Washington Economic Justice Alliance
ABOUT
WHO WE ARE
Alliance Members
POVERTY IN WA
Information about poverty in WA, the need for the plan.
10-YEAR PLAN
Let’s work together to create a Washington where everyone can thrive.
Key Facts about Economic Hardship in Washington
1. Nearly one in three households in Washington experience economic hardship, much more than the Official Poverty Measure indicates.¹
The Self-Sufficiency Standard, a cost-of-living measure that captures what it takes for families to make ends meet, shows that 29% of households (884,000) in Washington experience economic hardship. That is 605,000 more households than the Official Poverty Measure estimates.
The Official Poverty Measure only reflects extreme need and does not account for people who are economically insecure but fall above the poverty line. In reality, many more people are struggling to pay the bills and save for the future than the Official Poverty Measure indicates.
2. Employment income is often not enough for workers to afford basics, like rent and food, for their families.
Many families are having a hard time paying for basic things like rent and food, despite having at least one employed person in the household. In fact, 80% of families facing financial struggles have at least one working adult². A family of four, with two working adults, would need to earn $24 an hour to cover basic needs⁶. However, the minimum wage in Washington state, is only $16.66 an hour. This difference means that many workers cannot make enough money to pay for what they need.
71% of jobs pay less than what a family of four needs to make ends meet on one income.
(Click chart to expand)
4. The health and human services safety net supports millions of Washingtonians annually.
Millions of residents rely on vital health and human services to meet basic needs like healthcare, food security, and housing¹⁰. These services bridge the gap for families facing economic hardship, providing a critical safety net for those who are struggling to survive.
Washingtonians across all legislative districts count on the human services safety net.
Percentage of population receiving food assistance* by legislative districts (Click chart to expand)
5. There are proven solutions to reducing economic hardship.
The 10-Year Plan, written by the Washington Economic Justice Alliance, offers 8 strategies and 60 recommendations to create conditions that would allow all Washingtonians to achieve economic stability and mobility.
WHAT WE ARE DOING
Through partnerships and collaborations, the Economic Justice Alliance is actively working on policy, program, and funding actions to implement recommendations in the 10-Year Plan.
Putting money in the hands of those who need it has shown to be one of the most effective ways to reduce poverty. The Alliance is advancing various initiatives that provide resources and opportunities to help individuals achieve economic security and financial stability.
Achieving economic justice requires collaboration across sectors. The Alliance is focused on strengthening partnerships among government agencies, philanthropic organizations, and community-based groups to consistently drive meaningful progress.
¹ The Self-Sufficiency Standard for Washington 2022 (2022), Center for Women’s Welfare, University of Washington
² Overlooked and Undercounted (2023), Center for Women’s Welfare, University of Washington
³ The Self-Sufficiency Standard for Washington 2022 (2022), Center for Women’s Welfare, University of Washington
⁴ Self-Sufficiency Standard for 2022 (2022), Center for Women’s Welfare, University of Washington
⁵ 2024 Out of Reach: Washington (2024), National Low Income Housing Coalition, Retrieved from https://nlihc.org/sites/default/files/oor/2024_OOR-washington.pdf
⁶ Dewey, A., Harris, V., Hake, M., & Engelhard, E. (2024), Map the Meal Gap 2024: An Analysis of County and Congressional District Food Insecurity and County Food Cost in the United States in 2022. Feeding America.
⁷ Dewey, A., Harris, V., Hake, M., & Engelhard, E. (2024), Map the Meal Gap 2024: An Analysis of County and Congressional District Food Insecurity and County Food Cost in the United States in 2022. Feeding America.
⁸ Child Care in Washington State (2024), Child Care Aware of Washington
⁹ WA Economic Justice Alliance analysis of Child Care Aware Washington, 2022 Full Year Statewide Data Report, and U.S. Census Bureau, 2022 American Community Survey
¹⁰ WA Economic Justice Alliance analysis of DSHS, ESA Briefing Book, Annual Unduplicated Clients SFY 2024