News

Shout-out to SHAG!

January 22, 2020 in Announcements

A major thank you to our member, Sustainable Housing for Ageless Generations! Also known as SHAG, this non-profit formed nearly three decades ago in order to provide a sustainable lifestyle for seniors. SHAG builds stable housing and creates communities.

Their most recent development plans include Legacy Plaza, which intends on being a mixed-use building, offering 166 units of independent-living apartments for retired seniors, designed to suit various income levels above commercial space and a subterranean parking garage. Residents of the one- and two-bedroom apartments will enjoy residential amenities, such as full kitchens tricked out with dishwashers, oven ranges, refrigerators and washer dryer hookups, full bathrooms, and for select units, roll-in showers. Common spaces are to include social rooms, a library business center, a media room, a fitness center, and a lobby.

Legacy Plaza is granted through the Federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program. As a part of the financing, SHAG had the opportunity to donate to a nonprofit and selected HDC. By donating to our work, SHAG recognized HDC as a systems change organization working through advocacy, education, and leadership to ensure a landscape where affordable housing development is a priority, especially for senior living needs. Legacy Plaza will be a community that exemplifies SHAG and HDC’s shared vision for a King County where everyone lives with dignity in safe, healthy, and affordable homes.

12th Annual HDC Celebration Award Nomination

January 9, 2020 in Uncategorized

In celebration of our members’ efforts toward increased, sustainable, and healthier affordable housing options, we will convene HDC membership, local and state elected officials, supporters, and friends for the 12th Annual HDC Celebration on March 25.

In addition to celebrating our collective work, we like to 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.

In the coming weeks, HDC will convene an award committee to review nominations and recommend awardees to our Board of Directors. This year, we are asking our membership for nominations of individuals, organizations, or public/government agencies, for the following awards:

The Carla Okigwe Award: In honor of the vision and leadership of HDC founding Executive Director, Carla Okigwe, a special award is occasionally given. 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.

The Municipal Champion Award: This 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.

Please fill out the nomination form, including information on your nominee, to the best of your ability.

Nominations are due February 7, 2020

Thank You, Mercy Housing Northwest!

December 27, 2019 in Member Highlight

We appreciate our member, Mercy Housing Northwest, which owns and operates 54 properties throughout Washington and Idaho, providing over 5,000 families and seniors a place to call home at below-market rent.

Mercy Housing’s Magnuson Place North includes 40 affordable, energy-efficient one, two, or three-bedroom apartments. In developing this property, Mercy restored the former US Naval Barracks at Building 9 in Magnuson Park to create this one of a kind community surrounded by open space, playgrounds, sports fields, and access to Lake Washington.

Furthermore, Magnuson Place benefited from the Federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program. As a part of the financing, Mercy had the opportunity to donate to a nonprofit and selected HDC. By donating to our work, Mercy recognized HDC as a systems change organization working through advocacy, education, and leadership to ensure a landscape where affordable housing development is a priority. Magnuson Place is just one example of Mercy Housing’s innovative and collaborative approach to affordable housing and shared vision for a King County where everyone lives with dignity in safe, healthy, and affordable homes.

Program Recap: Undoing Racism Workshop by the People’s Institute

December 6, 2019 in Member Services, Uncategorized

For many of us, specifically white folx, it’s hard to talk about racism; however, the inability to engage in difficult discussions and anti-racist work does not change the reality or impact of structural racism on Black, Indigenous, and People of color (BIPOC).

Choosing to be complacent isn’t a privilege that’s awarded to marginalized communities. In fact, to bring about sustainable and effective change, white folx must work to shift power structures and center the voices and needs of BIPOC. Before doing that, they must first examine and understand the history of racism and the harm it’s caused and continues to cause communities of color.

This past November, HDC hosted a two-day training presented by the People’s Institute, as part of our Race, Equity, and Inclusion Initiative. Through dialogue, analysis, and reflection, our members developed a common definition of racism and an understanding of the historical context for how racial classifications in the United States came to be and how and why they are maintained.

 

Read what some of our members had to say about the Undoing Racism Workshop:

“This training was one of the best anti-racism trainings I have attended. It deepened my understanding of racism in this country and transformed my perspective on effective ways to eliminate racism.” 

“This training is the foundation necessary for any work within communities.” 

“The content was incredibly informative and thought-provoking. In housing and urban design contexts, this course was helpful for my day-to-day design work.” 

“I am responsible for the house in which I live but did not build.” 

“I’ve been involved in different aspects of the affordable housing industry for 20 years – this has changed everything for me.” 

“Enlightening and empowering” 

 “You cannot do this work alone. This was hard for me to hear as I tend to rely & depend on myself majority of the time, asking for help in this area is difficult, leaving me vulnerable.” 

 

As housing experts, it’s important for us to understand the impact of structural racism, redlining, home-buying and credit access, how it’s contributed to gentrification and displacement throughout King County and across the nation. Additionally, it’s important for organizations to take lead from communities of color, who know how to best serve their own communities.

Anti-racist trainings do not change systems overnight, but for white folx to be effective allies/and accomplices, they must understand how they can use their power and privilege to level out the playing field.

HDC understands that this is lifelong work, and we are committed to advancing racial equity throughout our sector.  Thank you to our members who boldly leaned into this training, and we look forward to the next training on January 9th and January 10th. Please register here!

Seattle’s Fare Share Plan

November 26, 2019 in Announcements, Policy & Advocacy

HDC is extremely pleased to announce that the Seattle Fare Share Plan has been unanimously approved by the City Council on Monday. Mayor Durkan signed the cutting edge strategy into law on Tuesday, November 26th.

