You have been hearing quite a bit recently about the King County Bar Association’s Housing Justice project with Board President Overbey’s article in the July issue of our Bar Bulletin, our News and Events and even the press. As previously shared, Washington’s adoption of SB 5160 in 2021 guaranteeing legal counsel for low-income tenants in Washington facing eviction proceedings increased the work, and the size of the HJP exponentially. Today, KCBA’s HJP is forty-seven (47) employees providing representation and support to clients in King County and beyond. The KCBA’s stewardship of the HJP and our participation in advocacy leading to the adoption of SB 5160 is an immense source of pride for our members, our Board, and the dedicated staff carrying out this important work.
Our pride and stewardship of this important work led us to consider next steps for the program particularly considering the needs and scope of HJP. As we have shared previously, both the KCBA and the HJP are better served by splitting into two separate entities, with separate management and separate Boards. The HJP’s mission of advancing housing justice on behalf of its clients is critical, and those at HJP who work toward advancing that mission must be able to make it their singular focus. KCBA’s mission is broad and includes member services, pro bono services, and helping to improve our legal system.
Since the Fall of 2023, the KCBA HJP Taskforce has worked diligently evaluating the benefits, opportunities, challenges, and risks of a transition of HJP to an independent entity. The work of this task force has resulted in the appointment of a Transition Administrator to manage the short-term path toward a fully independent HJP as a recognized charitable entity. The KCBA is pleased to introduce Lisa M. Stone, who now serves as the Administrator of the Transition. Many of you likely know Lisa, as she comes to us with many years of experience in non-profit legal advocacy work in our community. Lisa’s work will allow the new HJP entity to engage in a deliberative process and determine a management structure of its choosing and allows KCBA to move forward on updates to its strategic plan and other work that is specific to KCBA members and members of the community receiving pro bono services that are not related to eviction defense.
The KCBA is committed to continuing to support the work of HJP during the transition. I am also very much looking forward to forging a lasting partnership with the new Housing Justice Project.
