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$36 million awarded countywide to create affordable and supportive housing projects
Summary
Creating affordable housing opportunities for hundreds of individuals and families in need, King County Executive Ron Sims today announced $36 million in grants and loans to fund affordable housing and permanent supportive housing development across the county.
Story
Creating affordable housing opportunities for hundreds of individuals and families in need, King County Executive Ron Sims today announced $36 million in grants and loans to fund affordable housing and permanent supportive housing development across the county.
Capital dollars will help create more than 643 new units of affordable housing, including 270 specifically planned for households that are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Operating support and rental assistance funding will provide critical services and other supports to help end the cycle of homelessness for another 300 very vulnerable persons.
The production of affordable housing also helps the local economy. According to economists at the National Association of Home Builders, every 100 units of multifamily housing developed generates 116 jobs and $8,670,900 in income for all affected industries.
"These funds will bring a boost to the local economy and the creation of construction jobs, while also providing safe and secure affordable housing that will help hundreds of local households who have been hit very hard by the recession" said Executive Sims, who also serves as co-chair of the Committee to End Homelessness in King County Governing Board.
Projects awarded funding participated in two Request for Proposal (RFP) processes conducted in Fall 2008. The awards respond to the most acute needs in the region, including homeless young adults, while also addressing the pressing need for affordable housing throughout a number of the county's sub-regions.
"The affordable housing capital funding round was very challenging," said Ava Frisinger, Mayor of Issaquah and chair of the interjurisdictional Joint Recommendations Committee, which recommends affordable housing capital awards to the King County Executive. "The economic recession has drastically affected access to other funding, such as Low Income Housing Tax Credits, which has put greater pressure on the need for local funds. We are very glad to have been able to fund a good number of projects this round; however, once again, requests for assistance far surpassed available funds and many worthy proposals will have to wait another year for funds to become available."
Funding for the affordable housing capital RFP came from a variety of federal and local sources. Local fund sources include the voter-approved Veterans and Human Services Levy ($3,624,929 in capital funds) and the Regional Affordable Housing Program ($1,347,578), a dedicated local source derived from a state-authorized surcharge on document recording fees. King County Consortia federal fund contributions for housing capital include the HOME Investment Partnerships Program ($4.6 million) and Community Development Block Grant ($594,535.) The members of the HOME and CDBG consortia include King County and the cities in King County outside the City of Seattle, which receives its own federal funding. The Regional Affordable Housing Program is a partnership of the county and most cities in the county, including the City of Seattle.
Funding for the homeless housing supportive services, rental assistance and operating support RFP came from local funding sources. Sources include a state-authorized surcharge on document recording fees that supports local Ten Year Plans to End Homelessness ($3 million); the voter-approved King County Veterans and Human Services Levy ($1 million) for services and operating expenses in permanent housing for the homeless), and the United Way Initiative to End Chronic Homelessness funds ($2 million). Both the Seattle Housing Authority and the King County Housing Authority made federal Section 8 rental subsidies available to projects serving homeless young adults, ages 18-24 (approximately $1.5 million). The combined housing authority subsidies will create 35 housing opportunities for young adults in King County.
An important new fund source this year in both RFP's was the Mental Illness and Drug Dependency (MIDD) fund, a source derived from the collections of a one tenth of one percent sales tax approved by the county council for services and housing to persons with mental illness and chemical dependency. The primary goals of the MIDD affordable housing and housing-based supportive services implementation plans are to prevent and reduce chronic homelessness, reduce involvement in the criminal justice and emergency medical systems, and promote recovery for persons with disabling mental illness and chemical dependency through implementation of a full continuum of treatment, housing and case management services. MIDD capital funds ($16,342,605) will support seven affordable housing projects totaling 335 permanent supportive housing units for high needs homeless persons. The MIDD housing-based supportive services funds ($2 million) will support the service needs of 110 permanent supportive housing units.
"We have long known that it is much more cost effective to help people stabilize through treatment and housing, rather than to cycle through hospitals and jails," said Bill Block, Project Director of the Committee to End Homelessness in King County and a member of the MIDD Oversight Committee. "The MIDD lets us put that knowledge to work and transform lives across the county."
This is the fourth countywide combined notice of funding availability effort to coordinate the application and allocation process for capital, operating support, rental assistance funding and services funding for low-income housing and proposals that meet the goals of the Ten-Year Plan to End Homelessness. Each year, public and private funders refine the process for creating a joint application and review process, in order to streamline the grant making process for applicant agencies and to coordinate award decisions across funders. Instead of asking agencies to submit multiple applications at different times during the year, King County funders coordinate the timing, materials and process so that agencies serving homeless households can attend joint funder pre-application meetings, submit a common application for housing capital, and submit one application for services, operating and rental assistance.
