Habitat for Humanity Seattle-King & Kittitas Counties (Habitat SKKC) on Saturday celebrated the completion of Miller’s Creek, a 40-home affordable housing community in Burien aimed at serving low- to moderate-income families.
The development includes 3- and 4-bedroom homes of about 1,250 square feet, each with 1.5 bathrooms, as well as shared amenities such as a playground and green space.
The neighborhood is located within walking distance of schools, shops, and services in Burien.
Homes are reserved for households earning 80% or less of the area median income.
Mortgages are structured to remain affordable, capped at no more than 35% of a household’s income. The property will also be placed in a land trust to ensure long-term affordability.
Construction on the project began after a groundbreaking on Aug. 13, 2024, and was completed Feb. 11, 2026. During that time, 940 volunteers — including 48 groups — contributed more than 6,000 hours alongside Habitat staff and future homeowners.
The completion event is part of Habitat for Humanity’s national “Home is the Key” initiative and coincides with Habitat SKKC’s 40th anniversary.
Similar events are being held this month in Indianapolis, Orlando, Florida, New York, and Washington, D.C., to highlight the need for affordable homeownership.
In King County, where the average home price is about $675,000 and rising, Habitat SKKC officials say projects like Miller’s Creek are critical to helping families remain in the region.
The organization currently has more than 300 homes planned or under construction through 2030 and aims to serve more than 2,000 people over the next five years through affordable homeownership opportunities and home repairs.
Click below to watch the KOMO News coverage of our Miller’s Creek community.
This article, published in the B Town Blog, was written by B Town Blog staff.
King County Executive Girmay Zahilay this week announced $23.7 million in awards to support eight affordable housing developments that will create 672 homes across the county, including projects serving residents in south King County.
The funding was awarded through the county’s Housing Finance Program and will support developments in South King County, East King County and the city of Seattle, county officials said.
The projects will prioritize housing for low income residents, people experiencing homelessness, families with children and communities that have historically faced barriers to stable housing.
“The demand for affordable housing in King County is urgent and undeniable,” Zahilay said. “Too many individuals and families throughout our county are being priced out of the communities they call home or are unable to secure safe, affordable housing in our neighborhoods. Everyone deserves a place to live with dignity and stability, and this investment reflects our commitment to ensure residents in King County can find and keep an affordable home in the communities where they work, go to school, raise families and belong.”
According to the county’s latest Countywide Housing Needs Assessment, the region needs 178,000 affordable homes by 2044, including 166,000 for households earning below 50 percent of area median income.
In south King County, two developments totaling 149 units will receive funding:
African Community Housing and Development will oversee 129 affordable rental homes in SeaTac serving immigrant and refugee families, individuals and people experiencing homelessness.
Across east King County, four developments totaling 393 units were funded:
Habitat for Humanity Seattle King will create 25 affordable homeownership units in Bellevue for families with children earning up to 80 percent of area median income.
The King County Housing Authority will develop 156 affordable rental homes in Issaquah for families with children earning between 40 and 60 percent of area median income.
The Low Income Housing Institute will provide 66 affordable rental homes in Bellevue serving people experiencing homelessness, veterans, individuals with disabilities and families.
SRM Development and Hopelink will create 146 affordable rental homes in Bellevue for families with children and survivors of domestic violence.
Two developments in Seattle will add 130 affordable rental homes, county officials said:
East African Community Services will develop 60 units serving young adults, families with children and people with disabilities.
Seattle Chinatown International District Preservation and Development Authority will provide 70 units for immigrant families and households with children.
“Mental Health Housing Foundation is truly grateful to be a recipient of King County’s Housing Finance Program,” said Michele Cox, executive director of the Mental Health Housing Foundation. “These funds will allow MHHF to move forward with the planning and construction of our new Federal Way project. The 30 unit apartment complex will allow MHHF to provide low income families in South King County with a safe and affordable place to call home.”
“We are appreciative of the support from King County for this project in an area that lacks significant affordable housing options, especially for families,” said Mary Koutrelakos, development manager at SRM Development. “This meaningful investment will ensure that 146 households will be able to live closer to where they work in Washington’s most expensive region.”
“This investment by King County in affordable housing will make a lasting difference for families in our region,” said Brett D’Antonio, CEO of Habitat Seattle King County. “At Orchard Gardens, 25 families will gain the life changing opportunity of homeownership, giving children continuity in their schools, families the ability to put down roots and neighbors the chance to build strong, connected communities. These homes will remain permanently affordable for future generations, further amplifying their impact.”
The Housing Finance Program is part of the King County Department of Community and Human Services Housing and Community Development Division. Since 2022, the program has awarded more than $171.6 million toward the construction of 3,636 affordable homes across King County, officials said.
