Habitat for Humanity Seattle King County Archives - Page 15 of 25 - Habitat for Humanity Seattle-King & Kittitas Counties

Total joy rained on the Capitol View community dedication

Posted on March 8, 2023March 14, 2023

Rain did nothing to dampen the joy on Saturday, March 4, when 11 families received the keys to their new homes in Habitat for Humanity Seattle-King County’s new Capitol View Community, its first mid-rise building of affordable housing unites completed in Seattle. The Dedication, covered by three of Seattle’s TV news stations (KIRO7, KOMO4 and KING5), paid tribute to former president Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalynn for making Habitat for Humanity a household name synonymous with affordable housing for all.

As Carter (98) spends his final days in hospice at home, Habitat SKKC’s CEO Brett D’Antonio declared that every Habitat home constructed in Seattle is done so with the Carter spirit built in. The spirit of Saturday’s Dedication was that of total joy as new homeowners accepted their keys, got to know their neighbors, and cut the red ribbon that marked the building’s official opening.

The Capital View building provides 13 new homes on a small footprint, using already improved land and sustainable materials. In fact, the development earned a four-star Built Green certification by using locally sourced materials with recycled content, low VOC interior paints and flooring, and by focusing on energy efficiency. The homes are close to transit, within walking distance of shops and schools.

Eleven of the 13 homes are already sold to community members earning less than 80% of the area’s Average Median Income (AMI). Five of the new homes were specifically earmarked for people of color, in keeping with Habitat’s commitment to support minority homeownership in King and Kittitas Counties.

New homeowner and speaker at the event Amber Cortes exuded excitement as she thanked Habitat saying, “It really does take a village to build a home.” She referred to the Habitat process that partners with potential homeowners in constructing new affordable housing by counting their sweat equity contributions as part of their purchase price. It’s a system that has worked to make Habitat for Humanity one of the most successful and revered non-profit organizations in the world.

The Capitol View Community is the first in Habitat SKC’s plans to address Seattle’s extreme housing crisis by ‘building up.’ One similar condo project called Olympic Ridge is already under construction nearby along with a much larger condominium development to begin construction very soon on MLK Blvd which will offer 58 permanently affordable condo units.

CEO Brett D’Antonio credited recently enacted housing density legislation for making the Capitol Hill project possible, “Density flexibility allows Habitat to provide these permanently affordable condominium homes that can begin to mitigate the impact of inflated construction costs, spikes in home prices, and gentrification.”

City elected officials, including Deputy Mayor Gary Wong, Deputy Director Seattle Office of Housing Andrea Akita, joined the jubilant celebration while Homeowner Services Director Ali Sheibani and Program Coordinator Nat Tavarez introduced the new Homeowners and presented them with the keys and a housewarming gift.

Check out photos from the event on our Flickr page here. To watch some of the local news coverage click KING5 and KIRO.

Capitol Hill Seattle Blog: Habitat for Humanity just opened its first affordable condo building on Capitol Hill

Posted on March 5, 2023March 14, 2023

Habitat for Humanity has brought its philosophies around equality — and sweat equity — in home ownership to 11th Ave E between Harrison and Republican on Capitol Hill.

Over the weekend, it celebrated the completion of the Capitol View Community building along with the new condo owners who will call the development home.

“My best friend used to live down the street from here near the park,” new owner Amber Cortes said at Saturday’s ceremony. “And she said when she first lived here 10 years ago, there were all sorts of people in the building — an opera singer, a landscaper, a pastry chef. And over the years, rent went up, housing cost went up, and people started moving out.”

Click the link to read the full story.

Kiro 7: Habitat for Humanity completes first mid-rise building in Seattle

Posted on March 4, 2023March 14, 2023

For Amber Cortes, the chance to own her own home is a game-changer.

She is one of 13 new homeowners making 80% or less of the area median income that will live in a new building in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood constructed by Habitat for Humanity Seattle-King and Kittitas Counties.

“Habitat helped us; we will be helping others; Habitat is helped by you,” said Cortes. “We all have to be in this together for everybody to have a seat at the table and a home of their own.”

Visit the link to watch the full Kiro 7 report.

King 5: ‘This represents stability and security’

Posted on March 3, 2023March 14, 2023

Habitat SKKC has built a new community on Capitol Hill in Seattle.

The five-story condo building will be home to 13 first-time homeowners on Saturday.

Habitat for Humanity SKC CEO Brett D’Antonio says the building is a first for the organization and a great way to bring the neighborhood together. Visit the link to watch the full report from King 5’s Chris Cashman.

Legislative Session Updates 2023

Posted on March 3, 2023March 17, 2023

We’re more than halfway through session!

Our Advocacy Team has hit the ground running in 2023 by building on our success in 2022 and we have launched state and local efforts to support more affordable homeownership opportunities.

On the state level, we are advocating for several bills and a number of our priority bills are moving forward through the process. Two bills that are making historic progress through the legislature are House Bill 1110 and HB 1474; a bill that will legalize middle housing types in residential areas, and the Covenant Homeownership Account bill will create a program to promote homeownership through down-payment support and address a history of housing discrimination through racially exclusionary covenants.

There are many other bills that we are working on as well; such as, our lot splitting bill (HB 1245), which would allow us to create more housing on a single lot, or the Governor’s proposed bond measure (HB 1147/ SB 5200). The Governor’s proposed legislation would create a bond measure, which would appear on the ballot in 2024 to invest $4 billion into affordable housing projects with a significant portion of that invested in affordable homeownership.