United Way of King County is an important partner in this effort, adding its Campaign to End Chronic Homelessness funds to the joint application process. "Experience shows that escaping homelessness takes more than housing. It also requires the services that can help people establish the mental and physical health, the skills, and the sense of hope and self-confidence to make a fresh start," said Chief Executive Officer Jon Fine. "Thanks to the continuing success of our Campaign to End Chronic Homelessness, United Way of King County is today committing $2 million to the counseling and health care that will let individuals regain their footing and move ahead. We're grateful for the community support that makes this investment possible, support that's even more meaningful against the backdrop of today's economic anxiety."
A complete list of the Fall 2008 funding round awards follows.
Fall 2008 Affordable Housing Capital Funding Round - $26.5 Million
The King County Housing and Community Development Program (HCD) is awarding approximately $26.5 million in affordable housing grants and loans to 11 local housing projects for the creation and preservation of affordable housing units. The funds will be used to create and preserve 643 affordable housing units in King County. Of the new units, 270 are for people who are chronically homeless or at serious risk of homelessness. HCD also awarded amendment funds to six projects that were previously funded but required additional funding to move to completion. These awards will allow 328 units of housing to be completed.
The housing units that will be created with these awards will be affordable to a range of households with incomes at or below 80 percent of the area's median income (AMI), with the majority of the awards supporting households below 50 percent of AMI, including a significant portion of units for households below 30 percent of AMI. A three-person household at 50 percent of median income earns $36,650 annually; a single-person household at 50 percent of median earns $28,500. Housing for households below 50 percent of AMI represents the region's area of greatest need.
New Awards - Housing created or preserved
Housing Resources Group: Construct 100 apartment units, including 17 units of permanent housing for households transitioning from homelessness in Kenmore. Award: $1,700,000 in HOME funds, HOF for persons with developmental disabilities, and Human Services Levy funds. Contact: Sarah Lewontin, Executive Director, Housing Resources Group, 206-623-0506.
YWCA: Construct 97 apartment units, including 20 units of permanent housing for people with disabilities and up to 10 units for households transitioning from homelessness in Issaquah. Award: $1,500,000 in Regional Affordable Housing Program (RAHP), HOME, and Human Services Levy funds. Contact: Sue Sherbrooke, Executive Director, Housing Resources Group, 206-461-5854.
King County Housing Authority: Rehabilitate the Birch Creek apartments to provide 130 permanent affordable apartment units in Kent. Award: $850,000 in RAHP and HOME funds. Contact: Stephen Norman, Executive Director, King County Housing Authority, 206-574-1108.
Foundation for the Challenged: Acquire two single-family homes (approximately six living units) in King County to provide permanent affordable housing for adult individuals with developmental disabilities. Award: $500,000 in Human Services Levy funds. Contact: Frank Wesseling, Executive Director, Foundation for the Challenged, 614-923-6020.
Homestead Community Land Trust: Operating support to provide assistance to approximately eight first time homebuyers in White Center. Award: $30,000 in HOME funds. Contact: Sheldon Cooper, Executive Director, Homestead Community Land Trust, 206-263-1277 ext. 113.
Vashon Household: Acquire and rehabilitate a 20-unit apartment building on Vashon Island for low-income households, with 10 units targeted to very low-income households that are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Award: $2,123,008 in HOME and Human Services Levy capital funds for the housing project and $30,000 in HOME funds for operating support to the agency. Contact: Sam Hendricks, Executive Director, Vashon Household, 206-463-6454.
Plymouth Housing Group: Construct 81 units of permanent supportive housing for homeless individuals in Seattle. Award: $4,340,606 in MIDD capital and Human Services Levy funds. Contact: Paul Lambros, Executive Director, Plymouth Housing Group, 206-374-9409 ext. 121.
Downtown Emergency Service Center: Construct 83 units of permanent supportive housing in Seattle for 83 chronically homeless adults, including units for homeless veterans. Award: $4,890,000 in MIDD capital and Veterans Levy funds. Contact: William Hobson, Executive Director, Downtown Emergency Service Center, 206-957-2731.
