Micro-apartments are poised to become legal in Washington state

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

A bill that would allow “micro-apartments” anywhere normal apartments are built has passed both chambers of the Washington Legislature.

Angela Rozmyn works for a developer that builds micro-apartments in Redmond and Kirkland, where they’re already legal. She says they’re basically an efficiency studio with a shared kitchen.

“It is someone’s private space, with their own bathroom, microwave, fridge, basic living quarters but without a full kitchen, and they rent generally for 55-70% the cost of a studio in the same area,” Rozmyn said.

-snip-

The bill passed both legislative chambers by wide margins — 96 to 0 in the House, 44 to 4 in the Senate.

https://www.kuow.org/stories/micro-apartments-are-poised-to-become-legal-in-washington-state

[Aristus]

1. It's a step in the right direction.

While I don't think human beings should be packed in like sardines, I do like the idea of my homeless patients sleeping behind a locked door with a roof over their heads. Warm, safe, and secure. This is going to change a lot of lives for the better.

[Irish_Dem]

2. I agree.

I don't like the idea of humans jammed tightly together in sparse quarters in general.
In the richest country in the history of the world no less.

That said, it is most certainly a giant step up for homeless people living on the street.

Once a person has their own safe, clean, warm space it makes a world of difference.

You can then provide all kinds of social and mental health interventions.

Like Maslow said, until the basics are met, you cannot work on higher level issues.

[Chainfire]

3. That is what you would hope that it would accomplish. I am not so sure about the long-term ramifications.

You have to think in terms of the greed of landlords and developers, and where altering building codes, in their favor, could take us.

[Aristus]

4. I agree. There is no panacea.

This at least represents a positive step; getting the homeless off the streets. The real cures will be a living wage (the number of homeless people out there who work part or full-time jobs would shock you), readily available treatment for substance use disorders, and comprehensive mental and behavioral health care.