Housing Developments: Counting, jamming, and building
As more people experience (and exit) homelessness, volunteers set out to enumerate the county-wide crisis
All Home’s annual Count Us In event got a fair amount of press last week, though the new data won’t be available until the spring. The same week, One Table, the county-wide effort to establish a regional solutions, released their own numbers which King 5 accurately characterized as “staggering.”
Lack of affordable housing has pushed up the number of people experiencing homelessness, but the group did have some good news to share: people who become homeless are exiting it faster.
Even Pearl Jam is getting involved. The band is set to play two shows at Safeco in August and will donate at least $1 million in proceeds to a TBD anti- homelessness effort. Along with their announcement the band challenged everyone from fans to philanthropists to do what they can to bring about a little better set of days for our communities.
Other Developments…
-
Today’s the deadline to submit comment on Ft. Lawton! Wouldn’t it be nice if the fenced-off, recent target of arson was replaced with 240 safe, healthy, affordable homes? We think so.
-
Rep. Macri’s controversial bill to repeal rent control drew big crowds to Olympia for a pubic hearing last week.
-
What does Mayor Durkan’s affordable housing announcement mean for the CID and its neighbors? It’s a start, says the International Examiner.
-
12,008 new homes sprouted up along the I-5 corridor last year, a 50% increase from 2016. More supply is good news as 1 in 5-6 homes in the area are topping $1 mil.
-
Federal Way will consider an employment program for people experiencing homelessness, Mayor Ferrell said in his State of the City address. The mayor also discussed downtown development post-moratorium.
-
Deadline extended: RFP for emergency Shelter & Services outside Seattle: King County is making $1 million available over three years for new or expanded emergency shelter services outside of Seattle. Apply by 2/13. Details here under RFP# 1012-18-VLN.
-
Tell the Regional Affordable Housing Task Force your experiences making King County your home in person on January 30th (hint: that’s tomorrow!) or online. Details here.
-
Seattle’s Tenant Relocation Assistance Ordinance is nearly 30 years old, and this year one councilmember has a proposal to require landlords to do more. Erica C. Barnett offers this primer on the existing policy and Councilmember Sawant’s proposal.
-
F.A.R. for the course? This piece from the Urbanist proposes developing affordable housing on publicly-owned golf courses. Another option: lidding I-5.
-
Burien’s new City Council takes on a familiar issue: homelessness.
-
Unique opportunity for Redmonders to help craft city budget: The City of Redmond seeks applications from people who live or work in Redmond to inform the city’s budgeting-by-priorities process.
-
Bellevue School District awarded $855k Best Starts for Kids funding for programming for students experiencing homelessness.
-
Older adults of the Seattle LGBTQ community: participate in this survey from the Office of Housing and you might win a $200 QFC or Fred Meyer gift card.
-
Development of new mixed-income housing begins near Mt. Baker Station. The property will list studios beginning at $1,028, one-bedrooms for $1,344, and two-bedrooms for 1,836, using the multi-family tax exemption.
