News

You Can Act Now!

June 20, 2019 in Announcements, Blog post

The days are longer, the fruit is tastier, and the advocacy opportunities are riper. Summer is here and though school is out, local government is still in session. There are a lot of moving pieces going through local councils, so your advocacy is needed to show elected leaders that people are engaged and watching to see them prioritize creating affordable, inclusive communities.

Take Action Now on…

  • To secure and protect our investments in the human services sector and the social safety net it supports, we need to adjust human services contracts with inflation. This is a yearly problem, and we need to pass a sustainable solution. Send a message to Seattle City Council now! Join us for the committee vote on July 11th!
  • Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) are an important piece to increasing housing options in single-family zoned neighborhoods. The legislation that passed out of Committee this past week and will be up for a full Council vote on July 1 would reduce the barriers to building ADUs which are great options for students, older adults, and homeowners looking to create opportunities for more neighbors! Reach out to Seattle City Council to support and join us for the vote on July 1!
  • This past legislative session, HB 1406 was passed giving local cities and counties a new funding tool to spur the preservation and production of affordable housing by retaining a portion of the state’s sales tax. Local governments have 6 months to pass a resolution of intent to use these funds, so your local leaders need to hear from you that you want them to maximize the impact of these funds by pooling their funds with neighboring cities through existing partnerships. Send a message now to encourage your elected leaders to use every tool in their toolkit.
  • The City of Burien is passing a suite of tenant protections including a Rental Licensing Inspection Program. Programs like this are crucial in ensuring that people live in healthy environments and are empowered as tenants. Reach out to Burien to learn more about these programs and upcoming community meetings.
  • The City of Seattle is unique in that we have the Equitable Development Initiative (EDI) which is an incredible program that funds community based organizations from capacity building to development to ensure that communities are able to prevent displacement by leading the efforts to create community-driven and community-reflective projects. This past funding cycle they received more than $20 million worth of applications for only $5 million of available funds. Join us and others as we advocate for increased and sustainable funding for the EDI including the short term rental tax and the sweetened beverage tax. Reach out to Seattle City Council and join us in testifying on June 26th at 2pm.

 

It can seem overwhelming with so much saturating your twitter feed, but every day there is an opportunity for you to act and make a difference on the very issues that seem so daunting. The recently released Out of Reach report found that in King County a minimum wage worker would have to work more than 122 hours to afford a market rate 2 bedroom apartment. To put King County back in reach of the workers we all depend on, we need more affordable homes and advocacy on these issues helps us get there. Thank you for your advocacy, and reach out to Leah with questions on how to engage.

So far in 2019…

June 14, 2019 in Announcements

Beyond bringing us sunny days, summer fruits, and a stronger desire to jump in Lake Washington, June also signals the mid-way point of the year. With half of 2019 behind us and half ahead, we want to reflect on all the exciting things that HDC has been a part of this year with an eye towards what is to come.

So far this year HDC staff, our members, and our partners worked hard as passionate housing advocates to secure the following:

Seattle City Council adopted a city-wide Mandatory Housing Affordability program that Seattle’s growth works for all people. Developments in the urban villages will either have to include affordable housing or pay into a fund resulting in an estimated 6,300 affordable homes over the next decade.

Seattle City Council passed the Fort Lawton Redevelopment Plan. The former army reserve site was determined to be underutilized surplus land and now will be used to develop 237 affordable homes including supportive housing for seniors, apartments for low-income families, and affordable homeownership opportunities.

King County Council passed the Sewer Capacity Charge reduction for affordable housing developments. In order to build to scale and meet the tremendous need in our region, we need to alleviate some of the cost-drivers and obstacles to development. Reducing the impact fee for developments in King County will increase production by reducing cost.

Renton City Council passed their Rental Licensing and Inspection Program. This program will ensure Renton residents are living in healthy and quality housing by working with landlords and property managers to ensure rental properties, no matter the price or neighborhood, are healthy environments for their tenants.

Washington state legislature made historic investments in affordable housing with $175 million in the Housing Trust Fund, as well as passing HB 1406 which allows local governments to retain a portion of the sales to use for affordable housing and HB 1923 which incentives cities to implement housing policies focused on increasing housing options.

… and more! HDC members, partners, and allies took over 1,500 advocacy actions so far this year!

2019 has already been a year of amazing advocacy success, but our movement is also about learning and growing together though collaboration and conversation. HDC has hosted and co-hosted some amazing events so far this year.