This article, published in the B Town Blog, was written by B Town Blog staff.
Habitat for Humanity Seattle, King and Kittitas Counties says it plans to celebrate the completion of 40 homes in Burien this spring at its Miller’s Creek community, a milestone the organization is highlighting as it marks its 40th anniversary in 2026.
The nonprofit, also known as Habitat SKKC, said applications for its Burien homes and another major project are currently open at https://buyhabitat.org/burien/.
“The housing crisis didn’t emerge overnight, and it won’t be solved overnight, but 40 years of impact shows what’s possible when communities commit to solutions,” Habitat SKKC CEO Brett D’Antonio said in a statement announcing the anniversary year.
Habitat SKKC said it has built its work around permanently affordable homes and critical home repairs, and that a review of four decades of data found the organization has constructed or renovated 458 homes and completed 650 home repairs, serving more than 2,600 individuals and families.
The organization also pointed to policy advocacy, saying it helped pass 87 landmark housing policies that resulted in $4.35 billion in public funding for affordable housing and improved the lives of more than 2.2 million people statewide.
Habitat SKKC said the study was completed in late 2025 by social impact consulting firm Kinetic West and found that each $1 the organization spends has the potential to create up to $1.65 in additional community benefits, and that the overall primary and secondary economic benefit is estimated at $3.70 for every $1 spent.
In King County, Habitat SKKC said its new home projects are aimed at families making less than 80% of the area median income, with mortgages set at no more than 35% of household income. The organization said the properties are placed in a land trust to ensure permanent affordability for future generations.
There will be opportunities throughout 2026 for the community to join Habitat SKKC for anniversary celebrations, including benefit concerts, dedications of two new Habitat neighborhoods, the Beyond the Build luncheon, and a panel on the future of affordable housing. Stay tuned to The B-Town Blog for updates.
“Habitat for Humanity impacted us like a great beneficial storm,” said Ricardo L., who purchased a Habitat home with his wife, Maria, in 1993. “It gave us the chance to save money for our children’s university, home repairs, furniture, and more. We have been living in this house happily for more than 30 years and we have no plans to move …not now and in the future.”
Public Time Capsule Project
The anniversary year will also include a public time capsule project, with residents encouraged to submit memories, photos and reflections to connect@habitatskc.org with the subject line “Habitat Time Capsule.” Selected contributions will be sealed this summer and opened on the organization’s 60th anniversary in 2046.
One way the latter is marking the occasion is by sharing data on the impact the organization has had on local communities.
The data collected spans more than 40 years and includes findings like:
Habitat for Humanity has constructed or renovated 458 homes, completed 650 home repairs, and helped more than 2,600 individuals and families;
Volunteers have worked more than 600,000 combined hours and advocated for 87 housing policies, bringing in $4.35 billion in public funding for housing; and
76% of original Habitat homeowners still live in their homes with an average tenure of almost 14 years.
The study was conducted in 2025 by Kinetic West, looking over economic impact, community benefits, wealth generation, and policy influence to better understand Habitat SKKC’s impact.
The study also found that each dollar Habitat SKKC spends has the opportunity to create $1.65 in additional community benefits.
Other recent projects from the organization include Liberty Commons, a 58-unit building on Martin Luther King Jr. Way in South Seattle. It’s the largest single-building, multifamily project in Habitat’s history. It should be completed sometime this year. Habitat SKKC also had a hand at creating 40 homes in Burien, which will be completed this spring.
“The housing crisis didn’t emerge overnight, and it won’t be solved overnight, but 40 years of impact shows what’s possible when communities commit to solutions,” Brett D’Antonio, CEO of Habitat SKKC, said in a release. “Every home we build and every policy we help pass brings us closer to a region where working families aren’t priced out of stability. This anniversary isn’t just a celebration of what we’ve achieved; it’s a call to action to keep going.”
Key achievements over the last 40 years of Habitat SKKC include the construction or renovations of 458 homes and completing 650 home repairs, serving more than 2,600 individuals and families. The group has advocated for the passing of 87 landmark housing policies, resulting in $4.35 billion in public funding for affordable housing as well as mobilizing over 600,000 hours of volunteer support.
Today, 76% of initial Habitat SKKC homeowners are still living in their homes, with an average tenure of almost 14 years. Recent landmark projects include a 58-unit Seattle condominium building, currently the largest single-building multi-family project in Habitat for Humanity’s history, which is slated for completion in 2026. The organization will also celebrate the completion of 40 homes in Burien this spring at its Miller’s Creek community. Habitat SKKC has an additional 257 homes in the construction pipeline.
