2 Community Housing Caucus

Solutions to Seattle’s Housing Emergency
An ‘immediate action’ agenda for presentation to the Mayor, City Council, and
the Housing Affordability and Livability Advisory Committee (HALA)

Community Housing Caucus Recommendations
3/16/2015

2

 3 Community Housing Caucus

Statement of Purpose
Seattle is facing unprecedented market pressures, pushing rents beyond affordability for many
working families, the disabled and seniors. We are increasingly losing portions of the city’s
primary source of affordable housing—privately owned older buildings with modest rents—as
they are sold to new owners that either demolish them for expensive housing or increase rents
beyond the capacity of current tenants. Escalating cost of land and construction are making it
almost impossible for nonprofit housing developers to acquire property for affordable housing
and build new housing within the limited amounts of available public financing and subsidies.
By any standard the continuing accelerated loss of low cost housing is an emergency. We have
found that the weight of this emergency falls disproportionately on people of color. The impact
of the housing crisis is in direct conflict with the City’s “Race and Social Justice Initiative,”
which is to eliminate race based disparities in our community. Homelessness in Seattle continues
to climb, with 2,813 men, women and children sleeping unsheltered on the streets. Today
Seattle/King County has the fourth largest homeless population in the nation, following the
metro areas of New York City, Los Angeles and Las Vegas.
We call on city leaders to move forward expeditiously under its defined emergency powers and
take immediate action, both to stem these housing losses, and to identify new sources of revenue
to dramatically expand our stock of nonprofit owned and managed housing.
A group of Seattle housing advocates has developed the following white paper offering their
recommendations for consideration and immediate adoption by the Mayor, City Council, and the
Housing Affordable and Livability Advisory Committee.

3

 4 Community Housing Caucus

Community Housing Caucus Members
Special thanks to Speaker of the House Frank Chopp for his support and the impetus he
provided in bringing our group and these recommendations together. Thank you to
Councilmembers Nick Licata and Kshama Sawant for sponsoring the press event.
Participants developing these strategies include the following community leaders –
(organizational affiliations here are for identification purposes only):
Ishbel Dickens, Executive Director, National Manufactured Home Owners Association
Sarajane Siegfriedt, 46th Democrats, Puget Sound Advocates for Retirement Action
Lisa Herbold, Staff, Councilmember Nick Licata's Office
David Bloom, Former Associate Director, Church Council of Greater Seattle
Sharon Lee, Executive Director, Low Income Housing Institute
Bill Kirlin-Hackett, Director, Interfaith Task Force on Homelessness
Jonathan Grant, Executive Director, Tenants Union
John V. Fox, Coordinator, Seattle Displacement Coalition
Alice Woldt, Former Co-director, Faith Action Network & Executive Director, Fix Democracy First!
Gary Clark, former Housing Planner Seattle Office of Housing
Neil Powers
Alex Becker, Advocacy Program Manager, Real Change
Darel Grothaus, former Director City Dept. of Community Development, Housing Consultant
Hailey Badger, Students of University of Washington (ASUW)
Kira Zylstra, Stabilization Services Director, Solid Ground
Ted Virdone, Staff, Councilmember Kshama Sawant’s office

For a list of organizations endorsing these recommendations see last page.

4

 5 Community Housing Caucus

Table of Contents
1. Financing .......................................................................................................7
Housing Bond Program: .................................................................................................. 8
Growth Related Housing Fund: ....................................................................................... 8
REET Homeless Fund: ..................................................................................................... 9
Dedicate an amount from the City’s General Fund......................................................... 9
Millionaires’ Tax: ............................................................................................................ 9
Launch a new private sector initiative to raise $50 million to end homelessness:.......... 9
Housing Linkage Fees and Renewed Housing Levy ........................................................ 9
Limited equity cooperatives: ............................................................................................ 9
Acquisition of significant units: ....................................................................................... 9
Bridge financing: ............................................................................................................. 9
Prioritize serving the city’s poorest households:............................................................. 9
Options for production of affordable housing: ................................................................ 9
Establish a Loan and Bond Guarantee Pool: ............................................................... 10
Seattle Housing Impact Note Program: ......................................................................... 10
2. Zoning and Housing Types ................................................................................... 10
1-for-1 replacement: ...................................................................................................... 10
Place a hold on up-zones where low income housing is threatened: ............................ 10
Zoning manufactured housing: ...................................................................................... 10
Geographic spread of housing for all income levels throughout City: ......................... 10
Expand Housing TDR Program: ................................................................................... 11
3. Tenant Access/Protections ................................................................................... 11
Rent stabilization: .......................................................................................................... 11
Tenant eligibility for receiving relocation assistance: .................................................. 11
Restore Just Cause Eviction Ordinance: ....................................................................... 11
Deposit & Fee Reform ................................................................................................... 11
Right to Organize (RTO) enforcement:.......................................................................... 12
4. Preservation of Existing Subsidized Housing ............................................... 12
Preserving subsidized units............................................................................................ 12