Exemplary Building Task Force convening in January brought together funders, developers, and others to discuss building affordable, sustainable building to address both our housing and climate crises.

A Housing and Community Development summit that brought together over 70 leaders, staff, and organizers to discuss the affordable housing sector’s role in the larger landscape of community development alongside community-based organizations and funders.

Our Affordable Housing of Today event was an opportunity to engage over 30 elected officials and city staff from across the county on issues of affordable housing. We dove into topics of economic benefits, density done right, and more!

Our Housing and Mental Health summit held last month elevated the intersection of permanent supportive housing and other housing models that work to improve the outcomes and quality of life for people experiencing mental illness. Over 70 people who are engaged on the topic came together to discuss this important intersection and how we need to work collaboratively.

We held our fourth annual Affordable Housing Week with over 30 events, over 25 proclamations, and over 1,000 event attendees all dedicated to learning more about affordable housing and the solutions that we can and are adopting to meet our region’s need.

 

Thank you to all our members, partners, sponsors, and the entire affordable housing movement that has worked in community with us to make these past few months extremely successful and empowering. We are excited to continue this journey with you all!

 

Thank you DESC!

June 11, 2019 in Uncategorized

HDC is proud to call the Downtown Emergency Service Center (DESC) a member and a strong partner in the affordable housing movement. DESC serves the most vulnerable in our community, those living with serious mental illnesses or substance use disorders. Through a “housing first” strategy, DESC is a leader in compassionate, successful approaches to homelessness.

DESC’s Clement Place property has 100 studio units of affordable housing with supportive services. This property benefited from the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program. As a part of the financing, DESC had the opportunity to make a donation to a nonprofit. Recognizing HDC’s role as a systems change organization working through advocacy, education, and leadership to ensure a landscape where affordable housing development is a priority, DESC made their donation to support our work. We are so appreciative of the work DESC does to lead and support our shared vision for a King County where everyone lives with dignity in safe, healthy, and affordable homes.

A moment of appreciation and celebration…

June 10, 2019 in Announcements

Today, Seattle City Council voted 9-0 to implement the Fort Lawton Redevelopment Plan. This is the culmination of over a decade of work and energy from the Seattle Office of Housing and committed advocates who continue to show up and speak out on the importance of affordable homes.

(C) The Stranger

The former federal army reserve site at Fort Lawton is underutilized surplus land that through partnerships between the City and nonprofits Habitat for Humanity and Catholic Housing Services will be used to create 237 affordable homes. We have a tremendous need in our community for affordable housing and its gratifying to see our elected leaders acting with the urgency this moment demands.

The redevelopment includes homes for formerly homeless older adults, low-income families, and affordable homeownership opportunities. When we have a tool like surplus land in our toolbox, it is vitally important to make sure we are leveraging it to do the most public good by working across the income spectrum and addressing a range of needs.

Today’s success reminds us that often the goal of safe, healthy, and affordable homes is a marathon not a sprint. There were challenges and bumps along the way, but thanks to the commitment of the Office of Housing staff and committed advocates who engaged at every step of the process we are finally seeing results. Here at HDC we are proud to have worked alongside incredible elected leaders, passionate advocates, and responsive city staff. The affordable housing movement is one of many parts, but when we come together, we are able to put ourselves further on the path to safe, healthy, and affordable homes for all.

Take a moment to celebrate, and then join us as we continue this work. Sign up here to be notified for upcoming advocacy opportunities.

 

What Your Advocacy Will Lead To…

June 3, 2019 in Uncategorized

There’s a lot going on right now in the housing policy world, and you are being asked to keep taking action, to show up, and to keep energized and engaged. It can be overwhelming. This is what you are fighting for. 

237 Affordable Homes

The former army reserve site, Fort Lawton, is under utilized public land. Over the past 15 years, advocates have been engaged with the City of Seattle to use this public land for the public good. The City in partnership with Habitat for Humanity and Catholic Community/Housing Services will use the surplus land to create much needed affordable homes. The 237 affordable homes will include 85 permanent supportive housing for senior making at or below 30% of Area Median Income (AMI), 100 apartments for low-income people and families making up to 60% AMI, and affordable homeownership opportunities for people making up to 80% AMI.

Every neighborhood needs more affordable homes, and every neighbor deserves their lawmakers to use all the tools in the toolkit. Using surplus public land to build affordable homes across the income spectrum, is a crucial step in meeting the tremendous need for housing in our community.

The final vote on the Plan will be on June 10th! Take action now!

