News

A Message From Aselefech Evans, Our Equity and Program Manager, on the Recent Killings of Black Folx

June 4, 2020 in Blog post, Racial Equity Initiative

Recently, I have found myself echoing and repeating the words #BlackLivesMatter more often than I would like to, not because I don’t believe those words, but because I need to remind myself of their truth and validity in a time where events say otherwise. I want to live in a just, equitable society where we don’t have to speak out so emphatically and often about black lives, in a society that values all lives equally. We are not there yet.

The killings of Tony McDade, George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery have been in the news lately. There are many others who have died unnecessarily as a result of being black. The loss of far too many black lives to list has left our nation outraged at the moment. I would argue that the impact on black people is not one of shock at the news, but of a long-term grief and exhaustion and indeed a sense of familiarity with the “news” that yet another black person has died essentially for being black. Many of us black people are processing stages of grief and trauma associated with these killings. Our bodies and our minds are responding in flight or fight response because there is a heightened sense of fear and anxiety when we feel like we can’t trust the people who have been put in charge to keep us safe.

According to the research group Mapping Police Violence, more than 1,000 people are killed by police every year in America. Black people represent a disproportionate number of those killed. Despite being only 13% of the population, black people accounted for 24% of those killed. Those are devastating and heart wrenching numbers, and behind that data are black bodies—mothers, fathers, children, teens, friends, neighbors.

COVID-19 has further exacerbated this devastation. The Center for Disease Control tells us that, in New York City, death rates for black people due to COVID were 92 deaths per 100,000 people, compared to 45 per 100,000 for white people. Dr. Jeff Duchin, a health officer for Seattle and King County, said in The Seattle Times, “It’s been an ongoing national tragedy and shame that we have communities of color throughout our county suffering disproportionate adverse health impacts from a wide variety of health conditions.” We have seen that reality here in King County, especially among low-income and other vulnerable populations. COVID-19 has also brought to light the glaring disparities that historically have harmed black folx, including the systemic, entrenched racism in health care, education, banking, transportation, employment, and more. Two quick examples: According to The New York Times, for every $100 white families earn in income, black families earn $57. Black people with college degrees are twice as likely to be unemployed as all other graduates (The Atlantic).

In housing, black people looking are shown 18% fewer homes and 4% fewer rental units than white people (Demos). We know also that residential segregation, per the CDC, is linked with many adverse health outcomes and conditions exacerbated by COVID-19. Many black communities live in densely populated areas due to institutional racism; they often have a harder time accessing health services, practicing social distancing, and purchasing food and supplies for long times at home.

HDC is working to decrease these disparities by addressing institutional racism through our Race, Equity and Inclusion Initiatives. We ask our members to be in solidarity with black communities by supporting Black-Owned Businesses and  Black Lives Matter Seattle-King County.

 

Here are a few additional ways to engage in our work:

  1. Black Staff can attend HDC’s Black Caucus: Community Building and Healing, a convening facilitated by me on Monday, June 8
  2. Members can apply for our Housing Development Internship Program, designed to recruit, train, and retain racially and socio-economically diverse students so they are prepared to enter leadership positions in the housing industry.
  3. Join our Recruiting Diversity Task Force. HDC is looking for Chair and Co-Chair.
  4. Check out our COVID-19 Advocacy Efforts

 

Recommended Readings by Black Authors:

  • Race For Profit: How Banks and the Real Estate Industry Undermined Black Home Ownership by Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor
  • Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome: America’s Legacy of Enduring Injury and Healing by Dr. Joy DeGruy
  • How To Be An Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi
  • Stamped From the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America by Ibram X. Kendi
  • Emergent Strategies: Shaping Change, Changing Worlds by Adrienne Maree Brown
  • On the Other Side of Freedom: The Case for Hope by DeRay Mckesson
  • Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson
  • So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo
  • The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander
  • Race Rebels: Culture, Politics, and the Black Working Class by Robin D. Kelly
  • Born a Crime by Trevor Noah

 

For non-black folx who are wondering how this time might be for black co-workers, here is an insight from Maintaining Professionalism in the Age of Black Death is…A Lot:

Your black employees are exhausted.

Your black employees are scared.

Your black employees are crying in between meetings.

Your black employees have mentally checked out.

Your black employees are putting on a performance.

