The Burden of Rent in the Rest of Washington

Places like Walla Walla, Yakima and Spokane are not the affordable alternatives they once were, but solutions could be coming. It's no secret that the cost of living in the Seattle area is very high. Lesser known is the impact that rising housing costs have had on people throughout the state of Washington.  While the overall numbers are highest in Seattle, rent increases have created an even greater burden for people living in the state’s smaller towns and cities.  The state has taken notice, with both the governor and some lawmakers pressing for legislative solutions that would either increase the housing stock or put limits on landlords' abilities to raise rents.  For this episode of the Crosscut Reports podcast, host Sara Bernard speaks with Crosscut reporter Mai Hoang about what life is like for those who are rent-burdened in these smaller cities, and what solutions are in the works.  Read our full report on the rise in rents in eastern Washington here.  --- Credits Host/Producer: Sara Bernard Reporter: Mai Hoang Executive producer: Mark Baumgarten --- If you would like to support Crosscut, go to crosscut.com/membership. In addition to supporting our events and our daily journalism, members receive complete access to the on-demand programming of Seattle’s PBS station, KCTS 9.