Testimony
HB 2163 – Homelessness
House Appropriations Committee
 March 3, 2005

Good Afternoon Madame Chair and members of the Committee.  My name is Matt Muckler and I am the Legislative Director for the Washington State Catholic Conference, which represents the Catholic bishops of the State of Washington on public policy matters.

We believe that basic human dignity demands that people have a safe, affordable place to live.  In a document entitled Faithful Citizenship, the U.S. Catholic Bishops expressed that “The lack of affordable housing is a national crisis.”  They supported a recommitment to the national pledge of ‘safe and affordable housing’ for all and effective policies that will increase the supply of quality housing and preserve, maintain, and improve existing housing.  We believe that HB 2163 can help to accomplish these goals in Washington State.

This bill may not be the perfect or only vehicle to resolve the crisis of homelessness, but it does address the issue and creates not only a time frame for working toward ending homelessness, but also establishes a funding mechanism for it.

 It allows us as citizens to be proud to live in a state that cares for poor and vulnerable people.

Thank you for your consideration