Forgive us if our work isn’t up to par, we just saw a lynching. Pardon us if we’re quiet in the Zoom meetings, we’re wondering if we’ll be the next hashtag.

 

For my black brothers and sisters, please read Radical Gratitude by Adrienne Maree Brown, because you are a miracle walking, and your ancestors’ wildest dream.

On a personal note, I have participated in several Zoom sessions with other professional black colleagues in the housing and with black friends, and we are united in a sense of grief, exhaustion, fear, and, only occasionally, hope.

I’d ask everyone to show grace to themselves and to others. While I understand there are a range of responses to and views about recent events, I can’t imagine that anyone has missed the fact that the U.S.’s historic, entrenched systemic and institutional racism has finally risen to a high level of awareness across this country. I can assure you that black people have been more than aware of the realities: we live them every day. My most optimistic take is that, as a society, we have an opportunity to bring about change. I’ve suggested some readings above (and there are many more); reading is great for better education, and it can’t be the only effort expended. Black-owned businesses need support. Black-led organizations need white allies who do not center themselves but who listen and learn from black leaders. White people need to learn to recognize that racism is more than overt and ugly slurs; it’s part of implicit bias and institutional oppression that sustains racist policies. Our work must be rooted in anti-racism if we are genuinely going to bring about change. It has taken 400 years to bring us to this point. Our history of slavery, segregation, redlining, discrimination (overt and covert), and inter-generational trauma will take time to eradicate, yet there is still urgency in action. I hope you will join me in this hard and necessary work.

 

In solidarity,

 

Aselefech

HDC Member Highlight: Rebuilding Together Seattle

April 8, 2020 in Member Highlight

HDC’s membership represents the housing continuum with several organizations and causes carving out their own specific approach to ensuring everyone in King County having an affordable, healthy, and safe home. Rebuilding Together Seattle (RTS) is no exception and has their own unique approach to tackling our region’s housing crisis.

Rebuilding Together works to eliminate substandard, unsafe, and unhealthy housing conditions, while strengthening neighborhoods and communities. RTS does so through home repair, home rehab, accessibility modifications, and other improvements at entirely no cost to the homeowner or the nonprofit facility they are assisting. RTS has also begun to work with other organizations on neighborhood-level community revitalization projects that can impact community health and safety.

RTS programs primarily serve low-income homeowners – a forgotten middle of our housing spectrum and affordable homeownership population. These are often your neighbors who have lived in their home from twenty to fifty plus years. They are low-income seniors, persons with disabilities, veterans, families with children, and other community members with a high risk of displacement, injury or illness, and other adverse outcomes that can lead to housing instability, despite owning their home.

“For our neighbors in need of a little extra support, that physical affirmation that we value them as part of the community fabric and as individual people with dignity and grace is almost as much a reassurance as it is knowing they will be able to age safely in the home and community they love.”

In the midst of the COVID-19 outbreak, RTS has suspended their programs and postponed National Rebuilding Month. Executive Director, Caleb Marshall explains, “I think many of us have learned over the last few weeks a little about what that feels like and, even when we have access to resources and a safe living environment, how debilitating that isolation can be.” Many of our low-income neighbors are in incredibly dangerous situations, in which they have exhausted their financial resources and social networks and are really quite isolated. RTS touches on these personal struggles our neighbors are experiencing in their most recent newsletter.

The work of RTS draws communities together in extraordinarily unique and touching ways. “The best feedback from our work is what a transformational, restorative, and hopeful spark that our projects bring into our community members’ lives. I think part of the magic has to do with neighbors connecting to neighbors – we’re bringing together volunteers, whether someone comes as an individual or with one of our business or civic partners, that live, work, and enjoy the neighborhoods and communities that the people they are supporting have contributed to making so special.”

At this time, RTS has reevaluated their year ahead, but their goals remain high. For the time being, they have had to suspend their programs and are canceling their May fundraiser breakfast. They are working to reschedule National Rebuilding Day, a month-long call to service in which nearly 40,000 volunteers complete 1,600 Rebuilding Together affiliate-led projects across the country. Caleb says they remain hopeful that RTS will be able to still meet their goals in full, which means reaching more than 200 households in 2020 for their sixth straight year!

