SUMMARY
Today King County Executive Dow Constantine announced $26 million in funding to local organizations that will generate 939 affordable homes throughout the county.
STORY
King County Executive Dow Constantine announced $26 million in funding for nine affordable housing developments that will generate 848 new homes, 66 renovated rental units, and 25 new home ownership units across King County over the next five years. The investments prioritize affordable housing for people with the lowest incomes, people experiencing or at risk of homelessness, and locations close to public transit.
King County’s Housing Finance Program (HFP) – managed by the Department of Community and Human Services – invests in affordable housing development and preservation throughout the region. The developments meet the diverse housing needs of communities and span the full scope of affordable housing types, including permanent supportive housing, rental housing for families and veterans, and environmentally sustainable homes that reduce utility costs and climate impacts.
“Affordable housing plays a vital role in creating vibrant communities that allow everyone the opportunity to thrive. From young families to veterans exiting homelessness, and seniors wanting to age in place, the Housing Finance Program investments expand the region’s affordable housing options and create stability for communities,” said Executive Constantine. “Thank you to all our housing providers, building partners, and the cities around the region who work with us to increase affordable housing for all people.”
In King County, only 23 units of affordable and available housing exist for every 100 low-income renter households. According to projections from the Washington State Department of Commerce, by 2044 nearly 200,000 units of affordable housing will be needed on top of the county’s existing housing stock to ensure that people and families living on low and fixed incomes can afford a place to call home. The HFP investments help reduce this housing gap, providing affordable homes for people and families at all income levels.
The following organizations and projects received funds. Visit this link for full descriptions of each project.
South King County
African Community Housing Development (ACHD) will construct the African Diaspora Cultural Anchor Village, a seven-story, 129-unit community in SeaTac. Anchor Village will offer several apartment options, from one-bedroom to four-bedroom units. The building provides wrap-around services and multipurpose community spaces. Anchor Village aims to address systemic inequities that continue to displace African diasporic communities from neighborhoods they’ve invested in and will provide cultural belonging for residents.
East King County
In Bellevue, Holy Cross Lutheran Church selected Habitat for Humanity to redevelop a site under their ownership. Known as Orchard Gardens, the location will offer 25 permanently affordable single-family homeownership townhomes. A new community center is included in the renovation. Orchard Gardens will also preserve the building’s namesake — an existing p- patch and orchard — for residents.
Aventine Apartments, purchased by the Low Income Housing Institute (LIHI) in May 2024, is a five-story, 68-unit apartment community in downtown Bellevue. Aventine Apartments’ current residents have area median incomes (AMI) ranging from 30% to 80%. After renovation, the building will include 12 units for homeless individuals and families, 10 for homeless veterans, and 8 for people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities. Existing residents will have the option to stay in their apartments once renovations are completed. The remaining units will be filled with income-qualified households.
Bellwether Housing is developing Prisma in Overlake, a six-story, mixed-use building providing 332 apartments, including 72 two-bedroom and 53 three-bedroom units for households in the 30%-80% AMI range. Ten apartments will also be reserved for households that include someone with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities. Bellwether is also collaborating with The Friends of the Village Collective, a nonprofit coalition working closely with the City of Redmond to design programs and community spaces, especially for residents.
Unincorporated Skyway
LIHI is developing an affordable housing and mixed-use building, with a ground-floor early learning center in Skyway. The building will serve households at risk of displacement in the area and will include 40 units for households experiencing homelessness, at or below 30% AMI. The remaining 13 units will be restricted to 50% AMI.
City of Seattle
Chief Seattle Club’s Sweetgrass Flats is creating permanent supportive housing opportunities for chronically homeless American Indians and Alaska Natives. Sweetgrass Flats is a rapid acquisition and was initially developed by a private developer as 92 units of market-rate housing that are not income-restricted. Chief Seattle Club is acquiring the building and will prepare to convert 84 units into permanent supportive housing, with three units for program staff. This project is also supported by King County’s Health Through Housing initiative as part of the program’s operations-only investments.
The Seattle Chinatown International District Preservation and Development Authority (SCIDpda) is developing the Little Saigon Landmark project, an affordable housing and cultural hub that will help combat the displacement and gentrification of Seattle’s Vietnamese community. The building will provide 70 apartments for families and multigenerational households and include a new Vietnamese Culture and Economic Center for local vendors and community events. Largely informed by the 2020 Little Saigon Action Plan, the Little Saigon Landmark project centers community ownership and identity in all aspects of the building’s design and program offerings.
The Filipino Community of Seattle is leading phase two of a new, seven-story mixed-use building offering 56 units of affordable family housing. Apartments will consist of one-bedroom to three-bedroom units for families making under 30%, 50%, and 60% AMI. The building is adjacent to the Filipino Community Center and phase one of the Filipino Community Village which opened in 2021 with 96 affordable housing units. Commercial space will also be developed for community use, providing direct access to services.
DESC is planning the development of Belmont, a seven-story, 120-unit permanent supportive housing project in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood. Belmont will serve chronically homeless individuals and/or people living with disabilities. Half of the units will be restricted to 30% AMI or individuals earning up to $31,650 a year and the other half will be restricted to 50% AMI or individuals earning up to $52,700 a year. The building will provide onsite supportive services and indoor and outdoor community spaces for residents.
Partner Quotes
"We are honored to receive this transformative funding award for Sweetgrass Flats which will allow us to provide 84 units of permanent supportive housing for our members. This milestone brings us closer to achieving our goal of 1,000 housing units by 2030,” said Derrick Belgarde, Executive Director of Chief Seattle Club. “King County has been a transformative partner as a funder, thought leader, and collaborator as we jointly tackle the housing and homelessness crises facing our region."
“The Filipino Community of Seattle is very grateful to King County’s Housing Finance Program for their full support for our second affordable housing building that will serve working families,” said Agnes Navarro, Executive Director of the Filipino Community of Seattle. “Our goal is to combat displacement by adding 56 housing units for low to moderate income families. By providing stable housing and access to essential services, we’re creating a community where families can develop and flourish together.”
“The King County housing award to LIHI’s Skyway Family Housing project made it possible for us to leverage state Housing Trust Fund and other financing to construct 54 new energy efficient apartments. A four-classroom early learning center will be operated by Akin at street level to serve residents and the community,” said Sharon Lee, Executive Director of LIHI. “Skyway, located in unincorporated King County, will benefit tremendously as it is a majority minority neighborhood that has historically been underserved.”
“SCIDpda is proud to partner with the Friends of Little Saigon (FLS) on the Little Saigon Landmark Project. This transformative project combines 70 affordable family-sized housing units with the region's first Vietnamese cultural and economic center. The collaboration between FLS and SCIDpda celebrates the rich heritage of Little Saigon while addressing critical housing needs,” said Jared Jonson, Co-Executive Director of SCIDpda. “The project will create a space where families can thrive, businesses can grow, and traditions can be preserved. This project is made possible in part by the essential support of King County’s Housing Finance Program (HFP), highlighting the importance of regional investments in housing affordability and community resilience.”
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