5. Preservation/Creation of Affordability in existing Market-Rate
Housing ............................................................................................................................. 12
Pass a "Right of First Notice" ordinance: ..................................................................... 12
Housing Preservation: ................................................................................................... 12
Amend the City's Multi-Family Tax Exemption (MFTE): .............................................. 12
Future condominium conversions: ................................................................................ 13
City authority over SHA: ............................................................................................... 13
6. New Affordable Housing Resources ................................................................. 13
Public land availability: ................................................................................................ 13
Inventory low-income housing:...................................................................................... 13
Develop strategy to identify and make use of suitable land and resources for low
income housing: ............................................................................................................. 13
Annual low-income housing targets: ............................................................................. 13
Land for encampments:.................................................................................................. 14
Vehicle residency: .......................................................................................................... 14
7. Place Based Strategies (OH and DPD) ............................................................ 14
5

 6 Community Housing Caucus
Special Review Districts: ............................................................................................... 14
Advisory groups: ............................................................................................................ 14
Take action to address “Student Housing Needs:” ....................................................... 14
8. Sustainable Homeownership – OH ................................................................... 14
A principal reduction program: ..................................................................................... 14
9. Additional Strategy Focus.................................................................................... 14
Work to End Homelessness:........................................................................................... 14
Homeless Families: ........................................................................................................ 15
Homeless Youth and Young Adults: ............................................................................... 15
Expand Shelter Capacity: .............................................................................................. 15
Purchase Hotels for Voucher Program: ........................................................................ 15
Shared housing: ............................................................................................................. 15
Size of units: ................................................................................................................... 15
Small houses: ................................................................................................................. 15
Companion congregations: ............................................................................................ 15
10. State Issues for Advocacy.................................................................................... 16
Housing Finance Reform: .............................................................................................. 16
Utilize land at Fircrest: ................................................................................................. 16
Basic standard for cities in developing homelessness remedies: .................................. 16
Regional housing plans: ................................................................................................ 16
Early endorsing organizations: ................................................................................ 17

6

 7 Community Housing Caucus

Introduction
Our goal is to ensure Seattle is a place where people of all income levels can live and work. In
order to achieve this, the City’s emphasis must continue to be focused on serving those in
greatest need: households with incomes are between 0-30% of area median income ($26,900
annually) and secondarily for households between 30%-50% of AMI ($44,800 annually). The
emphasis must not shift to higher income groups as some within HALA and in city government
suggest.
Displacement was the number one concern of 70% of the attendees at all the three HALA and
city sponsored community meetings. The recommendations in this report are designed to combat
displacement. This includes ideas for additional capital funding to dramatically increase the
supply of low-income housing, measures to shorten the time that persons and families are
homeless, increased tenant protections, policies to preserve or replace existing privately owned
low-income housing, plans to house families in all parts of the city, and a comprehensive new
strategy to inventory and utilize public land for low income housing production.
Our recommendations are purposely organized into categories identical to those chosen by the
Mayor’s Housing Advisory Task Force. Solutions are prioritized in descending order under each
section

