Advocacy
WMFHA’s advocacy team champions policies that keep the multifamily industry strong and competitive.
Why Advocacy matters
WMFHA GA Team
-
Nick Marin
Executive Director Washington Multi-Family Housing Association (425)656-9077Executive Director -
Jake Mayson
Director of Government Affairs Washington Multi-Family Housing Association (425)282-4475Government Affairs Director -
William Schneider III
Public Affairs Manager Washington Multi-Family Housing Association (253)246-8384Public Affairs Manager -
-
-
The Issues
Washington needs more housing, but delivering it requires a policy environment that supports long-term investment.
Washington State is facing a housing affordability crisis driven in large part by a lack of supply. Meeting that demand requires significant, sustained investment in multifamily housing at all price points. New housing does not happen by default. It depends on projects that can be financed, built, and operated with a reasonable expectation of long-term viability. At the same time, the industry is navigating an increasingly complex and evolving regulatory environment, creating tension between the need for new housing and the conditions required to deliver it.
While thoughtful regulation plays an important role in protecting residents, rapid changes and overlapping policies can introduce uncertainty that makes investment more difficult. Housing development is often built on thin margins, particularly for projects serving middle- and lower-income residents. When there is uncertainty around future revenue, whether through potential limits on rent increases, restrictions on cost recovery such as utilities, or changes to eviction and nonpayment processes, it becomes harder to underwrite new projects. In many cases, that uncertainty leads to delayed or canceled developments, further constraining housing supply.
Ultimately, new housing can only be built when there is confidence that projects will be able to support themselves over time. Creating that confidence requires a policy environment that is clear, consistent, and aligned with the goal of increasing supply. Without it, investment shifts away from the projects that are most needed, limiting the industry’s ability to deliver housing at scale and worsening affordability challenges for communities across the state.