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All King County residents deserve a safe and healthy place to call home but because of the pandemic and the resulting job losses, many have been unable to afford the rent to keep their homes.
On Tuesday, the King County Council unanimously passed a $92 million supplemental budget, including $45.2 million to continue King County’s successful Eviction Prevention and Rental Assistance Program (EPRAP). In August 2020 King County created EPRAP to prevent evictions by distributing rental assistance quickly, efficiently, and equitably to both tenants and landlords.
 We have just received the first evaluation of this program (https://buff.ly/2PsEWFQ) and the results are encouraging: EPRAP got money out to those who needed it. Importantly, it’s been excellent at targeting to communities of color who have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic. The budget request the Executive announced this week (see below) includes an additional $100 million for rental assistance, funded by a grant from the State Department of Commerce. This money will keep tens of thousands of our neighbors in their homes during the pandemic.
Read more about the Eviction Prevent and Rental Assistance Program evaluation here >>>
More budget work on its way
But our work isn’t over. Executive Constantine submitted his latest proposed supplemental budget to respond and recover from the pandemic on Wednesday. At $600 million it is the largest supplemental budget in King County history and is funded by President Biden’s American Rescue Plan Act, FEMA and state grants. Over the coming weeks, the King County Council will be reviewing, amending and deliberating on the latest budget with a plan for adoption in May. I look forward to sharing highlights and proposals as they develop.
Environmental priorities virtual town hall: April 13
 Join me, along with representatives from the Department of Natural Resources and Parks and the Executive’s Office, to discuss King County’s environmental priorities on Tuesday, April 13 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
You can join the event on Zoom at https://kingcounty.zoom.us/s/95419965169 (passcode 003964), or by phone at 253-215-8782 (passcode 003964). Submit your questions in advance to Claudia.Balducci@kingcounty.gov. You have the right to language access services at no cost to you. To request these services, please contact our Language Access Coordinator, Reeni Nair at 206-477-4978, or reeni.nair@kingcounty.gov by 10:00 a.m. the day prior to the meeting.
I hope to see you there!
Latest vaccine eligibility information
A reminder that beginning Wednesday, March 31 Washington state will be opening the latest phases of eligibility, technically known as Phase 1b, Tiers 3 and 4. These two tiers include anyone with two or more comorbidities, between the ages of 60 and 64, living in congregate settings (correctional facilities, group homes for those with disabilities, those experiencing homelessness, etc.), and additional workers in congregate settings (restaurants, manufacturing, construction).
Also, noteworthy is that the State Department of Health has announced that by May 1 all persons eligible to receive COVID-19 vaccine will be able to get vaccinated. What is not known how the state plans to open eligibility for currently ineligible groups prior to May 1. According to the Washington State Department of Health, all future vaccine eligibility phases will be based on COVID-19 vaccine supply and demand.
Stay up to date on vaccine eligibility in King County >>>
Spread the word!
Please forward this email widely and invite others to sign-up to my email updates to receive important and timely information for District 6 constituents.
Sincerely,
 Claudia Balducci
King County Council
Council Chair
District 6
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