7

 8 Community Housing Caucus

1. Financing
This is an emergency and it is prudent and reasonable to dedicate a share of the city’s bonding
capacity and other assets for low income housing. It is city policy to use those assets in times of
emergency, and a portion of the City’s financing capacity has been set aside explicitly for
emergency purposes. City policy also establishes that advancing social policy may “take
precedence” over other financial objectives with respect to its assets when expressly authorized
by the Council, so long as the city’s reserves remain above legal limits “provided by law or trust
principles” (City Council Resolution 31525).
An examination of the city’s balance sheet reveals a number of additional types of short,
medium, and long term assets that can be made available or readily leveraged while maintaining
other fiduciary obligations. Upon declaration of that emergency, the city’s leaders must move
immediately to tap these resources in order to finance a dramatic and significant increase in the
construction, acquisition, and renovation of low income housing in our city. Upon a declaration
of emergency, the city must move immediately to launch the following:
Housing Bond Program: The City of Seattle should issue at least $500 million in long term
bonds; staying within the current bond cap for low income housing and housing for homeless
families and individuals, at 0-30% and 30%-50% of the area median income. The bonds can be
issued in increments over multiple years and take advantage of low interest rates. The housing
will be built on city-owned land and private property acquired by nonprofits.
The city is obligated to hold a minimum of $100 million of its general obligation debt capacity in
reserve “for emergencies.” The city’s “emergency reserve” now contains about $228 million or
$128 million above the minimum. Declare an emergency and authorize immediate issuance of
$128 million for low income housing.
The city has $1.437 billion in City Treasury Investments. Some portion of these investments can
be sold and returned to the General Fund for the council to appropriate for low income housing
in 2015. This can be done without impairing reasonable liquidity needs and without significantly
diminishing interest income for the General Fund. These investments earned less than half of
one percent of the total General Fund revenues in 2013-2014 and are projected at the same low
level for 2015-2016.
Thoroughly examine the rest of the city’s ‘balance sheet’ to determine what other types of
short, medium, and long term city assets for low income housing production could be made
available: It could be that more than $500 million spread over 5 years when this is done,
drawing from numerous other available revenue pools.
Growth Related Housing Fund: Reestablish Seattle’s Growth Related Housing Fund. Dedicate a
portion of the incremental increase in property tax revenue from new construction annually for
the development of low income housing. This creates a nexus between development and the
pressures on housing affordability. The original Growth Fund captured new tax revenue related
to growth in downtown Seattle. Given the unprecedented level of development in many
neighborhoods, expand the Growth Fund citywide.

8

 9 Community Housing Caucus
REET Homeless Fund: The Real Estate Excise Tax generates approximately $50 million in
revenue for Seattle and is expected to increase in the next four years. The city should dedicate
20% of REET revenue ($10M/annum) to the production of housing for people who are homeless.
Dedicate an amount from the City’s General Fund: Annually set aside funds from the general
fund for low income housing. This would be in addition to the housing levy. Currently, the city
does not allocate any of its general fund money for the production of low income housing.
Millionaires’ Tax: During the last budget process, the City Council approved a statement of
legislative intent to research and possibly develop a “millionaires’ tax”. Expedite this process
and bring a proposal back to the council this summer and well before next year’s budget process.
Allocate a large portion of this new revenue to homeless and low income housing.
Launch a new private sector initiative to raise $50 million to end homelessness: Under the
Mayor’s leadership, the city should bring together key corporate leaders, private sector
employers, foundations and businesses with the goal of launching a new private sector initiative
– to raise an additional $50 million to jump start new programs aimed at putting an end to
homelessness.
Housing Linkage Fees and Renewed Housing Levy: We are aware of important discussions
and timelines already established to address these issues. By resolution, the council has
committed to addressing linkage fees soon, and development of our next housing levy is now
underway. Our caucus is dedicated to ensuring the housing levy prioritizes housing for our
poorest households and that linkage fees are maximized to serve this purpose as well.
Other Ideas:
Limited equity cooperatives: Dedicate a significant amount of existing and new sources of
revenue for the production of limited equity cooperatives – acquisition and/or renovation or new
construction. The 2016 Housing Levy should include such a dedicated source for co-ops and
community land trusts.
Acquisition of significant units: Use existing and new sources of revenue including from any
future housing levy specifically for acquisition of older existing lower income apartment
buildings that are at risk of being sold, repositioned, demolished or converted.
Bridge financing: Earmark an expanded amount (from existing and new sources of revenue
including those identified above) and from any future housing levy specifically for the purpose
of bridge financing. This will be a source of shorter term financing that is readily available to
nonprofits.
Prioritize serving the city’s poorest households: Target those most in need of low income
housing. The city's housing policies first and foremost must remain focused on production of
units serving those whose incomes are at or below 30% of area median income.
Options for production of affordable housing: Local non-profit housing agencies are currently
locked into a system of developing housing of 50+ units that does not accommodate other
9

