Economic Opportunity Institute

08/04/2026

WA Cares benefits are available now. You can create a benefits account at https://bit.ly/4gbuNHY and apply today.

To get started, you will fill out a brief online application. Applicants or caregivers can also call 844-CARE4WA to have a WA Cares team member guide them through the online application or apply over the phone.

07/16/2026

Incredible!!!

This is a win for the care workforce, for anti-racism, and for better working conditions for more people.

07/15/2026

WA Cares is an essential benefit that helps families keep their savings and prevents people from falling into poverty when they need care.

We've been advocating for a program like this for years and are proud to see it come to reality.

On Wednesday, Washington state began offering benefits to help people pay for services not usually covered by insurance, such as a home care aide or safety features.

07/15/2026

I-645 would wrongly overturn WA's Millionaires Tax. If it passes, it will give a tax cut to people who make more than $1 million/year, prevent working families and small businesses from getting important tax credits, and blow a $13 billion hole in funding for essential services like childcare, and K-12 education.

We endorse the NO on I-645 campaign.

07/13/2026

We have more proof that taxing the rich, even just a little bit more compared to the rest of us, actually works. The state collected $1.53 🅱️ILLION in capital gains revenue, tripling the previous year's collections.

The number of payers continues to steadily rise, showing a clear connection that increasing taxes on the wealthiest people and corporations in our state makes our communities stronger.

07/13/2026

On the road again... 🚗

Every year, we travel to the beautiful, unique corners of our state to engage in statewide policy research and advocacy. To ensure that our work is grounded in the needs of communities across Washington, we spend time visiting leaders and community partners to deepen our understanding of how policy plays out in different parts of our daily lives.

We learn what's worked, what still needs work, and the power of community-led solutions, because at the end of the day, the people closest to the problem know the solution.

07/06/2026

06/22/2026

Washington's Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) program is a key component of economic security for working people and families. In the last year alone, PFML enabled over 50,000 dads to care for their growing families without worrying about missing a paycheck.

In 2025, nearly 270,000 Washingtonians received paid leave benefits through our state's hugely popular PFML program.

Men represent 44% of people taking paid leave and are most likely to utilize PFML to care for a new baby or child, followed by leave for their own serious medical conditions and other family caregiving. The average weekly benefit amount for family bonding leave is $1,096.

At EOI, we're committed to making sure that all workers in our state continue to have access to PFML. Everyone deserves to care for themselves and their loved ones through all of life's most joyful and most challenging moments.

06/08/2026

We’re ~ferrrry~ excited to kick off our bi-annual staff retreat where we roll our sleeves up and get rooted in our shared vision of making Washington a national model of economic opportunity.

See y’all later 💟