The vast majority of RTS’ work is done by volunteers. With just three staff and three AmeriCorps members, they recruit volunteers with all types of skills, including folks that can help diversify the talent and experience on the RTS Board, people with construction expertise, people with specialized skills such as marketing/graphic design, IT, etc. that can help with committee-type work, and other general volunteers of all walks that are ready to advance their mission. Furthermore, you can reach out to Rebuilding Together Seattle if you assist low-income homeowners, or are a nonprofit that could use help yourselves.

Over 98% of RTS funding comes from individual donations, businesses, and civic groups with less than 2% drawing from public funding sources that are so important to many other important causes. “We’ve always been proud of that fact, but in times like this, when we don’t have companies and organizations funding and joining our projects, and when we have to cancel fundraising events, we especially need those supporters who can to step up and back under-funded organizations like ours,” explained Caleb.

To best stay connected to Rebuilding Together Seattle’s efforts, sign up for their newsletter and  hold Friday, October 2nd on your calendar for RTS’s Beer & Wine Tasting. RTS welcomes, “We would love to have a max capacity turnout, regardless of your past involvement or individual giving capacity.”

While we cannot gather in person to traditionally show up for one another right now, Rebuilding Together Seattle demonstrates how collective efforts can have a lasting impact on our communities for years to come. Thank you for all you do, Rebuilding Together Seattle!

Seattle Foundation’s COVID-19 Response Fund

March 30, 2020 in Uncategorized

The Seattle Foundation’s COVID-19 Response Fund deployed $10+ million in grants to 128 community-based organizations who are delivering emergency assistance—such as rent support, food security, healthcare, and childcare—to workers and families who have been affected first and hardest by the coronavirus crisis. Asian Counseling and Referral Services, Byrd Barr Place, Casa Latina, Chief Seattle Club, Eastside Refugee & Immigrant Coalition, Seattle Indian Health Board, and White Center CDA are just a few of the local organizations receiving funds to bolster front-line responses to the pandemic.

As a member of the Pandemic Community Advisory Group, HDC continues to elevate the essential work of our members and allies for funding consideration. Among the grantees are the following HDC members. We want to take a moment to acknowledge their hard work and dedication to assisting others in this difficult time:

250k

Byrd Barr Place

Chief Seattle Club

SeaMar

Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle

100k

El Centro de La Raza

Interim CDA

ReWA

SCIDpda

50k

Catholic Community Services

Hopelink

Multi-Service Center

Neighborhood house

The Sophia Way

Wellspring Family Services

Plymouth Housing

YouthCare

DESC

Solid Ground

25k

Lifewire

View the full list of grantees. 

HDC Member Highlight: Valerie Thiel – SAGE Architectural Alliance

March 26, 2020 in Uncategorized

Valerie Thiel is an architect, advocate, innovator, and leader in the affordable housing sector. She is the founding principal of SAGE Architectural Alliance, which specializes in design for seniors, veterans, under-served populations, multifamily residences, and affordable housing for all populations. SAGE’s mission is to shape spaces for social connection and wellness.

Valerie’s dual background in architecture and structural engineering, has been her secret weapon during her 30+ years of architectural experience, 20 of which has been focused on senior and special needs housing. In an industry that is otherwise disproportionately controlled by men, Valerie’s leadership in cutting-edge innovations for senior lifestyles and passionate advocacy for affordable senior housing reflects her unwavering commitment to social and technological change. Her inclusive leadership and advocacy efforts reflect her desire to pave the way for cultural change for future generations.

Valerie remembers thinking about her life path at age eight and realizing that the careers expected for women would not make a significant impact on the world. At least not directly. She saw the roles for women at the time to be limited and supportive, compared to men’s careers and roles to truly impact the world around them, especially as leaders. Valerie remembers being very outspoken about the limited opportunities available to women. She recalls, “I think that was the beginning of wanting the world to change.”

Growing up in Bellingham, Washington, she fell in love with architecture at age 16 when visiting Western Washington University’s campus. She noticed the ways the building structure inconspicuously drew the community together. She was eager to become an architect as she entered her undergraduate career at the University of Washington. As the only woman in her Civil Engineering program, she felt she had to prove herself and proceeded to graduate at the top of her class in only three years. She continued on to Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) for her Masters in Architecture and a separate Masters in Structural Engineering.

After graduating MIT, one of her first jobs was at the Museum of Flight hanging a B-17 plane from the ceiling truss. In doing so, she detailed all the exterior glass and steel joints. At that point, she says it was nearly impossible for a woman to have a voice within a design firm. She saw a need for women to prove they were technically competent and were able leaders that could fill the need for more compassionate leadership. She expressed her frustration with the work dynamics and general sexism of the all-male firms. This lack of voice fueled her passion for grassroots organizing and community engagement within her practices.

