in Seattle to get people housed could …

United Way of King County had more than 300 volunteers helping prepare 2021 income-tax returns online in 2022. (RomanR/Adobe Stock)

Free Tax Prep Has Proved Valuable for Washingtonians

It's the season of potentially confusing income-tax forms and line items, but free tax help is available for many Washingtonians who need it…

A bill in Olympia would more than double the amount of money people with long-term Medicaid care could keep for other basic living expenses. (Halfpoint/Adobe Stock)

WA Bill Would Increase Allowance for People Receiving In-Home Care

As the cost of living skyrockets in Washington state, people needing in-home care are being squeezed, a state Senate bill would increase the amount …

In 2020, nearly one in five Americans reported some level of medical debt. (zimmytws/Adobe Stock)

Health-Care Affordability in Spotlight During 2022 WA Session

With costs growing, health care is set to be a major theme in Olympia this year. Sam Hatzenbeler, health policy associate for the Economic …

The racial wealth gap has persisted for decades. White families have about seven times the wealth of Black families. (Hyejin Kang/Adobe Stock)

WA Baby Bond Program Aims to Address Wealth Gap

Washington state lawmakers are considering a policy which could help close the wealth gap for future generations. The Washington Future Fund is a …

George Floyd's killing in 2020 sparked massive protests, in Seattle and across the country, to spotlight the need for racial justice. (SoundersBruce/Wikimedia Commons)

NW Racial Equity Struggle in Focus on MLK Day

The quest for greater racial equity in the Northwest is in the spotlight today on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and it's part of the mission of one …

One survey found nearly 30% of Washington state young people who were in foster care had a child by age 21. (yufan sun-EyeEm/Adobe Stock)

Housing, Other Challenges Face WA Youth After Foster Care

SEATTLE - The holidays can be a tough time for young people who have aged out of the foster-care system. For young Washingtonians, housing is an …

Nearly 200,000 Washington kids were living in poverty in 2019. (Seattle/Adobe Stock)

Kids in WA Doing Better Than Other States, But Disparities Remain

SEATTLE -- Washington state ranks high in a new report on child well-being, but the data hides some of the disparities that exist in the state…

La Ley de Fideicomiso de Cuidados a Largo Plazo tiene un l�mite de por vida para los beneficios de $36,500. (verbaska/Adobe Stock)

Cuidadores de WA apoyan la Ley de Fideicomiso de Cuidados a Largo Plazo

OLYMPIA, Wash. -- Cuidadores del estado de Washington están impulsando un proyecto de ley que mejore algunas de las omisiones en la Ley de …

Stimulus checks and tax refunds can be used to build people's emergency funds. (Evgenia Parajanian/Adobe Stock)

How to Use Financial Windfall of Stimulus Checks, Tax Refunds

SPOKANE, Wash. -- With stimulus checks hitting bank accounts and tax refunds on the horizon for some, financial experts are advising people to make a …

A recent report ranked Washington state third best for the well-being of children during the pandemic. (Gargonia/Adobe Stock)

Report: WA Children Faring Better than in Other States During Pandemic

SEATTLE -- Millions of children in the United States are bearing the brunt of the COVID-19 crisis, although Washington kids are doing better than …

Libraries have been able to provide services such as internet access and space for telemedicine appointments during the pandemic. (littlewolf1989/Adobe Stock)

Libraries Seek Congressional Relief While Providing Pandemic Support

SEATTLE -- Libraries across the country have provided critical services during the COVID-19 pandemic, even when their doors closed, and the …

The nonprofit Save the Children has helped distribute 600,000 meals to kids in rural Washington during the pandemic. (Dmitriy/Adobe Stock)

Overcoming Special Challenges to Get Food to Rural WA Kids

SEATTLE -- Hunger is on the rise across the country because of the pandemic, and it can be especially hard to get food to children living in rural …

Women of color and low-income women are at higher risk of conditions such as anxiety and depression after giving birth. (Richelle/Adobe Stock)

WA Bill Could Help Thousands of New Mothers Keep Health Coverage

OLYMPIA, Wash. -- Many women in Washington state are losing health care shortly after giving birth, a crucial time in a mother's life. Senate Bill 50…

One in 12 Washington state families doesn't have health insurance. (Maria Sbytova/Adobe Stock)

Report: WA Families Face Instability in Families, Housing

SEATTLE -- Families in Washington state are struggling to stay afloat during the COVID-19 pandemic, and a new report details how. The Annie E…

People can register to vote using a nearby address if they are living unsheltered. (David Lee/Flickr)

Washingtonians Don't Need a Home Address to Vote by Mail

SEATTLE - How do you vote by mail in Washington if you don't have an address? People who are homeless have some options to get their ballots counted i…

Unos 330 mil peque�os de Washington esperan un programa para despu�s de clases. (Monkey Business/Adobe Stock)

Capacitación y apoyo revelan el potencial de Programas de WA para Después de Clases

SEATTLE -- En el Estado de Washington los programas extra-escolares reciben orientación a través de capacitación y entrenamiento…

The Working Families Tax Credit would return an average of $350 for qualified families. (JohnKwan/Adobe Stock)

Bill Would Open Tax Credit to Undocumented Washingtonians

OLYMPIA, Wash. -- Washington state lawmakers want to open up a working class tax credit to more residents, including people who are undocumented…

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WA: Poverty Issues