Gov. Ferguson Signs Bill Supporting NWIC Students Experiencing Homelessness
Interim President Dr. Lexie Tom visited the Washington state Capitol to witness Gov. Bob Ferguson sign HB 1540 into law, which expands the Students Experiencing Homelessness and Foster Youth Program to include NWIC.
This bill will bring much needed resources to support NWIC students’ basic needs during difficult times in their education journey. Funds of $100,000 or more are expected to be disbursed to the College after the bill goes into effect in July.
Dr. Tom joined primary bill sponsor Rep. Joe Timmons as well as companion bill sponsor Sen. Claudia Kauffman, Sen. Sharon Shewmake and the team at the Washington Student Achievement Council in Olympia.
NWIC has been working on the bill since Jan. 2024. Student Christina Hoekstra and staff testified to the benefits this program would bring at a Senate hearing earlier this year. Testimony included data from NWIC students’ responses to the WSAC survey sent to students last year.
The College thanks the Senators, Representatives, WSAC team and all the students and staff who worked to have NWIC students’ voices heard.
“We are really grateful that WSAC and the governor’s office and our representatives in Olympia worked really hard to pass this legislation,” Dr. Tom told Cascadia Daily News. “I know that the work is really important and our students greatly benefit from these services and resources being available to them.”
Watch the signing here.
