Fourteen WA farming organizations send letter protesting department’s plan that would cripple on-farm housing
Update: As of August 26, 2024, the public comment period has ended
A troubling change in state policy that would harm farmworkers and farms is now out for public comment.
The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) is proposing water well policy changes that threaten the affordable housing farmworkers have depended on for decades, and the department is accepting public input until Aug. 22.
Everyone is encouraged to send a message to the state to stop this plan. Proponents of agriculture need to clearly communicate that by targeting shared wells, this new DOH policy will make it exceedingly difficult for farms to provide or expand desperately-needed affordable housing for farmworkers.
Additionally, DOH’s policy-setting process lacks the legal or legislative authority to make such sweeping changes.
Last month, a group of 14 agriculture organizations signed onto a letter outlining many of the reasons why this policy adjustment is inappropriate and damaging.
Some are also questioning whether the DOH may have broken state law by failing to notify stakeholders of the public comment period.
This policy direction is simply wrong and must be stopped to protect Washington’s farmworkers, family farms, and rural communities.
If you would like to read the policy changes, visit the DOH website here.
Finally, Save Family Farming has published a press release on this issue.
MAKE SURE TO SUBMIT YOUR COMMENTS BY AUGUST 22.