Jim Tharpe

Background

About Jim Tharpe

Presented RHA's position to the HALA work group on housing barriers for the long term homeless tenant. April 2015 - Rental Housing Association of Washington 2016 PAC- Rental Housing Association of Washington Board Member - Founded Unity House in 1998, an educational offender reentry housing program working in conjunction with the Department of Corrections as a Housing Provider. Membership with Support Re-entry housing reform organizations includes- Certificate of Restoration of Opportunity stakeholder support for formerly incarcerated people- HALA work group on housing barriers for long-term homeless tenants, April 2015- Rental Housing Association of Washington, 2016 PAC, State Legislative Committee. Advisor for Senator Mike Carrell over offender reentry issues- Unity House was used as a model for several community-based housing bills- The DOC housing voucher program was developed with research obtained from Unity House data- Provided Testimony for Washington State bills- Sub-Member of Seattle's Housing Affordability and Livability Agenda (HALA)- Al Jazeera America interviewed with Tharpe, on the impact of the Ban the Box News stories on Unity House, 10/2013 KING5 TV report on community-based reentry housing, Jim, I want to thank you for doing a really nice job of explaining the challenges that high-profile sex offenders like Steven Powell face when searching for housing. I’m fully aware that few people will have sympathy for Mr. Powell’s situation, but this story is ultimately about what’s best for public safety. There has been endless coverage of Powell’s pending release – in Utah and Washington – but none of them captured the nuance of the situation like this. Your piece was so well done! Thank you, Anna Annemarie Aylward | Assistant Secretary Washington State Department of Corrections Should ex-cons be a protected class in Seattle?| KING5.com | Seattle News and Video