More than 50 organizations and businesses representing a broad and influential swath of Seattle politics have called on Mayor Bruce Harrell to significantly increase housing density citywide or risk exacerbating Seattle’s affordable-housing crisis.
The letter concerning the city’s Comprehensive Plan Update was spearheaded by theComplete Communities Coalition, which includes the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, Habitat for Humanity’s Seattle-area chapter, the Housing Development Consortium, NAIOP and House Our Neighbors, amongothers. The latter three groups represent affordable-housing developers, commercial real estate interests and social housing, respectively.
Washington’s short 2024 legislative session flew by and closed with some significant wins for affordable housing. As Advocacy Organizer Ethan Robinson suggests, “This session has been characterized by significant victories and promising developments, but it has also underscored the pressing need for bolder action to tackle housing insecurity in our communities.”
Habitat’s Advocacy team worked with legislators to pass a bill that added $18.25M to the Federal Housing Trust Fund (HTF) for Washington State. That additional HUD funding – formerly at zero in the Governor’s budget – will provide grants to produce and preserve affordable housing for extremely low- and very low-income households.
In a direct allocation to Habitat for Humanity SKKC, legislators added $6M to the State’s budget for Habitat’s 5022 MLK development, the world’s largest single-building Habitat for Humanity project.
Legislators added funding to the budget that will implement the Black Home Initiative’s (BHI) top priority, funding the implementation of the Covenant Homeownership Account Program. Habitat advocates partnered with BHI to promote passage of this funding proviso that will work to address generations of discrimination that continues to have long-lasting impacts on Black families to this very day.
With the passage of HB 2071, Habitat and other housing developers will be freed from stringent commercial zoning to add housing density with multiplex projects. The bill allows 6-plexes and below to be built to international residential code. This makes multiplex construction less costly because residential code is cheaper and easier to meet than commercial code.
HB 1998 legalized what is dubbed “Co-Living.” This is an opening to build micro unit apartments, another step toward providing shelter for very low-income people.
Legislators exempted developers from a sales and use tax when they want to convert commercial properties to residential properties. While SB 6175 doesn’t directly affect Habitat construction, it does set a precedent for a future comprehensive sales and use tax exemption that will reduce Habitat’s construction costs.
In smaller moves, legislators opened new local funding paths for affordable housing like SB 6173, which allows counties to increase their tax exemptions on affordable housing projects from those serving homeowners below 60% of AMI to those below 80% of AMI. And HB 1987 allows rural counties to use existing “public facilities sales and use taxes” to fund affordable housing projects up to 120% AMI.
Habitat’s Advocacy Team is already planning for the 2025 legislative session when they’ll take aim again at a comprehensive sales and use tax exemption for affordable housing. And they will lobby for a revolving construction loan to help fund the production of affordable homeownership projects.
This year’s legislative victories demonstrated lawmakers’ increasing sense of urgency for solving the housing crisis in our State. And, as Ethan Robinson says, “We must keep pressure on our cities and counties, who are still in their comprehensive planning phases, to prioritize housing solutions and support increased capacity across the housing continuum.”
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House Bill 2160, promoting transit-oriented housing developments, passed with a floor vote of 56 to 40 during a Feb. 13 floor debate. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Julia Reed, D-Seattle, moved on to the Senate for further consideration.
The bill requires cities in fully planning counties to conform to certain requirements and limitations for housing near transit systems.
Our own Chief Advocacy Officer, Ryan Donohue, testified during the public hearing.
“We’re here in strong support of HB 2160, because we need more homes in more places, especially along our transit corridors,” he said. “Housing near transit centers is key to many housing options and to better housing options, especially for low-income families.”
To read the full story from the Columbian click here.
Habitat for Humanity’s Habitat on the Hill 2024 kicked off Feb. 5 as a celebration of the Cost of Home Campaign’s successful five-year run. This is Habitat’s biggest advocacy event of the year, and our affiliate was proudly represented by our CEO Brett D’Antonio, Chief Development Officer, Amy Farrier, and two of our three Advocacy Team members, Chief Advocacy Officer, Ryan Donohue, and Advocacy and Policy Manager, Cliff Cawthon.