Community Voice and Anti-Displacement

The Seattle Office of Housing is updating their Administrative and Financial Plan including a suite of recommendations from Mayor Durkan on anti-displacement strategies. One of these proposed changes is a Community Preference Policy. This policy would allow community groups to partner with the Office of Housing and the affordable housing developers to help ensure that the development in benefiting the community its built in while remaining in compliance with the Fair Housing Act. This is an example of how when affordable housing development is done right it can serve as an anti-displacement tool as the people most at risk from being pushed out of their community are being served by the new housing. We have a tremendous need for housing in Seattle, but we have to build with accountability to the communities that make Seattle such a vibrant place to live.

The legislation will be discussed on June 6th and voted on June 17th. Take action now!

Minimizing Barriers

The King County Regional Affordable Housing Task Force found that we need 156,000 affordable homes right now. The County is investing in staff and other resources to see the recommendations of the Task Force come to fruition and put us on the path of reaching that number through production and preservation. Part of being able to build to the scale of tremendous need we have, is making it easier for affordable housing developers to build. Affordable housing advocates are encouraging King County Council to create an exemption for affordable developments from paying the Sewer Capacity Charge.

This legislation will be discussed on June 12th. Sign up to testify here!

 

Advocacy leads to policy and policy leads to progress. Thank you for all you do to ensure that everyone in King County has access to safe, healthy, and affordable homes. Reach out to [email protected] about talking points or any other questions on getting involved.

South King Housing and Homelessness Partners Honor HDC

May 20, 2019 in Announcements

After years of convenings, collaboration, and dedication on the part of South King County cities elected officials and city staff, King County, and HDC staff, the South King Housing and Homelessness Partners (SKHHP) has emerged as a group leading the sub-regional collaboration needed to meet the needs of their communities.

Auburn, Burien, Covington, Des Moines, Federal Way, Kent, Normandy Park, Renton, Tukwila, and King County have all committed to be a part of this group and fund it as it works to build staff capacity. The entity will work alongside cities to create housing strategy plans, fill their policy toolkits with the tools needed to address the local and regional housing gaps, and increase the capacity of these cities to build and preserve community-relevant affordable housing.

Last month, the Executive board of SKHHP met for the first time and are working on staffing up.

On the Friday of Affordable Housing Week, the SKHHP staff work group awarded HDC in recognition of our longstanding and continued commitment and leadership in South King County. Thank you for honoring the many staff over the year who have put in the work to be a strong partner in this work of bold collaboration and strong commitment to safe, healthy, and affordable homes for all.

HDC Awarded Proud Partner Award

May 17, 2019 in Announcements

At the 2019 Affordable Housing Week Kickoff Event, the Housing Development Consortium was awarded the Proud Partner Award by the Washington State Housing Finance Commission. The Commission and HDC have worked together for thirty years, have shared many successes, and have effectively collaborated time and time again to achieve our shared vision of everyone living in dignity in safe, healthy, and affordable homes.

“They are our superheroes of housing in Seattle King County.

And like the best superheroes, they are a team with a wide range of powers.

Like Captain America, they lead the troops with integrity and get us all headed in the same direction.

Like Black Panther, they show their claws when necessary and use their technological superiority to mobilize and support us all.

Like Spider-Man, they stick to it and persevere through the webs of politics.

Like the Hulk, they smash through barriers—like institutional racism and NIMBYism.

And like Captain Marvel, they light up the darkness and blast us forward into a brighter future.”

HDC, we at the Housing Finance Commission are very pleased to honor you with a Proud Partner Award. Thank you for being our superheroes of housing!”-Kim Herman

 

 

2019 Annual Celebration Award Winners

April 22, 2019 in Blog post

HDC’s Annual Celebration is about recognizing the progress of the affordable housing movement, and the strength and depth of the commitment and compassion of the affordable housing community. The incredible achievements that have led us to the current moment where we are energized to continue to do this work wouldn’t be possible without visionary leaders who have been instrumental to the success of HDC and the work of achieving a King County where everyone lives with dignity in safe, healthy, and affordable homes. 

This year we our honored to award Steve Clagett, Linda Hall, and Tom Jacobi with the Board of Directors award, and Maureen Kostyack with the Carla Okigwe Award.