 10 Community Housing Caucus
creative approaches to building housing. Develop options that stretch capital funds to build more
housing.
Establish a Loan and Bond Guarantee Pool: This will enable nonprofits to obtain the lowest
cost financing possible. The guarantees would be available for new projects for an initial time
period. As loans get seasoned and individual project reserves are built up, the guarantees would
revolve and help guarantee new projects.
Seattle Housing Impact Note Program: Set up a housing impact investment program for Seattle
residents to vote with their feet and invest their funds in low income housing notes and gain a
return. Funds would be used to further the construction and preservation of low income housing.
Model this after the Enterprise Community Partner's Community Impact Note, see
enterprisecommunities.com.

2. Zoning and Housing Types
1-for-1 replacement: Expand the city's authority to require developers who demolish low
income housing to replace 1 for 1 the housing they remove and at comparable price. Apply this
in every case involving a discretionary land use decision, and where a developer (including
SHA) seeks an up-zone, master plan permit, alley vacation, air rights, acquisition of public land,
etc. Amend the city's SEPA housing policy to require this for all developments demolishing four
or more units of low income housing priced at/or below 80% of median. Add this requirement
into the proposed housing linkage fee.
Place a hold on up-zones where low income housing is threatened: The city should place a
hold on considering further up-zones at this time in areas where existing low income housing is
threatened. Such changes in land use that cause demolition, speculation, and rent increases
should be placed on hold until specific 'no net loss' measures are first put in place that either
prevent these losses or guarantee 1 for 1 replacement at comparable price of all units lost.
Zoning manufactured housing: Zone the five manufactured housing communities/mobile home
parks in Seattle as “mobile home parks” to help preserve this affordable homeownership
opportunity for 270 low income families and seniors. There is no cost to the city and similar
zoning ordinances have already been enacted in the cities of Tumwater, Lynnwood, Marysville
and Snohomish County and are currently on the Comprehensive Plan amendment processes in
Spokane and Federal Way.
Geographic spread of housing for all income levels throughout City: Proactively plan to house
families of all income levels in all parts of the city. The current market is producing few-to-zero
units with three bedrooms or more. Options include:
● Change all low-rise L2-L3 zones to Family Housing zones with the same density and
height requirements but with goal of encouraging family type units in these zones.
● As a buffer between Single-Family and midrise NC and Commercial zones, this zoning
would allow stacked 3+ bedroom apartments or row houses. This was one of the
recommendations given to the City Council last year by a consulting firm hired by the
council. It would be a major step forward in making Seattle more family-friendly.
10

 11 Community Housing Caucus
● Within this Family Housing transitional zone, funding sources suggested above would
allow more family housing to be built by non-profits to house large families, multigenerational households, immigrant families, and people with disabilities.
Expand Housing TDR Program: Allow sponsors of low-income housing in all zones to sell or
Transfer Development Rights (TDR) to preserve existing low-income housing. Program
currently is restrict to only a few limited zones. The ability to sell unused development rights
should be expanded to preserve existing housing in the Cascade neighborhood, S. Lake Union
and elsewhere. Also ensure that purchasers (receiving sites) of the added air rights (and density)
are required to replace, 1 for 1 at comparable price, any existing low income housing that may be
lost on those receiving sites when they are redeveloped.

