Bill Eases Migrant Housing Rules Relaxed Code For Dwellings Criticized For Allowing Tents

Proponents say a bill giving farmers more leniency in providing housing for summer migrant workers helps get rid of unneeded requirements - like heaters - and it’s better than having the workers sleep in their cars.

But opponents say they are unhappy that the bill still allows farmers and fruit growers to house workers in tents. Instead, they say, wages should be raised so workers can afford better places to live.

The measure, SB5668, has already unanimously passed out of the Senate. On Monday the House Trade and Economic Development Committee will hold a hearing on it.

The bill would allow for pared-down housing structures to be used only during the summer. Though plumbing, kitchens, bathrooms, heating and insulation would be absent from these structures, farmers must provide centralized kitchens, laundry, bathrooms and water.

So instead of paying $100 per square foot to build a structure, farmers would be paying about $22, said Timothy Nogler, managing director for the state Building Code Council, which helped develop the proposed codes.

Farmers would also continue getting sales tax exemptions on labor and materials used to build migrant housing.

“There is no fairy godmother who is going to wave a magic wand” and build the dwellings, said the bill’s sponsor, Sen. Margarita Prentice, D-Seattle. She expects the bill to pass.

“The idea was that we needed to encourage growers to go into housing,” she said.

At present, if farmers want to build dwellings for workers, they must meet the same code standards as regular houses.

If tents are used they, like the proposed dwellings, must have solid floors, 7-foot ceilings and 50 square feet for each person, said Bliss Moore, manager of the temporary worker housing licensing program. The workers living in the tents share centralized kitchens and sanitation facilities.

But opponents believe the bill sanctions dangerous housing and creates two housing codes for two different classes of people.

“Construction workers do seasonal work, but we don’t put them in tents,” said Rep. Dawn Mason, D-Seattle. Her main qualm was allowing workers to still be able to live in tents.

“I don’t think we should have two different levels based on class.”

Guadalupe Gamboa, director of the state’s United Farm Workers of America, said his group was adamantly opposed to the bill.

“It once again treats farm workers differently from other citizens. The farmers are not providing housing out of the goodness of their hearts. The growers need these workers or else their $1 billion apple industry would not survive,” he said.

“We say they should pay living wages so we can rent or buy our own housing.”

About three years ago, Martin Verbrugge built housing for 32 of the hundreds of migrant workers he uses on his 800 acres of apple and pear orchards in Royal City. He supports lowering the requirements and being able to use tents.

“For 32 people then, we could now house 100 people in tents and give them good, sanitary conditions. Now workers not living on my land are paying $400 a month for a shack in town,” Verbrugge said.

“These people want a clean place to stay,” he said. “They don’t have to be Taj Mahals.”