Mayor Jenny A. Durkan’s
“Building a Bridge to Housing for All” Proposal
Summary
Mayor Durkan is proposing major legislation to leverage $11 million from the sale of an underutilized City
property to create urgently needed bridge housing for those in our community experiencing
homelessness and to support households on the verge of homelessness, while also reinvesting in essential City
services. This one-time investment would provide $10.7 million for affordable housing and bridge housing to
help get those living without shelter into safer spaces, and help prevent families from falling into
homelessness through expanded rental housing assistance.
The Challenge
Our City is in the grips of an affordability and homelessness crisis, with a significant gap in housing and shelter.
If we want to see progress, we need to make substantial investments to address the crisis and try some new
innovations. Our sanctioned encampments are currently near full capacity serving 300 people including 149
tiny wooden structures, often called tiny houses. In 2018, the City will fund 1,464 shelter beds, 85 percent that
are 24/7 or enhanced shelter beds with services, which are also almost at capacity.
The Proposal
To address this crisis, Mayor Durkan is proposing her first major legislation, “Building a Bridge to Housing for
All.” This one-time investment would leverage $3.5 million for essential City services and $10.7 million for
affordable housing, safer spaces for those without shelter, and provide housing stability for households on the
verge of homelessness. The sale of the property located at 1933 Minor Avenue is expected to close in Summer
2018. Mayor Durkan’s proposal includes:
• Investing $5.5 million in a Bridge Housing Investment Strategy to increase our capacity to quickly and
cost-effectively move people experiencing homelessness to safety through new bridge housing and
shelter. This strategy will kick off with a project to serve chronically homeless women in our
community by the end of Spring 2018 with additional solutions to be deployed later this year;
• Investing $2 million to maximize housing options for those on the verge of homelessness by piloting a
Seattle Rental Housing Assistance Pilot Program;
• Reinvesting $2.5 million into our City’s communications capabilities including the relocation of the
Seattle IT’s Communication Shop and a new lease;
• Investing $1 million for design and pre-planning costs for a new Seattle Fire Department facility; and
• An upfront Mandatory Housing Affordability payment of $2 million, for affordable housing. The City
will be able to leverage the full payment of approximately $7.7 million several times over through
other funding sources.
Bridge Housing Investment Strategy
Mayor Durkan is proposing a new Bridge Housing Investment Strategy that aims to create new shelter options
to move people off the streets and into safer spaces. To increase the supply of bridge shelter and housing
options, an Innovative Housing Strategies subcabinet of will evaluate a range of options aimed at rapid
deployment, cost effectiveness, and increased capacity. To quickly move people out of homelessness, the
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 strategy would provide a bridge between homelessness and permanent housing solutions. Bridge residences
create a safer option for people who would otherwise be living on the street as new permanent housing
comes online. As part of her proposal:
• By Summer 2018, the Bridge Housing Investment Strategy will be outlined to include bridge shelter or
bridge housing options including but not limited to mass shelter tents, hard sided tents, wood-frame
sheds, portable modular bunkhouses or cabins, backyard cottages, and the master leasing of existing
apartments. This proposal would be implemented following the sale of the property, expected in
Summer of 2018.
• In the work that the City has done with people living unsheltered, there is a gap in women’s-only
encampment support services. In the Spring of 2018, the City will invest for the first time in tiny home
structures as well as an encampment serving chronically homeless women. The City will continue
to partner with non-profits, community groups, and volunteers who are building tiny homes at all the
City’s sanctioned encampments.
Seattle Rental Housing Assistance Pilot Program
Following her first executive order on rental assistance, Mayor Durkan is proposing a Seattle Rental Housing
Assistance Pilot Program specifically focused on preventing households from falling into homelessness while
on the waitlist for longer-term assistance by maximizing the households’ options.
• Nearly half of the 1,027 households issued a Seattle Housing Authority Housing Choice Voucher in the
2015 lottery experienced homelessness at some point during their time on the waitlist. Fifteen percent
of households were housed when placed on waitlist and became homeless prior to receiving a
voucher.
• In a two-year pilot, this program will help approximately 150 households with incomes between 0-50
percent of the Area Median Income and who are on the waitlist for a Housing Voice voucher. These
households will be identified as those most at risk of homelessness, screened according to
Vulnerability Assessment used in prevention programs funded through the Human Services
Department. This proposal would be implemented following the sale of the property, expected in
Summer of 2018.
Reinvesting in Essential City Services
Mayor Durkan’s plan would invest in essential City services, including the Seattle Fire Department and Seattle
IT. In addition to $1 million to identify and acquire a property for the Seattle Fire Department to serve South
Lake Union and Denny Triangle, this proposal would also provide $2.5 million to relocate the City of Seattle
IT’s Communication Shop, which installs and repairs radios for the Seattle Police Departments and Seattle Fire
Department.
Mandatory Housing Affordability Payment
Following the sale, the City of Seattle will receive a Mandatory Housing Affordability payment from the
proposed development of $7.7 million to create additional affordable housing - this includes a payment
upfront of $2 million for the City parcel, an additional payment of $1.2 million for the City parcel, and a $4.5
million payment for the private development of the parcel next to the City's property. The City will leverage
this payment several times over through other funding sources. To ensure the City optimizes its entire
portfolio of publicly owned properties, Mayor Durkan is evaluating the full inventory of all City owned
properties to ensure the City is wisely utilizing its resources to address Seattle’s affordability challenge.
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