3. Tenant Access/Protections
Rent stabilization: Pass a resolution affirming the City’s interest to enact a Rent Stabilization
ordinance. Actively pursue a repeal of the state’s ban on regulating rent hikes. Explore and
develop interim rent stabilization options available to the city. Until that is done, establish a
policy requiring rent stabilization as a condition for granting discretionary land use decisions or
other concessions from the City to private developers.
Tenant eligibility for receiving relocation assistance: Close loopholes in the Tenant Relocation
Assistance Ordinance (TRAO) to allow administrative hearings for tenants, and penalize those
who economic eviction tenants prior to providing qualified tenants with assistance. Seek
authority from the state to increase the eligibility to 80% area median income for assistance, for
head of household.
Support and seek State passage of a 90-day notice for all rent increases.
Restore Just Cause Eviction Ordinance: Require 90-days termination notice for no-fault
terminations. The ordinance will cover term leases, contract expirations, and a tenant’s defense
against an eviction from unregistered landlords. Currently, real estate transactions fall under a
just cause for evictions, remove this language in order to curb displacement from speculation in
the housing market.

Deposit & Fee Reform: Enact an ordinance requiring language in all rental agreements that:
● Give tenants the option of receiving interest on their deposit or directing it to a tenant
protection fund for legal aid and tenants’ rights outreach
● Limit deposits to one month’s rent
● Cap total fees in a rental contract
● Require a landlord to provide the tenant with all related invoices for deposit amounts
withheld along with the specific damage statement
● Entitle tenants to three times the deposit for illegal withholdings
● Limit costs on screening reports

11

 12 Community Housing Caucus
Right to Organize (RTO) enforcement: The city protects the right to organize in apartment
buildings, but does not enforce the ordinance. Stronger enforcement mechanisms should be
adopted and enforced by the City Attorney’s office and the Seattle Police Department as needed.

4. Preservation of Existing Subsidized Housing
Preserving subsidized units: Improve strategies to ensure current subsidized units, such as
privately owned Section 8 and Section 202 senior housing, are preserved when contracts expire.
● Inventory the city’s stock of these units
● Commit an amount of new and existing sources to assist nonprofits to acquire these
buildings so they can remain as low income housing in perpetuity
● Emphasize acquisition for land trusts, limited equity cooperatives, or other tenant
ownership

5. Preservation/Creation of Affordability in existing Market-Rate Housing
(Preserve affordability and quality of existing housing stock)
Pass a "Right of First Notice" ordinance: Require all owners of existing low and low-moderate
income apartment buildings (affordable up to those earning up to 80% of area median income) to
first offer them for sale to non-profits representing the affected low income tenants who occupy
the building prior to putting the property up for sale to speculators and developers. Funds from
sources identified in section 1, would be dedicated to assist the nonprofits making offers for
these buildings. The first priority would be to acquire and place these buildings under some form
of land trust, limited equity cooperatives, or other tenant ownership arrangements.
Housing Preservation: Create a special Housing Preservation Commission (HPC) to inventory
and preserve Seattle’s remaining stock of privately-owned, unsubsidized low and moderate
income buildings at-risk of being lost. The HPC would recommend strategies for quick
acquisition of these buildings. This dovetails with passage of a right of first notice law to
facilitate acquisition of these at-risk buildings. Consider selective use of the city's condemnation
authority to acquire at-risk buildings the HPC has prioritized as ripe for sale.
Amend the City's Multi-Family Tax Exemption (MFTE): The current program is not achieving
the goal of incentivizing production of truly low income units nor is it accomplishing the goal of
stimulating construction in areas that are otherwise not seeing growth. Nearly $200 million in
tax breaks have gone to market rate developers building in high growth areas. The small portion
of “set asides” we’ve gotten in return are not priced at low income levels. Currently developers
are allowed to set aside 20 percent of their units for to those earning between 65% and 80% of
median income, higher than what most workers can afford.
We recommend either:
1. Restrict use of MFTE to only nonprofits doing innovative new projects not already
eligible for state tax breaks under existing state programs. Allow use of MFTE only for
nonprofits to assist in acquiring existing privately owned low income buildings, so long
as rents on all units acquired are not raised above current low income rates;
OR
12

