Michele Thomas Email & Phone Number

Washington State

The Washington Low Income Housing Alliance and the Housing Alliance Action Fund are statewide nonprofits focused on public policy solutions to prevent and end homelessness. In this position, I oversee the development of, and advocacy, for the organization’s policy priorities. I engage a diverse range of stakeholders, especially those with personal lived experiences of housing insecurity and homelessness. I develop the organization’s mobilization and advocacy strategies and engage advocates in public policy advocacy. I develop and maintain public facing relationships with stakeholders and lawmakers, and successfully lobby for the organization’s priorities.● Drives policy development and mobilization strategy.● Develops effective and strategic relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders and lawmakers.● Supervises advocacy staff, conducts public education and presentations on complex policy issues and legislative processes.● Writes advocacy alerts and provides content for organizational publications including one-pagers, research documents, toolkits, presentations and more.● Strategized on creation of the Housing Alliance Action Fund started in 2012 as the political sibling organization to the Housing Alliance and advises Action Fund on activities including endorsement and financial support of candidates for office. ● Develops, lobbies for and passes affordable housing, tenant, homelessness and anti-displacement related policy and budget appropriations.

Washington, United States

Led grassroots organizing campaigns to assist low-income tenants throughout King County to win safe, healthy and affordable housing; advocated for state and local laws to advance equity and fairness; and provided education on Washington State landlord/tenant laws. Organized tenants to win local and state legislative victories. Won the passage of the "Slumlord Accountability Act" in 2005, SB 5577. Led successful building-based community organizing campaigns that resulted in tangible victories and built the tenants rights movement. Helped to secure the preservation of the multi-lingual Benson East apartments as permanently affordable housing and the first tenant-controlled ownership of housing in the Northwest. Partnered with diverse and multi-lingual communities to address racism and discrimination in housing and community development. Mitigated displacement of Rainier Valley low-income renters through the Justice in South Seattle Project, a campaign to win relocation benefits for displaced tenants and by helping build an Equitable Development Coalition to win policies to fight displacement and gentrification.