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ASSOCIATED PRESS
State farmworkers face low quality of life, study finds
Homelessness, subpar housing are main concerns
By MANUEL VALDES
From living out of cars to rodent-plagued cabins, Washington farmworkers
interviewed for a new survey offer a glimpse into the quality of life
for many of the more than 170,000 people who form the backbone of the
state's large agricultural sector.
The survey, "A Sustainable Bounty: Investing in Our Agricultural
Future," was conducted by the Washington State Farmworker Housing Trust
and was set for release Friday. More than 2,800 farmworkers in 14
counties were interviewed for the survey in 2006.
Among the findings: Nearly half of the workers say they don't know if
they'll continue working the fields, citing subpar housing conditions
plagued by mice, cockroaches and lack of electricity or water.
Moreover, workers have an average annual household income of around
$17,500 - below the federal poverty line. Nearly 6 percent of the 2,800
workers described themselves as homeless, living in cars or sheds. That
figure jumps to 15 percent for those workers who migrate from community
to community in search of work.
"Recruiting and retaining a stable and skilled work force is becoming
increasingly difficult," said Brien Thane, trust executive director.
"The survey makes it clear housing is a key factor in stabilizing and
sustaining that work force."
For the state's key crops, such as apples and cherries, a lack of hands
to pick would mean lost harvests. The state has already seen periodic
labor shortages.
"Farmworker housing has been such a huge issue for so long ...," said
Rosalinda Guillen, one of the survey coordinators and a former
farmworker. "I just feel it's important that something better is
developed. Period."
The survey reports 91 percent of those questioned said better housing
would encourage them to continue working in the fields.
They also detailed problems with current housing: 32 percent live in
overcrowded units, 23 percent reported rodent infestation and others
reported lack of heat and poor water quality.
The issue of farmworker housing is contentious. Some farmers and local
government officials want the state to relax housing regulations. The
state, meanwhile, has to inspect hundreds of housing units and respond
to calls of unlicensed camps.
But the consensus seems to be the same: More housing is needed.
"The need? It's huge. As far as quantifying the need, it's like trying
to hit a moving target," said Janet Abbett, farmworker housing program
manager for the state Department of Community, Trade and Economic
Development.
"Both the state and the industry are working together to try to meet the
need," Abbett said.
"The truth is that (the workers) are supporting our economy, and just
like everybody else, they deserve a place to sleep at night."
In Douglas County, more than 350 cherry pickers live in military-type
tents in a field next to the airport in East Wenatchee.
County Commissioner Ken Stanton has criticized the state for allowing
this, saying that farmers are reluctant to build on-site housing because
of regulations.
"Give some breaks to farmers to house these folks on-site," Stanton
said.
The survey also found that 80 percent of workers didn't have health
insurance, 66 percent reported they did not receive assistance from the
government and 11 percent own their own homes.
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