 13 Community Housing Caucus
2. If for-profits are allowed to continue to use MFTE, limit its use to only those few areas of
the city not experiencing high rates of growth--where the stimulus is needed. Require all
for-profit’s tapping MFTE to include at least 30% of their units offered at rents at/or
below what’s affordable to those earning 50% of median income. A one for one
replacement requirement, as an additional obligation, for developers receiving MFTE
who tear down existing low income units.
Future condominium conversions: Develop new laws to prevent or limit future condominium
conversions. Research city authority to limit conversions under existing state law such as use of
moratoria and amending state law as needed.
City authority over SHA: Consider and approve an ordinance to affirm and expand the city's
authority over the Seattle Housing Authority. Require SHA to get explicit approval from the
City Council prior to taking any action affecting their stock of public housing units, vouchers in
their inventory or policies that would affect eligibility and access to those units by the city's
poorest households. Currently SHA has 5,000 units and 9,000 vouchers under its discretion. The
ordinance would authorize the Office of Housing to draft a Memorandum of Agreement to be
signed by SHA and the city, and making release of future city funding for SHA projects, or
future consideration of rezones for SHA contingent on SHA's cooperation in drafting such an
agreement giving the city a say in SHA actions.

6. New Affordable Housing Resources
Public land availability: Initiate immediately a thorough and comprehensive strategy to
acquire and develop unused, underdeveloped, and available public land for a dramatic expansion
of the city’s low income housing stock.
● Inventory the City’s available public land
● Inventory land owned by other public entities including King County, Sound Transit,
WSDOT, Port, and other state and county agencies
● Prioritize sites that are readily available
Inventory low-income housing: Thoroughly assess and monitor the city’s existing stock of low
income housing, where it is located, and how much we have. Identify how much we spend from
all sources annually. Identify the number of units in each price range we create annually and
identify how much we lose each year to demolition, speculative sale, rent increases,
condominium conversion, and other market forces.
Develop strategy to identify and make use of suitable land and resources for low income
housing: This includes land that is held by unions, churches, educational institutions and other
entities. This would involve committing city staff to work in cooperation with these entities to
encourage use of their resources (and land) for low income housing. Prioritize use of some city
housing funds so that partnerships to provide housing can be encouraged.
Annual low-income housing targets: Set an ambitious new annual low income housing target
that not only guarantees no net loss but allows us to increase our inventory of units serving our
poorest households.
13

 14 Community Housing Caucus
Land for encampments: Set aside public property or purchase land and provide operating
support for Nickelsville and tent cities. Keep people who are homeless safe.
Vehicle residency: Provide public land for parking of RVs, trucks, vans, and autos that people
are currently using for housing. Include provision of basic needs such as toilets.

7. Place Based Strategies (OH and DPD)
Special Review Districts: Consider the creation of area-or-neighborhood specific “Special
Review Districts” to preserve existing low-income housing in that area, guaranteeing no net loss
of units, as an overlay to the existing zoning code. In these areas, a board of citizens and
advocates assisted by city staff would monitor the low income stock and make policy
recommendations to maintaining the affordability. New developments would be evaluated based
on standards set by the board. The board would be given the power to deny or condition permits,
and can request the city to exercise its condemnation authority in order to meet no net loss goals.
Advisory groups: In lieu of the above suggestion, create a system of neighborhood/tenant based
advisory groups to review the status of low-income housing (net losses/gains over time) and to
make recommendations for new legislation specific to their community's needs. The goal is to
recoup any net loss in the supply of low income housing in their area of the city.
Take action to address “Student Housing Needs:” The City should commit Office of
Housing staff time to assess and develop a set of strategies aimed at addressing the unmet need
for low-price student housing in the Seattle area. OH would bring together representatives
from the Department of Education and Early Learning, each of the relevant higher education
institutions, and their respective student governments to assess the current need. Together, they
would identify and recommend specific strategies to better coordinate the shared responsibility
between the city and educational institutions in providing housing options for students in the
affected neighborhoods.

8. Sustainable Homeownership – OH
A principal reduction program: Implement a program to identify and underwrite homeowners
on the brink of or already in foreclosure, to purchase the home from the willing lenders and sell
them back to the original homeowner at an affordable market value.

