City investments made in 2020 will support the creation or preservation of over 1,400 rental homes and homeownership opportunities
Since December 2017, over $1.7 Billion – including $400 million of City funds – have supported the creation and preservation of 6,200 affordable homes
Seattle (December 8, 2020) – Mayor Jenny A. Durkan today announced additional investments of $55.8 million to support 840 low-income and affordable rental and homeownership opportunities in neighborhoods throughout Seattle. These investments, along with $60 million announced this summer to create 600 new units of permanent supportive housing, bring the 2020 total housing investments to $115.8 million, a historic level of investment in a single year for the City.
In addition to the first-ever Permanent Supportive Housing Pilot investments awarded this summer, for the first time in a decade the Office of Housing offered two rounds of funding to more quickly support affordable rental and homeownership housing—one in the spring and one in the fall. Mayor Durkan and the Office of Housing’s decision to increase the number of funding opportunities in a single year was made in direct response to the city’s urgent need for more affordable homes.
“As we continue to navigate the challenges of this unprecedented year, these historic investments demonstrate the City’s ongoing commitment to creating affordable housing for all Seattle residents, as quickly as possible. Seattle has built the foundation of equitable recovery with our investments in thousands of new affordable homes coming online in 2021 and 2022,” said Mayor Durkan. “From our innovative permanent supportive housing pilot to rapidly increase housing for our neighbors experiencing homelessness to first-time buyer homeownership opportunities, the City of Seattle is making significant investments to ensure neighborhoods across the City have affordable homes.”
Since Mayor Durkan took office in 2017, the Office of Housing has invested $400 million of City funds to support nearly 5,300 new affordable rental homes and homeownership opportunities and preserved over 900 affordable homes for families and individuals earning low- and moderate-incomes. Funding sources for the 2020 Office of Housing investments include the 2016 voter-approved Seattle Housing Levy, and Incentive Zoning and Mandatory Housing Affordability payments. These local investments are will leverage additional county, state, and federal funds.
The Office of Housing’s 2020 investments integrate nationally-proven models that serve individuals, families, and communities with a range of housing and wellness needs—including people transitioning out of homelessness, seniors and people with disabilities, low- and moderate-wage workers, and first-time homebuyers. Continuing the City’s history of supporting community-driven and culturally-appropriate affordable housing, this year’s investments include developments envisioned through close partnerships with community-based organizations and faith institutions. In February 2019, Mayor Durkan issued Executive Order, which created a new community preference policy for affordable housing in high risk of displacement neighborhoods.
“Especially in light of the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on housing instability, we must continue to implement and scale a long-term vision for housing justice rooted in racial justice. This year’s affordable housing awards reflect our City’s continued commitment to act with urgency, further fair housing, and make equitable investments that will serve Seattle for generations to come,” said Emily Alvarado, Director of the Office of Housing.
“We are so grateful to Mayor Durkan and the Office of Housing for their bold and responsive actions to support permanently affordable homeownership. The long-term financial stability and equity building that homeownership provides benefits us all by strengthening and diversifying our communities,” said Brett D’Antonio, CEO of Habitat for Humanity Seattle – King County. “Habitat’s meaningful partnerships with community-led organizations, like South Park’s Duwamish Valley Affordable Housing Coalition, ensure these homeownership benefits are equitable and community-driven.”
“Over the last two years, Mount Zion has worked very closely with Director Alvarado and her staff at the Office of Housing to bring about this project,” said Sam Cameron, Vice President of Mount Zion Housing Development Board. “This project will assure that many seniors from the congregation and the neighborhood will have an affordable place to stay that is near public transportation and within walking distance to the church.”
All rental housing and homeownership opportunities developed using City investments are reserved for households with incomes at or below 80 percent of area median income (AMI) or about $88,000 per year for a family of four. These homes will remain affordable for at least 50 years.
2020 Funded Investments:
Spring 2020 Affordable Housing Investments
Total Investments: $31,420,000
Total New Affordable Homes: 473
New Affordable Rental Housing
Fall 2020 Affordable Housing Investments
Total Investments: $21,800,000
Total New Affordable Homes: 180
Total Homes Receiving Reinvestment & Rehabilitation: 154
New Affordable Rental Housing
Rental Housing Receiving Reinvestment and Rehabilitation
New Permanently Affordable Homeownership – Awarded Spring 2020
Total Investments: $2,580,000
Total New Affordable Homes: 33
New Permanently Affordable Homeownership
Permanent Supportive Housing Pilot Investments
Total Investments: $60,000,000
Total New Permanent Supportive Housing Units: 599
New Permanent Supportive Housing
More information on the City of Seattle’s 2020 affordable housing investments and other affordable housing programs can be found at www.seattle.gov/housing.