Poverty in Washington State | Statewide Poverty Action Network
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Poverty Action builds grassroots power to end causes of poverty and create opportunities for everyone to prosper. We envision a state where people of all income levels fully promote and participate in building the fabric of socially, politically, and economically just communities.

What's Happening

TAKE ACTION: Protect families from foreclosure

In the next few years, over 100,000 Washington families may face foreclosures unless state lawmakers pass reforms that provide relief to homeowners.

 

Banks and lenders should do more!

Email your lawmakers. Urge them to support SB 6648. Require banks to participate in good-faith mediation and establish loan modification criteria.

 

TAKE ACTION: Ban unfair insurance practices

Drivers unfairly face higher premiums because they've been laid off, have a lower level of education, or have a bad credit score due to foreclosure or financial hardship.

 

Email your lawmakers and urge them to support SB 6252 and ban the use of income, education and credit score in auto and homeowner's insurance.

 

Are you impacted by unfair insurance practices or predatory mortgage lending? Contact Danielle to share your story.

 

Where we stand on the issues:

Read our 2010 Legislative Agenda.

 

What's going on in Olympia:

Check out our bill tracking page.

Don't know who represents you? Want to email your representatives about the state budget, national health care reform, or another of our policy priorities?

 

Visit our action page for more ways to contact your lawmakers?

Poverty Action releases Resource Guide
Check out our Resource Guide to learn about how you can access the programs and services we fight for in Olympia. The guide includes information about new payday lending protections, voting rights restoration, IDAs and more.


Contact us if you'd like a copy.

Guía de recursos ahora disponible en Español.

60 Second SPEAK Out

SPEAK out and share your story!  Find out how by calling 1-866-789-7726 or email info@povertyaction.org.
(Music featured: “Snow on the Ground” by Grace Hearn & Michael Savage, from the album Songs for Shelter)

Recent Successes:
 

New payday lending law in effect!
Washington's new law to protect payday loan consumers went into effect January 1, 2010. The new law will help stop the cycle of high-cost, long-term debt by giving borrowers more options and time to repay their loans.

Read more about the new law.

Thank your legislator for taking steps toward making payday lenders act responsibly. Tell them your story about how these new laws are helping you and your community.

 

Poverty Action releases "The High Cost of Being Poor in Washington State"

This report captures the input of hundreds of people from across the state, and finds that people with lower incomes pay more for transportation, housing, financial services & food.

Read the report.

Contact Danielle for more information.
 
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REAL stories...

Sandra Miller,
“I took out my first payday loan in June 2005 amidst mounting medical bills. I had been through surgery three times on my back.”
Read more»

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