There were 971 new foreclosures in King County last month (more foreclosures than home sales), 694 in Pierce County and 478 in Snohomish County. It's hard to guess how many of these were foreclosed rental properties; but the Mortgage Bankers Association found that in 2007, 20% of all foreclosure filings across the country were in non-owner occupied properties. The National Low Income Housing Coalition estimates that one third of all properties facing foreclosure across New England are in multi-unit buildings, and 45% of homes at the end of the foreclosure process in four New England states are rentals.

Dependent on their landlord to inform them of a foreclosure, renters are most at risk of being evicted with little notice. With lower incomes and fewer resources, their options after an

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Some of the most innovative and inspiring work to end homelessness in Washington State has been made possible through the landmark Housing and Homeless Assistance Act of 2005, which among other things, created the statewide Homeless Grant Assistance Program (HGAP). The HGAP program has provided flexible, three-year grants to counties to create new, innovative programs that address the needs of the local community.

Since 2006, the State Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development (CTED) has awarded 24 HGAP grants to a total of 20 counties, through a competitive application process. Building Changes has been providing technical assistance and the grantees since the initial round of funding, and it has been a rewarding and eye-opening experience for all of us. It gives us the

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