From Spokane to Olympia: Rockwood Property Management Reflects on DOH

One of the most important parts of WMFHA’s Day on the Hill is ensuring legislators hear directly from housing providers about the realities of operating rental housing across Washington. That includes making sure Eastern Washington voices are part of the conversation.

This year, Amanda Gunn and Libby Patton of Rockwood Property Management traveled from Spokane to Olympia to meet with lawmakers and share their perspectives on housing policy and the impacts of legislation on residents and housing providers alike.

For both attendees, making the trip across the state is about ensuring lawmakers hear directly from the communities they represent.

Libby Patton, attending Day on the Hill for the third time, said showing up in person sends an important message.

“Even though it’s a long trip from Spokane, it’s important that Eastern Washington housing providers show up and meet with our legislators,” Patton said. “Being there helps ensure they understand that these issues matter to their constituents back home. We’re also able to share perspectives and experiences that may differ from those in Western Washington, which helps create a more balanced conversation around housing policy.”

Amanda Gunn echoed that sentiment, emphasizing the value of face-to-face engagement.

“It’s the most effective way to engage directly with our legislators on the issues impacting our industry,” Gunn said. “Showing up in person matters. Attending as a group makes it less intimidating and more impactful, and it also gives us valuable time with our west side counterparts to compare challenges and learn from larger markets.”

For both attendees, the most meaningful moments came from candid conversations with lawmakers.

Patton pointed to a meeting with Representative Natasha Hill as a highlight of the day.

“The conversation helped me better understand her perspective,” Patton said. “It was one of the most candid discussions we had and served as a good reminder that legislators are members of our community who are trying to make decisions they believe are right.”

Gunn experienced a similar moment during a meeting that lasted nearly half an hour with a legislator who had previously been hesitant to hear the industry’s perspective.

“It felt like, for the first time, there was space to explain that we’re not the opposition,” Gunn said. “We share the same goal of providing quality housing for residents.”

For Gunn, the face-to-face setting helped convey more than just policy points.

“Being there in person allowed us to communicate not just the facts, but the heart behind what we do. We care deeply about residents and the challenges they face.”

Gunn noted that many conversations returned to the economic realities behind housing policy and the affordability impacts of policy.

“When new expenses, like certified mailings, are layered onto properties, those costs don’t disappear, they get absorbed through rent, whether by current residents or future ones,” she said.

At the same time, Patton said legislators were deeply engaged in discussions about how housing policy affects vulnerable populations.

“The legislators in District 3 were particularly focused on how policy impacts seniors, individuals with disabilities, and low-income households,” Patton said. “Their primary concern seemed to be ensuring that policies move forward that both protect these groups and create pathways to stable, safe housing.”

Both attendees said the conversations reinforced the importance of continuing dialogue between policymakers and housing providers.

“If we work collaboratively and keep communication open, we have a better chance of creating solutions that support both residents and housing providers,” Gunn said.

Participating in Day on the Hill also highlighted how complex the legislative process can be.

Gunn said the experience reinforced that policy decisions are shaped by constantly shifting priorities and ongoing revisions.

“If we’re not part of the conversation early and consistently, decisions move forward without the operational perspective,” she said. “Being there ensures our voice is included in a process that ultimately shapes how we serve residents.”

For Patton, the trip also underscored why participation from Eastern Washington housing providers is so important.

“Because meetings with legislators are scheduled based on where we live, many Eastern Washington lawmakers aren’t able to connect with our industry unless we’re there in person,” she said. “When housing providers and our supplier partners show up, it signals that these issues matter to our communities and ensures our legislators hear directly from the people impacted by these policies.”

Both Gunn and Patton encourage other Spokane-area housing providers to participate in future Day on the Hill events.

“Don’t overthink the meetings,” Gunn said. “Legislators are people, and most don’t fully understand our industry. That’s exactly why they need to hear directly from us.”

Patton added that WMFHA’s preparation and the opportunity to engage alongside colleagues make the experience approachable, even for first-time attendees.

Together, they say, the experience reinforces a simple but powerful lesson: advocacy works best when the people most affected by policy are part of the conversation.

WMFHA thanks all housing providers who joined us in Olympia this year. Your voices help ensure lawmakers hear directly from those working every day to provide housing across Washington.