Accomplishments

Statewide Reach and Community Impact

The reach of the Washington State Community Action Partnership (WSCAP) is substantial. Our statewide network includes 30 Community Action Agencies serving all 39 Washington counties, making Community Action one of the state’s most geographically comprehensive anti-poverty systems.

This reach is especially important because poverty does not look the same in every part of Washington. Rural communities face different barriers than urban communities, while Tribal, agricultural, coastal, and rapidly growing communities have distinct housing, transportation, employment, and energy needs. WSCAP’s network model allows resources and expertise to be adapted to local conditions while maintaining statewide standards, coordination, and advocacy.

Our network operates at two levels: independent agencies provide direct services to individuals and families, while WSCAP works to strengthen the policies, funding structures, and systems that determine whether those services are available and sustainable.

The 2025–2026 period was significant for our association. Amid rising housing costs, food insecurity, energy burdens, and uncertainty surrounding federal safety-net programs, WSCAP strengthened its role as a statewide advocate, technical-assistance organization, and coordinating voice for Washington communities experiencing poverty. Our work connected immediate assistance, including food, housing, utility assistance, and family supports, with longer-term goals of economic mobility and poverty reduction.

As reported in our 2026 legislative priorities, our network served more than 750,000 low-income Washingtonians in 2024, demonstrating the scale of the system we represent. WSCAP’s role is to provide “a unified voice” on advocacy, policy, programmatic, and legislative issues while also providing training and technical assistance to member agencies.

Strengthening Statewide Advocacy

One of WSCAP’s most important accomplishments during 2025–2026 was elevating poverty and economic security issues in state policy discussions. Our 2025 legislative priorities emphasized protecting and expanding investments in housing, food security, energy assistance, healthcare, early learning, and the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG).

That advocacy continued into the 2026 legislative session. WSCAP’s priorities called for protecting flexible state funding, strengthening food security, expanding housing stability, reducing energy burdens, protecting essential services, and preparing Washington to respond to potential federal reductions in safety-net programs.

We described flexible CSBG funding as “the golden thread that holds the fabric of our state together”, reflecting its importance in helping communities respond to local needs and sustain critical services.

Advancing Energy Affordability

WSCAP’s most consequential policy accomplishment during 2025–2026 was its sustained advocacy for low-income energy assistance.

Energy affordability became a central priority because high energy costs can force low-income households to make difficult choices among electricity, food, housing, transportation, and medical expenses. WSCAP made energy assistance a central legislative priority and advocated for a statewide system designed to make assistance more accessible and consistent.

That effort helped produce a major legislative result in 2026. Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 1903 became Chapter 252, Laws of 2026, establishing a statewide low-income energy assistance program within the Washington Department of Commerce. The legislation passed both chambers and was signed by Governor Bob Ferguson, with a partial veto of one section.

The new statewide program is intended to reduce energy burdens and improve access to assistance through easier enrollment, lower administrative barriers, and coordinated support.

The legislation also establishes a concrete implementation benchmark: Commerce must begin providing statewide energy assistance no later than 14 months after funding is appropriated. WSCAP’s advocacy contributed to a policy framework with a defined implementation timeline rather than simply a statement of legislative intent.

The legislation is also designed to complement, rather than replace, existing utility assistance obligations. This creates the potential for additional assistance while protecting existing low-income energy programs.

This work builds on WSCAP’s longstanding leadership in energy affordability. We have partnered with utilities, legislators, and Community Action Agencies across our network to improve access to programs such as LIHEAP and weatherization.

WSCAP also participated in national LIHEAP Action Day, when Washington advocates met with members of Congress and their offices to communicate the importance of energy assistance to Washington households.

Advancing Housing Stability

Housing affordability was another major area of progress. WSCAP participated in the broader coalition supporting policies intended to protect low-income renters from destabilizing housing costs.

In 2025, Washington enacted House Bill 1217, establishing rent-stabilization protections. The legislation was signed by Governor Ferguson on May 7, 2025, and became effective immediately.

Expanding Support for Network Agencies

WSCAP also invested in strengthening the capacity of the agencies that deliver services directly to Washington residents. Our eLearn Center provides member agencies with customized, on-demand training, resources, recordings, and expert-sourced materials, helping improve employee retention and build staff capacity.

During 2025–2026, WSCAP continued expanding this infrastructure through training and professional development. Our 2026 Training Summit at Tulalip, held earlier this year, brought Community Action professionals from across the state together for training, networking, and organizational development. The summit represents an important investment in the quality, consistency, and effectiveness of services delivered throughout Washington.

Expanding Capacity and Federal Investment

WSCAP’s federal capacity-building work was reinforced by a Community Services Block Grant Regional Performance and Innovation Consortium award in 2025. WSCAP also received a Diaper Distribution Demonstration and Research Pilot award.

These awards represent more than new revenue. They provide resources to improve organizational performance while addressing concrete household needs. The capacity-building award supports regional performance and quality improvement, strengthening the infrastructure behind Community Action services. The diaper-distribution award expands our network’s ability to address a basic need that can have significant implications for household finances, infant health, and family well-being.

WSCAP’s statewide network also represents a substantial economic presence. Member agencies collectively spend more than $200 million annually in Washington communities, with the bulk of those funds supporting direct services.

Building a Stronger Statewide System

In 2025–2026, WSCAP did more than advocate for individual programs. We worked to strengthen the statewide infrastructure through which low-income Washington residents access assistance and opportunities for greater economic stability.

The passage of statewide low-income energy assistance legislation, continued housing advocacy, federal capacity-building investments, expanded training and technical assistance, and food-security advocacy all advanced WSCAP’s larger mission.

These accomplishments are especially important as Washingtonians continue to face rising costs and uncertainty surrounding federal funding. WSCAP’s statewide network is positioned to respond by connecting local expertise and direct services with coordinated advocacy, policy leadership, and investments that strengthen communities across Washington.