The Olympian’s Christmas Eve edition asks “Is Congress doing enough to help homeless in Thurston County?” emphasizing struggles within the “unsheltered” population even with some community progress. While Thurston County is to be commended for its successes, the 31 percent rise of average rents in the last 10 years might be a huge thorn that needs clipping for those caught in the downside of our housing situation.

The Olympian speaks to providing political pressure at the federal level in response to what we see daily about our community. Let’s consider financial resources by addressing the increased rent burden and how to insulate the most vulnerable from evictions, one of the major paths into homelessness.

A renters’ tax credit could help address the affordable housing crisis by capping the out-of-pocket rent and utility expenses a low-income household would pay at around 30 percent of their income. The credit would cover any excess above that up to 100 percent of the community’s “Fair Market Rent.” Researchers at Columbia University estimate that a renters’ credit could lift over 9 million Americans above the poverty line. There have been bipartisan proposals to create a renters’ credit and to appropriately address the rights of landlords.

Adequate housing is as complicated as finding solutions. A renters’ tax credit can be part of the solutions. Political pressure comes from our using not only our vote, but expressing hopes and possibilities to our elected representatives. Let’s use our personal power during this dark time of the year.

Nancy Curtiss, Olympia

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