Executive Constantine boosts effort to help homeless residents transition to affordable housing

Published 10:39 am Wednesday, January 14, 2015

New housing units for veterans, seniors, low-income families and others in need will begin construction in 2015 thanks to funding announced in December by King County Executive Dow Constantine. More than $6.4 million has been allocated to a variety of affordable and special-needs housing projects across the county, creating 260 units of housing ranging from studios to three-bedroom units.

“It’s nearly impossible to build a successful future without a stable place to call home,” Constantine said. “These grants will help transition seniors, veterans, young adults, and hard-working families out of homelessness and into safe, affordable housing.”

Capital dollars were awarded to six local housing projects to create and preserve at least 365 units of affordable rental housing. More than 70 units will be dedicated to housing low-income working households and over 100 will house people who are homeless, chronically homeless or at risk of homelessness, including units set aside for homeless veterans and their families.

“Rents are rising and it is becoming harder to find affordable housing in our county, especially for people who are already struggling to make ends meet. These new housing units are real homes for people who can’t afford them otherwise, and having a home can change a life,” said King County Council Chair Larry Phillips.

Funding for the affordable housing capital comes from a variety of federal and local sources. Local sources include the voter-approved Veterans and Human Services Levy, funding from state-authorized surcharges on document recording fees, Housing Innovations for Persons with Developmental Disabilities funds and proceeds from the Mental Illness and Drug Dependency dedicated sales tax revenues.

The HOME Investment Partnership Program provided federal contributions for the King County housing capital. A combined Request for Proposal process coordinated by King County helps to leverage and maximize available resources to gain the greatest impact for the region.

Housing units will be affordable to a range of households with incomes at or below 80 percent of the area’s median income, with the majority supporting households below 50 percent of the area’s median income, the region’s area of greatest need. In 2014, a three-person household with an income at 50 percent of the county’s median earns $39,700 annually; a single-person household at 50 percent of median earns $30,900.

2014 capital funding for affordable and homeless housing

• King County Housing Authority: Four scattered-site properties, part of a larger nine-property acquisition and rehabilitation effort aimed at preserving a portfolio of HUD Section 8 rent-assisted senior/disabled and family apartments. The housing is located in five counties throughout Washington state and the four King County properties will include a total of 105 units. Two of the properties will serve frail elderly and non-elderly disabled and two will serve low-income families. Affordability will be set at 80 percent of the area’s median income and below. Award: $665,251.

• Plymouth Housing Group: New construction of an apartment building with 77 units of permanent supportive housing for chronically homeless individuals in Seattle near the downtown core. All of the homeless units will be studio apartments. The project will have 24-hour staffing and security monitoring. Affordability will be set at 40 percent of the area’s median income. Award: $537,000.

• Low Income Housing Institute: New construction of a four-story apartment building to provide 48 units of permanent affordable rental housing, with 20 units designated for homeless young adults and the balance for workforce households. All units will be studios. Commercial space on the ground floor will be occupied by the University District Food Bank and a barista training café. Affordability will range from a maximum of 60 percent of to 30 percent the area’s median income and below. Award: $693,032.

• Compass Housing Alliance: New construction of an apartment building providing 58 affordable housing units in Shoreline. Twelve units will be set aside for homeless veterans and veteran families and four units for individuals with developmental disabilities. The building will include a mix of one, two and three-bedroom units. The ground floor will include space for a relocated food bank and an integrated service center owned and managed by Hopelink. Affordability will range from 50 percent  and below to 30 percent and below of the area’s median income. Award: $2,850,000.

• Providence Health & Services/Shelter Resources Inc.: New construction of an apartment building in Redmond providing 74 permanent affordable units for seniors 62 years of age and one manager unit. The housing will comprise a mix of studio apartments and one and two-bedroom units. The ground floor will house a Program for All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly  Center. Affordability will range from 60 percent to 30 percent and below of the area’s median income. Award: $1,500,000.

• Parkview Services: Acquisition and rehabilitation of one single-family home that will provide three affordable units (beds) of permanent wheelchair-accessible housing with 24-hour staffing for adult individuals with developmental disabilities. Resident referrals and service provision will be coordinated by the State Developmental Disabilities Administration. Affordability will be set at 30 percent and below the area’s median income. Additional funding will be provided through the Washington State Department of Commerce and ARCH (A Regional Coalition for Housing) for a house in the north or east sub-regions of the county. Award: $164,405.