HDC is extremely proud to have partnered with over 60 organizations, that came together to encourage passage of this proactive legislation advancing workers’ rights, affordable housing near transit, and mobility options. The Fare Share Plan is an inspiring example of broad sectors coming together to create a more affordable, accessible, and equitable Seattle.

With Monday’s vote, Seattle’s Rideshare drivers are on a path to guaranteed living wages and a resolution center, while also providing desperately needed funding for transit and affordable housing.

Introducing Willowcrest

November 20, 2019 in Member Highlight

Willowcrest, a sustainable community land trust neighborhood, officially being developed by Homestead will be the first of its kind neighborhood in King County. The multi-unity homeownership program is both affordable to low/moderate-income households and designed to reduce utility costs and climate impacts. Located in Northeast Renton, the land for the project was provided by Renton Housing Authority.

In total, the 12 townhomes, of both three and four bedrooms, will achieve net-zero energy usage through highly efficient systems, construction, and the use of solar panels for onsite energy generation. The units are stocked with energy-efficient systems such as insulated hot water pipes and efficient pipe routing, thermal pane windows, three-zone ductless mini-split heating/cool systems. Not to mention, a significant portion of features are made from recycled materials, including quartz countertops from recycled stone cutting waste, recycled fiber cement siding, and cork-based flooring.

Willowcrest homes will be priced below $315,000. Through one-time investments that subsidize the initial price of Willowcrest homes, and through partnerships with homebuyers, Homestead will keep the townhomes affordable to all subsequent income-qualified homebuyers permanent. This means the 12 homes will give up to 80 households over the next 50 years the social, health, and financial benefits of an affordable, fixed housing payment in a quality home.

Commerce awards $4 million to 52 communities!

November 20, 2019 in Uncategorized

Introduced and passed in the 2019 Legislative Session, HB 1923 was intended to incentivize denser and more affordable communities. The bill proposed a grant program to fund housing action plans and city code changes to increase urban residential building. Since being signed into law in July, the Department of Commerce has been accepting grant applications cities and counties across the state.

We would like to applaud all the municipalities that took advantage of this opportunity, especially those in King County, to help our neighborhoods grow! King County grantees include Redmond, Shoreline, Auburn, Burien, Federal Way, Bothell, Covington, Kent, Tukwila, and Renton.

See the complete list of grantees here.

Program Recap: Sanden Heat Pump Trainings

November 14, 2019 in Uncategorized

As HDC moves forward with its Exemplary Buildings Program–focused on providing both sustainable and affordable homes–partners and allies supporting the work are keenly aware of the need to secure a trustworthy and cost-effective way to address domestic hot water. Last Wednesday, HDC partnered with Sanden International USA and SmallPlanet Supply to offer specialized training for heat pump installers.

John Miles, General Manager of the Eco-Systems division for Sanden, led an all-day training to HDC members. John is a close-to-30-year veteran of the HVAC/Plumbing industry and currently oversees sales and support of the first commercially available “Air to Water” CO₂ Heat Pump Water Heater, aimed at residential and commercial applications.

He introduced the group to the SanCO2 Heat Pump Water heater, which is based on Eco Cute technology and features the highest efficiency and First Hour rating of any HPWH presently sold in North America. This cutting-edge alternative to traditional electric or gas water heaters absorbs heat from the outside air to heat water – minimizing household energy bills and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Support budget to study new housing types in Seattle!

October 28, 2019 in Policy & Advocacy

There is a significant need for more housing options in Seattle. City Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda is sponsoring a budget action that would require the City to produce an Environmental Impact Statement studying land use in our city. This is one step towards creating more tools to address the city’s housing crisis.

More specifically, the study would examine additional housing capacity and diversity—including duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, and row homes—in areas currently zoned exclusively for single-family houses. In doing so, the study will provide strategies to minimize the displacement of low-income residents and communities of color.

Sign this letter to take action now!

 

Welcome 2019 HDIP Interns!

September 26, 2019 in Racial Equity Initiative

HDC’s Pilot Housing Development Internship Program

 

Tom Nguyen
2019 HDIP Intern

Nola Liu
2019 HDIP Intern

As part of our Race, Equity, and Inclusion Initiative, the Housing Development Consortium has launched our 2019-2020 Housing Development Internship Program.
Through this internship, HDC and intern host agencies, Bellwether and Plymouth Housing, aim to recruit, train, and retain the next generation of talented and racially diverse affordable housing leaders who bring unique skills and knowledge into the affordable housing sector.

As Seattle continues to experience rapid population growth, the lack of affordable housing, coupled with rising rent, is pushing communities of color further out and displacing many Seattle residents. To address these issues, we must collectively invest in under-represented communities by creating opportunities for leadership for those who know how to serve their communities best. This 9-month paid internship is designed to create a launch-pad into a career in affordable housing development and project management.

HDIP Program Participants

Without further ado, we would like to welcome our first cohort of Housing Development Interns: Tom Nguyen, a graduate from the University of Washington with a Masters of Urban Planning, interning with Bellwether Housing, and Nola Liu, a current student at the University of Washington pursuing dual degrees: a Master in Public Health and Master in Urban Planning, interning with Plymouth Housing.

Both students bring a unique experience as children of immigrant parents, their knowledge and background in urban planning and public health, and their passion for creating a society where everyone has access to affordable housing. HDC and our partner agencies are thrilled to be in this partnership as we continue to advance our efforts in affordable housing.

If you’re interested in hosting an intern for the 2020-2021 cycle or want more information on our program, please email Aselefech Evans, HDC’s Equity and Programs Manager.