At the local level, Habitat is also making moves! In cities across King County, they are drafting their comprehensive plans that will determine how cities develop and grow for the next ten years. We are working with our homeowners to train them in how to be an effective advocate so they can speak to their lived experiences and tell cities why everyone deserves a safe and decent place to live! In East King County, we are working with the Eastside Affordable Housing Coalition to change, zoning codes so we can maximize the amount of affordable housing near jobs and transit.

Our advocacy continues to change lives in a growing region that is experiencing a housing crisis. We need your help if we’re going to continue to push the envelope towards ‘housing for all’ being a reality. To sign-up to help, text the word ‘HABITAT’ to (231) 422-4282 or 231-HABITAT, and you will receive our advocacy alerts sent by our outstanding team!

Thanks to your dedication, support and advocacy we’re making good progress.

Use the table below to see where bills we’re in support of are so far. Plus, help move the bills along by taking action and sending a letter or two!

Bill	Bill Description	Where It’s At	Why Habitat Supports It	TAKE ACTION!
HB 1110 – Middle Housing	Increasing middle housing in areas traditionally dedicated to single-family detached housing This bill will legalize Middle Housing types in residential areas across the state and create hundreds of thousands of affordable and market rate housing units.	Moved to Senate! In Senate Housing Committee.	Because we need to end exclusionary zoning across Washington!	Send a letter!
HB 1337 – ADUs	Expanding housing options by easing barriers to the construction and use of Accessory Dwelling Units This bill will remove the biggest regulatory barriers commonly imposed by cities, making it easier for homeowners to add ADUs to their properties.	Moved to Senate! In Senate Local Government, Land Use & Tribal Affairs Committee.	Because we need more types of homes in more places all across Washington!
HB 1245 – Lot Splitting	Increasing housing options through lot splitting This bill will legalize smaller house lots and allow homeowners the authority to split their house lot once, into two.	Moved to Senate! In Senate Local Government, Land Use & Tribal Affairs Committee.	Because we need more housing across Washington and this is an easy way to help make it easier to build them!
HB 1628 – Affordable Homes	Increasing the supply of affordable housing by modifying the state and local real estate excise tax This bill will generate revenue to increase the supply of affordable homes across Washington State.	In House Committee on Finance. NTIB (Necessary to Implement the Budget), not subject to deadlines.	While allowing for more homes is critical, we also need the funding to actually build those new homes!	Send a letter!
HB 1474 – Covenant Homeownership Act	Addressing the history of housing discrimination due to racially restrictive real estate covenants in Washington state This bill will support homeownership for those harmed by generations of systematic, racist, and discriminatory housing policies and practices by Washington State.	Moved to Senate! In Senate Housing Committee.	Because when we say EVERYONE deserves a safe, decent, and affordable place to call home – we mean EVERYONE!	Send a letter!
HB 1250 – HRLP Fix	Modifying the low-income home rehabilitation program This bill will help low-income, rural homeowners by converting a revolving loan program into a grant program.	Scheduled for public hearing in Senate Committee on Housing.	Keeping people in their homes and helping with repairs is a much more cost efficient way to help keep people housed!
HB 1167 – Residential Housing	Concerning residential housing regulations This bill will establish a grant program to help counties and cities adopt preapproved middle housing plans and prohibits a city or county from imposing any regulations, reviews, or standards on multiplex housing that is not applied to detached single family residences.	Scheduled for Senate Committee on Local Government, Land Use & Tribal Affairs.	Because building a triplex or townhomes shouldn’t be as hard as building a condo building.
HB 1147 – Capital Budget	Concerning the capital budget This bill will allocate funds to and long-term investment in affordable housing and homeownership in Washington.	Scheduled for House Committee on Capital Budget.	While allowing for more homes is critical, we also need the funding to actually build those new homes!	Send a letter!
HB 1149 – Addressing Housing Insecurities	Reducing homelessness in Washington State through capital expenditures for programs that address housing insecurity This bill will address housing insecurity through the state of Washington, including permanent housing for the homeless and a solution for low-income families who meet income criteria.	Scheduled for House Committee on Capital Budget.	The Governor is thinking bold when it comes to housing and we need to have his back! (Companion to SB 5202)
SB 5202 – Addressing Housing Insecurities	Reducing homelessness in Washington State through capital expenditures for programs that address housing insecurity This bill will address housing insecurity through the state of Washington, including permanent housing for the homeless and a solution for low-income families who meet income criteria.	In Senate Committee on Ways & Means.	The Governor is thinking bold when it comes to housing and we need to have his back! (Companion to HB 1149)
SB 5058 – Multiunit Exemption	Exempting buildings with 12 or fewer units that are no more than two stories from the definition of multiunit residential building This bill will help provide for more homeownership opportunities.	In House Committee on Civil Rights & Judiciary.	Because building a triplex or townhomes shouldn’t be as hard as building a condo building.
SB 5466 – Transit-Oriented Development	Promoting transit-oriented development This bill will provide zoning standards for housing and commercial uses in urban areas near major state transit investments, and support local governments with flexible implementation and funding.	Scheduled for House Committee on Housing.	Because building homes near transit is an easy win for housing, transportation, and climate!