In 1985, she became an activist with the Seattle Allied Arts and fought a freeway branch that was proposed to run east-west over South Lake Union. At the time, South Lake Union was mostly occupied by car dealerships, but the proposed overpass’ proximity to the water would have had detrimental effects on marine life and water pollution. Having her own idea for the Westlake Commons area, Valerie created a rendering of the area, which envisioned the central park surrounded by mixed-use extending from South Lake Union to Denny Way. Folks rallied behind Valerie’s innovative vision and she proceeded to meet with countless elected officials and government agencies to put this idea into fruition. In the subsequent years, Valerie moved abroad and her original idea transformed even more, but was unable to get the funding approval from voters.

After traveling around the world and working in New York, Valerie settled in Guam, which furthered her passion of helping marginalized communities through architecture. Her main 7-year effort was to help the only hospital in Guam reach accreditation standards. In doing so, she had a significant impact on improving the quality of healthcare and healthcare delivery. While raising her twin sons as a single parent, she also became the architect for a long-term care facility. In doing so, she found an unmet need in the quality of care for the elderly. Her experience in Guam completely reworked her vision for helping others. Not only was Guam a predominately matriarchal society, but it was a collaborative work environment where residents, staff, developers, etc. all had a seat at the table. End of life care became a primary focus for her work moving forward.

Returning to Seattle, Valerie found her voice as a leading expert in senior housing, and the very active non-profit organization, Leading Age. As a frequent speaker at state and national conferences, Valerie emphasizes the importance of social connection and community while providing end of life care. She remembers her own grandparent’s nursing homes as unwelcoming and dingy. She wanted to make a change for her mother’s generation by creating social connection through a warm, welcoming, and attractive environment that is a source of pride for the senior residents.

In 2011, Valerie brought these ideas to HDC membership as the co-chair of the Senior Housing Affinity Group. At the time, Valerie was a strong advocate for providing supportive services within the independent living section of senior housing as the means to best keep residents in their homes as they aged. At the time, this idea was relatively new for the many in the affordable housing sector. Over the last ten years, understanding has shifted, and the affordable housing sector now accepts that putting seniors in touch with these services is fundamental. As this progress has been made, Valerie has turned her energies towards anti-displacement work.

With more women and girls entering the building industry, we are seeing an increasing number of developer teams headed by women. As Valerie says, “Women developers are bringing innovation to affordable housing. I hope when developers choose their architects and contractors that they will begin to use more women-owned architectural firms for the richness of perspectives and innovation that can be gained. I would love to see the affordable housing sector include more women and minority-owned firms at the leadership table. I believe doing so would produce a double bottom line of new affordable housing plus broader leadership distribution and innovation across the communities served. “

Valerie is clear that the growth in the leadership of the affordable housing industry should include gender, racial and all diversities. As HDC grows as an association, Valerie hopes to lead in welcoming and actively recruiting new voices and backgrounds to the sector. She emphasizes that this will require a culture change, since the challenge is “about growing up in a world headed by white men and transitioning to a world headed by diverse leadership where all groups have a true voice.”

Thank you for all you do, Valerie!

Special Message from HDC’s ED on 3/25

March 25, 2020 in Uncategorized

March 25, 2020

Here we are: the day we’d planned to come together in the Convention Center skybridge to reconnect, recharge, and celebrate a year of dedication and progress on behalf of affordable housing and homelessness.

If you’re reading this message, you likely already know at least a bit about HDC’s work, and how it helps your own. The HDC staff and board are determined to persevere during this difficult time, for the sake of everyone struggling on the periphery and for our members who serve them. Gathering over 1,300 strong once a year at HDC’s Annual Celebration has given our entire sector a way to come together to honor them all.

This year, you would also have joined together to thank Mark Santos Johnson of the City of Renton, this year’s recipient of HDC’s Carla Okigwe Award, and all of our 2020 Celebration award winners who deserve our sincere appreciation and recognition.

Our Celebration program also featured three staff members of HDC member organizations: Dennis Bateman of Catholic Community Services, Vanessa Tran of Kantor Taylor, and Marwa Zahid of Walsh Construction. They planned to share the rich stories of how they each ended up doing what they do and why being part of this movement still lights a fire in their hearts.