Steve Clagett:

In 1980, county planner Steve Clagett and other housing activists founded Common Ground (which merged with Bellwether in 2013) in response to a growing housing crisis in the downtown core. The organization began by helping local social service agencies and churches preserve and transform historic buildings into affordable housing, saving many downtown Seattle landmarks. Steve and Common Ground were also founding members of HDC in 1988, and Steve served on the board from 1988 – 1992. From Common Ground, Steve went on to take executive and leadership roles with 1000 Friends of Washington (now Futurewise), King County Housing Authority, and ONE/Northwest (now Groundwire). Steve has an affinity for coalition building and leading through both reflection and forward thinking, serving as the co-leader of Faith Action Network’s Economic Justice Working Group and recently served on HDC’s 30th Anniversary Committee, helping to create the banners documenting our sector’s growth and progress.

“Get someone into a home, and change happens in their life…That’s been our philosophy from the start.”– Steve Clagett

 

Linda Hall:

A leader within the area’s human services community, Linda Hall has spent the past 15 years in executive-level positions at many local nonprofits. Linda was previously the Executive Director of St. Andrew’s Housing Group (now Imagine Housing), Director of Real Estate with the Seattle Housing Authority, and Director of Housing Development with the YWCA Seattle – King – Snohomish. Now at Loveall Price and Associates working as a Project Manager for Congregations for the Homeless, Linda continues to lead as an advocate for affordable housing on the Eastside. She was a co-leader on the Issaquah Zero Energy Village and recognized by ARCH “as a passionate voice for affordable housing”  Linda served on the HDC board from 2001 – 2009, and served as board president from 2004-2005. Linda is a long-time partner of HDC and continues to help lead projects and committees within the association. She was instrumental in the creation of the 30th Anniversary banners.

“Every now and then you get an incredible opportunity…This has been a project of a lifetime for me.”
-Linda Hall

 

Tom Jacobi:

With 35+ years of experience in financial management, mortgage lending, and loan servicing, Tom Jacobi plays an important role at HomeSight, and has occupied almost every job at the organization – from project manager to finance manager, to lender, to loan servicer, building maintenance, and capital procurement and compliance.After 25 years with HomeSight, he seen as the institutional memory of the power of affordable homeownership advocacy. In his current role as Chief Portfolio Officer, Tom is a CDFI application veteran with the wins to back it up, and has played an integral role in representing the important voice of homeownership within HDC, serving on the Board of Directors from 1997 – 2002. We were also told that in his youth, Tom hopped trains for a while, and is the resident Nordic Ski patroller and cross-country expeditioner for HomeSight.

“Affordability has always been an issue. HomeSight is still learning, still growing but now as a national leader in non-profit lending. We need to keep evolving our tools and resources to help working families purchase their first home.”-Tom Jacobi

 

Carla Okigwe Award Winner: Maureen Kostyack

Maureen has played a major role in shaping the housing priorities in Olympia and King County since the early 1990’s. One of her great successes was the creation of the Washington Families Fund by the Washington Legislature. She was the visionary who saw the need for a fund to support social services connected to affordable housing. In her role with the Seattle Office of Housing, Maureen educated policy makers and elected officials about the ins and outs of housing needs and navigated political landscapes to keep affordable housing on the forefront of people’s minds. Her incredible leadership in spearheading two renewals of the Seattle Housing levy, serving on the boards of the Washington Low Income Housing Alliance and HDC, and more has made her a pivotal player in all facets of the affordable housing conversation: housing finance, land use, and a passionate advocate at every table. We are honored to award her with the Carla Okigwe award named after HDC’s founder. Maureen has played a pivotal role in the region’s affordable housing progress, and her impact can be seen in the affordable homes built throughout the county!

 

“What happens when we combine rather than collide?”

April 4, 2019 in Blog post

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tired, empty, hating what I carry
But afraid to lay it down, stingy,
Angry, doing violence to others
By the sheer freight of my gloom
Halfway home, wanting to stop, to quit
But keeping going mostly out of spite.
– from “Charity” by Tracy K. Smith

Her thoughts on “the cost of compassion” were what first grabbed me and pulled me into the work of the Pulitzer Prize-winning U.S. Poet Laureate Tracy K. Smith. Equity, justice, hope, and humanity—and the forces that work for and against them—are at the core of her work, just like they’re at the core of the work of all members of HDC.

Ms. Smith compels me to think deeply about how I process today’s starkly divergent perspectives about society’s failure to grant everyone housing security. Poems like “Charity” remind me that any discomfort I’m experiencing from these intense and polarizing tensions still pales in comparison to the pain endured by those living each day on the periphery.

