The Power of Showing Up
There is something that happens when a room full of RHAWA members sit down together. The conversation starts with a question about a notice requirement or a tricky tenant situation, and within minutes it has turned into something bigger a shared recognition that the challenges each person in that room is facing are not unique to them, and that the people sitting across the table might just have the answer, the connection, or the perspective they have been looking for. That is the power of showing up.
The landscape for independent housing providers in Washington State has never been more complex. The 2025 Legislative Session delivered some of the most sweeping changes to landlord-tenant law in state history. New tenant protection initiatives are gathering signatures in cities across the state. If there has ever been a moment to be plugged in, engaged, and connected to the broader RHAWA community, this is it. The good news is that we have more ways than ever to make that easy for you.
LINK Meetings: Your Local Home Base
For members who have never attended a LINK Meeting, I want to make a simple case: go to one. Just one. I am confident you will not regret it. LINK Meetings are RHAWA's free, recurring regional gatherings where housing providers come together to share knowledge, discuss local issues, and build relationships with the people operating in the same market they are. There is no fee to attend and the value you could receive from the perspectives of seasoned members in attendance is likely to prove invaluable. These are member-driven conversations, and the value comes entirely from the people in the room.
Over the last year our LINK Meeting lineup has expanded significantly. We now have meetings running across the greater Puget Sound region, Clark County, downtown Spokane, Spokane Valley, and online, meaning that no matter where in Washington you operate, there is a seat at the table with your name on it. If you have been attending the same local meeting for years, I encourage you to look at what else is available. LINK Meetings are intentionally staggered throughout the month to allow for attendees in-between regions to attend any meeting location that may be relevant to them. If you have never attended one at all, there has never been a better time to start. You can find the full schedule and registration links at RHAwa.org/events.
The CORE Series: In-Person Education That Pays for Itself
Knowledge is one of the most effective tools a housing provider has, and the CORE Series exists to make sure our members have it. Our 2026 spring CORE Series got off to a tremendous start, with and outstanding instruction on leasing compliance, rent increases, and notice requirements from the sharpest legal minds in the business. Members who attended walked away with practical, actionable guidance they could apply to their rental operations immediately.
Upcoming CORE Series sessions are scheduled throughout the summer, and I cannot recommend them highly enough. Whether you are a seasoned housing provider or newer to the business, there is always something to learn, and the connections you make over breakfast before the session begins are worth the drive on their own. Registration fills up, so I encourage you to get signed up early. Check RHAwa.org/core-series-2026 for all upcoming dates and locations.
Legislative Engagement: Making Your Voice Heard
The 2026 session has wrapped, but advocacy never really stops. Local ballot initiatives, city council decisions, and regulatory proposals are happening year-round across Washington, and RHAWA's ability to respond effectively depends on members who are engaged, informed, and ready to act when the moment calls for it. The best way to make sure you are never caught flat-footed is to stay connected through LINK Meetings, through CORE Series events, and through our communications channels including Call to Action emails, the RHAWA blog, and CURRENT.
Especially if you live in a smaller city, showing up to a City Council meeting can be the difference in lawmakers understanding the impact of their policy proposals. Contrary to what some members may believe, elected officials want to hear from you directly and do take your feedback into account. The 2026 Legislative Session displayed this fact clearly, as member testimony shaped several policies into much more workable laws. I have witnessed this at the local level countless times as well, an extremely onerous policy proposal will arise, some members will throw up their hands and think all is lost and others will develop a well thought out response, show up in person to city council and help shape the final policy with their feedback. We are stronger when we work together on a united message and RHAWA staff is here to help you craft your testimony and get over your stage fright when approaching a city council meeting.
The Bottom Line
Every LINK Meeting you join, every CORE Series class you attend, and every message you send to your legislator is a small investment that compounds over time into something much larger. RHAWA's strength as an organization is entirely dependent on the engagement of its members because at the end of the day, we are not a faceless institution. We are a community of housing providers who have decided that showing up, staying informed, and working together is the most effective way to protect the industry we have all built our livelihoods around.
So come to a meeting. Bring a fellow housing provider who has never been to one. Sign up for a CORE Series session. And when the call to action arrives in your inbox, answer it. The power of this organization lives in your participation, and right now, we need all of it.