These three folks shrug off the ‘inspirational’ label, insisting they’re quite typical of everyone they work with. And that’s the power of our event—it holds up a mirror to reflect the compassion, wisdom, tenacity, and sense of calling shared by everyone in the room.

We miss experiencing this truly special event with you. I realize a series of emails can never recreate its unique joy. But email does offer me a way to ask you simply and straightforwardly—and in recognition of all you face right now—to make a donation to support HDC.

Please know that HDC stewards every dollar of a modest budget with great care. Whatever you can offer will help this small but mighty team continue to serve you, and to do so in the way only HDC can.

For those of you who have already contributed – you have our sincerest thanks.

You know us and we know you. We are a community that will continue to celebrate our work and each other, and we’ll rise above all we are facing…together.

WITH GRATITUDE,

Marty

Annual Celebration Award Winners!

March 19, 2020 in Uncategorized


In celebration of our members’ efforts toward increased, sustainable, and healthier affordable housing options, and in celebration of our collective work, we annually recognize those organizations and/or individuals who have been outstanding champions of HDC’s mission and have made an important impact in the community and affordable housing sector. The following awards were given out in 2020:

The Municipal Champion Award recognizes an elected or appointed public official or city/county department/entity, which through exemplary leadership has made exceptional contributions to the state of affordable housing in our community.

  • The City of Burien

    The City is being recognized for working collaboratively with community leaders to adopt an affordable housing demonstration program, a suite of policies, and an inspection program to ensure healthy housing in their city. The new demonstration program creates an opportunity for the city to provide incentives and flexibility for the development of affordable housing over the next three years. Burien intends to use this as an opportunity to evaluate potential barriers to the construction of affordable housing and make recommendations on changes to development regulations.

  • The City of Kenmore

    The City is being recognized fo adopting zoning to preserve manufactured housing communities last year, as well as for their work on Multi-Family Tax Exemption, and the mayor’s leadership co-chairing the Regional Affordable Housing Task Force. The city’s efforts represent a major concerted effort to preserve some of the most affordable housing left in the county.


Board of Directors Award recognizes exemplary leadership in the affordable housing sector, and is given at the sole discretion of HDC’s Board of Directors. 

  • Jill Fleming, Senior VP and Deputy Director, Capitol Hill Housing

    Jill has worked in the field of affordable housing development for over three decades first as a CPA with Loveridge Hunt, then for Capitol Hill Housing, currently as Senior Vice President and Deputy Director of this 44-year old organization. She has become a community leader as well as a nationally regarded practitioner. Her deep knowledge of the complicated financing and compliance regulations within the Low Income Housing Tax Credit Program, HUD, City, County, and State financing sources has made her a sought after expert in our wonky, complicated field. Jill has worked to create strong organizations throughout Washington State. She has a proven track record of taking on challenging projects, improving the finances of organizations, and making an impact beyond her organization. Initially the Director of Finance, Jill has been instrumental in the growth and stability of Capitol Hill Housing. Helping the ongoing transformation of a grassroots organization into a nationally recognized real estate developer, owner and operator. Jill is the treasurer of HDC, has served on the boards of the Affordable Housing Management Association of Washington, the Capitol Hill Chamber of Commerce and the Mt. Baker Housing Association. She holds an MBA from the University of Washington and a BA from The Evergreen State College. HDC is thrilled to be recognizing Jill for her long-time service in the affordable housing sector and for the legacy she leaves in affordable housing finance.

  • Bill Rumpf, President, Mercy Housing NW

    Bill has over 25 years of experience in affordable housing development, operations, and homeless systems and policy. He oversees development, resident services and resource development for Mercy Housing Northwest. Bill’s senior leadership experience includes public and nonprofit housing roles where he has had a leadership role in connecting healthcare and housing. Bill serves on the state’s Health Innovation Leadership Network, which provides guidance to the state’s Healthier Washington plan. He is also a member of the Enterprise Community Leadership Council and Chase Community Advisory Board for Washington, and was recently appointed to the Community Advisory Board of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco. Prior to joining MHNW, Bill was the Deputy Director for the Seattle Office of Housing, serving in an executive management role for Seattle’s affordable housing finance agency with an annual budget of $43 million with cumulative transactions in excess of $500 million. HDC is thrilled to recognize Bill for his years of exemplary leadership and service to the affordable housing sector and the community beyond!

