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.”
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.”
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!
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!
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!
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.
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)
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!
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!
Completed this year, Habitat for Humanity’s Capitol Hill development on 11th Ave. East, earned a four-star Built Green certification while taking advantage of improved property close to public transit and bike trails, shopping, restaurants, and some of Seattle’s most popular parks. Families living in the development will be within walking distance of public, charter, and private schools. Habitat’s mission is to assure that everyone has a decent and affordable place to live. In Seattle and King County, Habitat is committed to balancing that mission with environmental concerns.