9. Additional Strategy Focus
Work to End Homelessness: Implement the full recommendations of the Emergency Task Force
on Unsheltered Homelessness, including operating costs for tent encampments and the use of
city properties for shelters. Extend the life of the Task Force. Align post-HALA
recommendations regionally, integrated with the Committee to End Homelessness Strategic Plan.
14

 15 Community Housing Caucus
We agree with the Mayor’s resolution that HALA’s charge and recommendations should include
the housing needs of homeless and formerly homeless people. Sufficient housing, operating and
supportive services funding by Seattle and King County must be put in place so that homeless
and housing service needs are met on a regional county-wide basis. Seattle should help staff this
regional effort.
Homeless Families: Three years ago, the Seattle City Council adopted a policy that no homeless
families should be living unsheltered on the streets. To ensure that this goal is reached, Seattle
must build out this policy regionally, fund its efforts as noted above, and sustain this priority
with clear leadership. There is an inadequate crisis response system. Homeless families, many
who are people of color or immigrant/refugees, are woefully and inadequately served. As stated
in a recent consultant report by Focus Strategies, the region-wide Family Housing Connection
needs “signficant reworking” and improvement. Make the goal of ending homelessness for
families by 2020 a reality.
Homeless Youth and Young Adults: Significantly enhance resources and target prevention,
early intervention and street outreach. Expand shelters and supportive housing so vulnerable
youth and young adults can successfully make the transition out of homelessness.
Expand Shelter Capacity: Provide $1.5 million in funding for new shelter capacity through the
Seattle Human Services Department in order to serve vulnerable families, youth, and singles
living in places not fit for human habitation. Such funds or partial funding could also be for
services and/or one-time capital for facility modifications. Such funding would be provided by
the city to faith-based and nonprofit organizations to leverage their resources and volunteers to
enable more crisis response shelters and winter warming centers to open up.
Purchase Hotels for Voucher Program: Provide acquisition funds for nonprofits to purchase
several hotels/motels to be used for a voucher program for homeless families and pregnant
women. These should be located both in Seattle and outside Seattle in King County. Savings
will be achieved on the operating side instead of paying private hotel operators. The nonprofit
hotels will be centrally located, well managed and safe, compared to the dilapidated and crime
ridden motels that homeless families are now placed in.
Shared housing: Consider shared housing for people moving out of homelessness.
Size of units: Given that there is a large portion of Seattle residents living alone, mostly renting;
promote more studio apartments and preserve more existing buildings with studios.
Small houses: Consider construction of small footprint homes, like those being developed
nationally, with some built for mobility. Flexibility is needed by city DPD to allow for tiny
houses. OH should fund a few pilot projects for homeless people, seniors and low wage
workers.
Companion congregations: Advance a partnership with landlords and their associations. Link a
sponsoring congregation, a household needing an apartment, and a cooperative landlord, for one
year or less in a companioned partnership.

15

 16 Community Housing Caucus

10. State Issues for Advocacy
Housing Finance Reform: Establish additional dedicated streams of revenue for the state and
local housing trust funds that produce affordable housing and support innovation.
Utilize land at Fircrest: Develop housing for populations appropriate for being neighbors on the
site, such as low-income seniors.
Basic standard for cities in developing homelessness remedies: Raise the bar higher
legislatively on cities who impose barriers and restrictions on the location of privately funded
homeless shelters, day centers, services and housing. Incentivize by reward, or impose
restrictions. Recent examples are: KentHOPE currently blocked by the City of Kent. The City of
Everett is precluding social service agencies from being at street level within its business core.
Regional housing plans: Require existing Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) to
produce regional housing plans in conjunction with their already-mandated transportation plans.
This would begin the process of linking regional housing and transportation and could encourage
some metropolitan regions to begin addressing regulatory barriers and other rental housing
supply constraints.

16

 17 Community Housing Caucus

Early endorsing organizations:
Association of Manufactured Home Owners (AMHO)
Belltown Apex Co-op
Church Council of Greater Seattle
Faith Action Network
Interfaith Task Force on Homelessness
Low Income Housing Institute (LIHI)
Real Change
Seattle Displacement Coalition
Solid Ground
WHEEL (Women's Housing, Equality and Enhancement League)
SHARE (Seattle Housing and Resource Effort)
Nickelsville

17