The Carla Okigwe Award honors of the vision and leadership of HDC founding Executive Director, Carla Okigwe. Individual recipients are chosen for their exemplary contributions to the affordable housing movement and a clear commitment to bettering the lives of those struggling and the communities in which they live.

Mark Santos-Johnson, Community Development & Housing Manager, City of Renton

Mark Santos-Johnson has been working tirelessly in the housing industry for decades – from working to build a shelter program with Fremont Public Association, to supporting the construction of thousands of homes, to spending the last twenty years dedicated to developing affordable and livable communities in Renton.

While with the City of Renton, Mark spearheaded the revitalization of the Sunset neighborhood. He worked to complete and submit two requests for HUD Choice Neighborhood grants to support community revitalization. When the project did not receive funding, Mark worked to identify additional resources, notably recruiting AmeriCorps VISTA to support the neighborhood development, so that community improvements would continue to be made. To date over $100 million has been invested in the Sunset neighborhood. Most of these directed resources can be attributed, at least tangentially, to Mark’s work. He is a tireless advocate for the community and works to hold the City accountable to its promises.

Mark often flies under the radar, and deserves to be recognized for his years of service to the sector.

Watch HDC present Mark with the 2020 Carla Okigwe Award

TY to the YWCA

March 4, 2020 in Uncategorized

Thank you to our member, YWCA of Seattle, King, Snohomish. In benefitting from the Federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program, YWCA has extended its support to HDC in the effort of ensuring that women and families from across the region have safe, healthy, and affordable homes.

YWCA project, Opportunity Place, is unique to the qualifying developments in that it already serves hundreds of folks in the downtown area. The YWCA’s Opportunity Place opened in 2003 and offers a variety of programs that include Health Access and Economic Empowerment. Programs include Veterans Employment, WorkFirst for TANF Parents, Healthcare Access, Title V Employment, and permanent affordable housing among many others.

YWCA Opportunity Place provides comprehensive solutions to the issues of homelessness and poverty. Angeline’s Day Center for Women, a day shelter for women experiencing homelessness is located on site. Located on the second floor, the WorkSource center offers computer access, classes and training, and case management designed to help homeless individuals improve their chances for employment. The top five floors include 145 studio and 1-bedroom apartments. The modern, comfortable units include fully equipped kitchens, private bathrooms and windows, most with exterior views.

Thank you, YWCA, for continuing to give back to the greater housing sector.

HDC Member Highlight: Byrd Barr Place

February 20, 2020 in Member Highlight

The ever-changing Seattle is in the midst of an economic boom and rapid growth, but has concurrently created mass displacement due in large part to job growth, high capacity transit, and the resulting skyrocketed cost of living. In the Central District, the changing demographics are pushing out Black households that have lived in the area for generations. The rapidly gentrifying Seattle neighborhood is now home to less than 18 percent of Black residents. In the 1970s, more than 73 percent of the Central District’s residents were Black.

But there is one organization with roots so deep in the neighborhood that it is preserving the Black culture and community from within.

Byrd Barr Place, located in the heart of the Central District, is a true community-based organization aimed at preserving the community through advocacy and social assistance services. Born during the Civil Rights Movement, Byrd Barr Place is over 56 years-old, and upholds itself as a historically Black organization. The organization got its beginnings as a result of redlining in the Central District, acting as a social service hub for the community. Their vision of social equity began to grow more partnerships and expand services. Its mission was to address issues of race, class, and poverty so prevalent in the 1960s, and that mission and value remains today.

What Byrd Barr Place is today to the Central District community is an offshoot of what they have been since the Civil Rights Era: basic safety-net services. Take the Byrd Barr Place food bank, which has expanded its walk-in food bank and created grocery drop-off services. In doing so, they provide nutritious food to working people with limited income right to their doorstep.

While Byrd Barr Place is not a houser, it works to keep people housed. They provide eviction prevention to pay resident’s back-rents. At the same time, Byrd Barr Place works with partner organizations who are housers, case managers, and wrap-around services providers, like Urban League, to ensure people stay in their homes. Their flagship Energy and Heating Assistance Programs can help eligible households keep their lights and heat on during the winter months. These programs help pay for electricity bills and heating tank refills to support healthy housing in their community.