This year Habitat on the Hill included more than 400 attendees who converged on Washington D.C. to advocate for affordable homeownership and policies that support the entire housing continuum. The halls of the House of Representatives and the Senate buildings were flooded by Habitat advocates. Our Seattle-King & Kittitas County staff members were particularly active in meeting with the staff members of Representatives Jayapal, Smith, DelBene, Schrier, and Senators Murray and Cantwell. We shared stories about homeowners and repair recipients whose lives were changed by Habitat.
Habitat’s national priorities were headlined by H.R. 3940/ S. 679, the Neighborhood Homes Investment Act, which is a major bipartisan piece of legislation that will create the first Federal Tax credit to support affordable homeownership by covering the first 35 percent of development costs for home construction and its services projects which are priced at 80 percent of the national median housing price. This tax credit will significantly reduce the cost of building affordable homes for families in need.
Habitat is also advocating for key investments in local projects, such as our new Columbia City developments in Seattle, our Miller’s Crossing development in Burien, and Stuart Meadows in Ellensburg! We teamed up with advocates from Habitat for Humanity International to advocate for national investments in affordable housing through the Self-Help Housing Opportunity Program (SHOP), the Home Improvement Program (HOME), and the US Department of Agriculture’s 502 Direct Loan Program. These key investments will accelerate the work that our affiliate and others in Washington State and throughout the country do every single day.
Our delegation made a significant splash as we shared our noteworthy 2023 legislative victory with the Washington State Covenant Homeownership Account Act, presented by our Advocacy and Policy Manager, Cliff Cawthon. It was a first-in-the-nation achievement that will provide downpayment assistance and support for Washingtonians who were discriminated against in the housing market. We also had our new Advocate Training Program featured at the poster exhibit. Our new Advocate Training program trains homeowners, advocates, and repair clients on how to advocate for affordable housing and homeownership.
In our Washington, the work continues! To learn more about our Statewide advocacy and Local-County advocacy click here. Be sure to join our ongoing advocacy campaigns and support affordable housing by visiting our Action Center here. Together, we can build a world where everyone has a safe, decent, and affordable place to live!
As we approach the dawn of 2024, local advocacy groups are raising their voices to encourage lawmakers to address crucial issues, with a spotlight on affordable housing. We are among these advocates, continuing to push for more accessible housing solutions.
We continue to emphasize the need for significant investments in affordable housing across the board. Our vision encompasses various types of housing, emphasizing not only rental units but also opportunities for homeownership. As the cost of living continues to rise, Habitat for Humanity is calling on the Legislature to take bold steps in ensuring affordable homeownership remains within reach for many.
A key focus of our advocacy mission is the preservation and expansion of Black homeownership. We are urging lawmakers to allocate resources for down payment assistance and property tax relief specifically designed to support and enhance Black homeownership. Recognizing the disparities that exist, we aim to contribute to closing the gap and fostering more inclusive communities.
We are also pushing for practical measures to streamline affordable housing projects through quicker permitting processes and lower fees to provide cities and counties with more opportunities to facilitate affordable housing initiatives. By reducing bureaucratic hurdles, these changes could catalyze the development of more affordable housing units, addressing the pressing need for accessible living spaces.
This call to action aligns with a broader movement striving for positive change in housing policies. For those interested in delving deeper into the advocacy efforts shaping the landscape, a recent story from the Washington State Standard explores what various advocacy groups, including Habitat for Humanity Seattle-King & Kittitas Counties, are seeking from lawmakers in 2024. Click the link to read the Washington State Standard story.
As we move forward, it’s evident that the collective push for affordable housing is gaining momentum. Habitat for Humanity and similar groups are at the forefront, urging lawmakers to embrace transformative policies that can reshape the future of housing accessibility. Stay tuned as we navigate the evolving landscape of advocacy, working towards a more inclusive and affordable housing future for all.