I do wonder some days if we can let go of our certainties just long enough to agree to seek common ground. And then just long enough to respectfully hold opposing perspectives. And then just long enough to discover what might happen when we combine rather than collide.
Years ago when I worked in global development, colleagues shared “Two Ears of Corn” by Roland Bunch. One line jumped out and has stayed with me since: “the problem with charity is that you need a recipient.”

Ms. Smith’s “Charity” recalls that quote. It reminds me that doing this work well means rising above ourselves to get to a place of surrender and receptiveness. A place where we understand that it’s not really about us. Where we admit we don’t come with the answers and that we need to be quiet and learn from the people we’re seeking to serve (and, yes, from those we disagree with).

HDC’s annual celebration is always about standing in awe of the power this movement derives from its incredible diversity of life experiences and perspectives. Our 2019 celebration is on April 23, and Tracy K. Smith will be right there with us. Reserve your seat now, and feel free to include any others in your orbit who could use a boost of joy and optimism.

Marty Kooistra

My Afternoon With Path With Art

March 7, 2019 in Blog post, Guest Post

“The things that a poem can teach them to see and to hear and to listen for are necessary.”-TKS

How does poetry relate to housing? What power and presence can we glean from the arts to energize our affordable housing movement? These are the questions I’ve been grappling with since I heard that U.S Poet Laureate Tracy K. Smith would be our keynote speaker at HDC’s Annual Celebration on April 23..

I began sifting through her poetry and the pieces started clicking together as the undertones of her poems evoked the same currents of passion, drive, and values that I see every day in the work of HDC’s members and the King County affordable housing community. Her art parallels the mission of the social services and policy change happening all around us here at HDC, and with that, the importance of the intersection of the creative, restorative presence of the arts, and the direct action of social services and advocacy became a centerpiece to this year’s celebration.

HDC member Path With Art works in this intersection every day. They hold quarter-long art classes, ranging from music to painting, poetry to sculpture, for people currently or formerly experiencing homelessness. This past quarter, the poetry class of over a dozen students focused on analyzing and deriving inspiration from the works of Tracy K. Smith. The hours they have put in on their poetry has resulted in truly amazing pieces that will be showcased at this year’s Annual Celebration, where the students will also have the opportunity to meet with Ms. Smith and explain what her work has meant to them.

Yesterday, I was fortunate enough to sit in on one of the classes. I walked in nervous, both daunted by the poetry and by the fact I was a guest in their space, but the minute I walked in I was greeted warmly. I was welcomed with open arms and immediately was introduced to the people in the room. The woman on my right immediately turned to me and began asking me questions about Fort Lawton, explaining she had submitted public comment for the need for affordable housing, even though she wouldn’t qualify to live there. The before-class conversations ranged from housing topics to one women’s struggle with all the cords her son had installed for her, and everything in between.

When I announced to the class that they might have the opportunity to meet with Ms. Smith, the room buzzed with excitement and grins. Everyone gushed about how big of fans they had become after spending weeks grappling with her poetry.

The class began with an exercise to write about events for feelings from the past week using the format of news headlines. We went around the circle and shared. They ranged from long and meaningful to pithy and fun. Mine elicited a few laughs and I felt like I’d been initiated as part of the group. We then dove head first into one of Ms. Smith’s poems, “Watershed,” which weaves together the story of a company who put chemicals in the water even after knowing their harmful effects, and reflections from people online telling their near-death experiences. It was lengthy, dense, and graphic but left me again in awe of Ms. Smith’s abilities. As a class we analyzed the work before setting off on our own to find news headlines and other writing sources to weave together in our own patchwork poetry.

During that time, I was able to talk more with my classmates and they told me how much Path With Art means to them and the tremendous impact it has had on their lives. Before I could believe it, class was over and I was off to the bus stop. On my way out, a few classmates stopped me to continue chatting. Everyone there was eager to express their interest in getting involved in housing and homelessness advocacy as well as expressing appreciation and excitement for the opportunity to meet with Ms. Smith.

On my bus ride back, I reflected on what a special experience it had been. This year’s Annual Celebration will be all the more uplifting thanks to our partnership with Path With Art and Tracy K. Smith’s presence. Sometimes, in this work, you can get lost in the seemingly Sisyphean trek for change, but what poetry and all the arts can help remind us of is the emotional core that centers our work. Yesterday was a great reminder of that for me, and I know our celebration will be that for many as well.

-Leah Haberman, Outreach and Communications Manager