In collaboration with fellow HDC member, Capitol Hill Housing, Byrd Barr Place was a pivotal partner in the national award-winning Liberty Bank Building. The building includes 115 units of affordable housing for households earning between 30 and 60 percent of area median income. The multi-use space will predominantly serve the Black community, 87 percent of the building units are leased by Black households. The commercial space will host Black-owned businesses. The partnership with Liberty Bank is grounded in racial justice as the historic bank was the first Black-owned bank West of the Mississippi. As Executive Director Andrea Caupain Sanderson explains, “The Liberty Bank Project is just one example of a number of properties that stake our claim to Black presence and culture in the city.”

Andrea continued to explain that civic engagement right now means combatting displacement through housing and economic stability. There can be a cynicism that comes with working in social services because there is always more need than resources. At times, advocating for issues with stakeholders isn’t fruitful. But that isn’t what Andrea sees every day. Byrd Barr Place’s proximity and presence in the Central District inspires plenty to be hopeful for. She sees humanism, working together as a community. She witnesses people drop off bags of groceries to the food bank on their way home from the store. She sees people that have used their food bank come back and volunteer their time. She sees lasting reciprocal partnerships – with residents, organizations, and businesses.

Looking forward, Byrd Barr Place is continuing to underscore its mission in supporting healthy homes, with their report Equitable Future in Washington State: Black Well-Being & Beyond. The report examines racism and inequity that have deeply impacted our state’s Black families and community, and encourages collaborative solutions. Created through partnerships with the Washington Commission on African American Affairs and the African American Leadership Forum, the report assesses the barriers to success in Washington’s Black community, especially access and quality of education, housing, employment, and healthcare.

Along with the report, Byrd Barr Place’s food bank is looking into ways to provide more fresh produce and less preserved/processed food, and even health-specific bags for chronic illnesses. In doing so, they are working with local farmers and grocers to obtain these expensive products that low-income residents may not have access to.

This year, Byrd Barr Place is also looking forward to the launch of a capital campaign to help modernize their 112 year-old building. Currently, the organization is negotiating the transfer ownership of its building from the city by mid-summer. While the building has a warm and welcoming interior, space will need a major upgrade to become ADA compliant and ensure it is earthquake safe. With an organization so grounded in place and belonging, they are excited to use this opportunity to expand their meeting spaces, which are open to all residents to use as a place to gather.

Andrea admits, like any other organization, there are bumps in the road but there is a lot of gratitude and kindness that grounds her work and Byrd Barr Place. As an organization, their presence in Seattle is as undeniable as their focus in creating a sense of belonging where Black people find a safe place to live, worship, learn, and play in the Central District.

 

Thank you, Compass Housing Alliance!

February 20, 2020 in Uncategorized

We appreciate the generosity of our member, Compass Housing Alliance! In the Lutheran tradition of caring through service, Compass Housing Alliance develops and provides essential services and affordable housing for homeless and low-income people in the greater Puget Sound region.

Their upcoming development, Compass Broadview, will bring Compass’s unique, personal housing model to the Broadview neighborhood. Compass Broadview will provide 59 units of mixed-use permanent affordable housing on Greenwood Avenue North. Like their other projects, this development will house individuals, families, and people with disabilities earning 50% and 30% Annual Median Income. In addition, 29 units are designated for individuals or families earning at or below 30% AMI.

Built on land purchased from Luther Memorial Lutheran Church, Compass Broadview will be a welcoming home to many families. As with our other affordable housing programs, Compass Broadview will welcome families and individuals across a wide range of ages and backgrounds. Thank you for supporting HDC along with this effort!

Exemplary Building Program Wall Guidelines Are Now Available

February 18, 2020 in Announcements, Blog post

In October of 2019, the Exemplary Building Task Force met with stakeholders in the design and construction community in a workshop to develop several simple and cost-efficient common wall assembly designs that would work well in our region, while meeting the performance requirements of the Exemplary Building Program. From this meeting, we have developed some brief Design Guidelines for these wall assemblies to assist with early design and pricing efforts for Exemplary Buildings and have made them available for use by all.

The guidelines can be found on HDC’s Exemplary Building Program website.

As it turns out – these walls are not too different from current construction practice, and only a small step further than the requirements of the forthcoming 2018 Washington State Energy Code. This is a good indicator that the changes needed to construct Exemplary Buildings are realistic and incremental.