Sound Mental Health: Purchase and rehabilitate the Holly Creek Apartments in Des Moines to provide 18 units of permanent affordable housing for people with severe and persistent mental illness. Award: $1,412,044 in MIDD capital and Human Services Levy funds. Contact: Paul Eisenhauer, Chief Financial Officer, Sound Mental Health, 206-818-7415.
Transitional Resources: Construct 16 new permanent supportive housing units for homeless single adults with chronic mental illness in Seattle. Award: $2,538,464 in MIDD capital funds. Contact: Darcell Slovek-Walker, Executive Director, Transitional Resources, 206-883-2026.
Archdiocesan Housing Authority: Rehabilitate the Wintonia Apartments in Seattle to provide 92 units of permanent supportive housing for adults with severe and persistent mental illness. Award: $369,040 in MIDD capital funds. Contact: Shelley Dooly, Executive Director, Archdiocesan Housing Authority, 206-728-9177.
Amendments
Vashon Household: Additional award to complete funding for the development of 14 community land trust ownership homes for low to moderate-income households. Award: $379,389 in HOME funds. Contact: Sam Hendricks, Executive Director, Vashon Household, 206-463-6454
Intercommunity Mercy Housing: Additional award to complete funding for the rehabilitation of the Appian Way Apartments in Kent to provide 149 units of permanent supportive housing including 15 units for households transitioning from homelessness. Award: $549,796 in HOME funds. Contact: Cynthia Parker, Vice President, Intercommunity Mercy Housing, 206-628-2870.
The Compass Center: Additional award to complete funding for the construction of 58 units of permanent affordable housing including 14 units prioritized for homeless veterans. Award: $250,000 in Veterans Levy funds. Contact: Rick Friedhoff, Executive Director, 206-357-3102.
Valley Cities Counseling and Consultation: Additional award to complete funding for the construction of 24 units of permanent supportive housing for very low-income single adults with serious mental illness and chemical dependency issues. Award: $2,428,207 in MIDD capital funds. Contact: Faith Ritchie, Executive Director, 253-833-7444.
Community House Mental Health: Additional award to complete funding for the redevelopment of a property in Seattle to provide 23 single room occupancy units of permanent supportive housing for persons with mental illness coming from local hospitals, jails and shelters. Award: $2,324,558 in MIDD capital funds. Contact: Chris Szala, Executive Director, 206-322-2387.
St. Andrew's Housing Group: Additional award to complete funding for the construction of 60 units of low-income housing, including approximately 45 units for homeless households, including homeless veterans. Award: $594,535 in CDBG funds. Contact: Melora Hiller, Interim Executive Director, St. Andrew's Housing Group, 425-746-1699.
Fall 2008 Services, Operating Support and Rental Assistance Funding Round
Total Five-year Awards: $9,513,500
The King County Housing and Community Development Program and United Way of King County are jointly awarding $8 million in services, operating support and rental assistance funds in the Fall 2008 Homeless Housing and Services Funding Round. In addition, Seattle Housing Authority and King County Housing Authority are awarding a total of 35 Section 8 housing subsidies. The combined award total is over $9.5 million to assist homeless households countywide. Funding will help to carry out the goals of the Ten-Year Plan to End Homelessness in King County by providing rental subsidies, operating support, housing stabilization services and other critical supports that will help end the cycle of homelessness for more than 300 homeless persons annually.
Fund sources include:
- King County 2163/1359 Document Recording Fees
- King County Veterans and Human Services Levy (VHS Levy)
- King County Mental Illness and Drug Dependency (MIDD) sales tax collections
- United Way of King County (UWKC) Campaign to End Chronic Homelessness funds
- Seattle Housing Authority (SHA) Section 8 subsidies
- King County Housing Authority (KCHA) Section 8 subsidies.
Awards
Archdiocesan Housing Authority, Fredrick Ozanam House - Provide critical supportive services for 56 new units of permanent supportive housing in Seattle for homeless adults over age 55. Award: $140,847 of UWKC funding annually for five years for onsite residential and case management services. Contact: Shelley Dooley, Archdiocesan Housing Authority, 206-728-8177.
Archdiocesan Housing Authority, The Wintonia - Increase onsite service support for 92 units of permanent supportive housing in Seattle, in order to house homeless late stage substance abusers, many with co-occurring mental illness. Award: $452,858 of UWKC, 2163/1359 and MIDD funding annually for five years for case management and housing stabilization services. Contact: Shelley Dooley, Archdiocesan Housing Authority, 206-728-8177.
Eastside Domestic Violence Program, Permanent Housing Program - Create 11 new units of permanent, service-enriched housing in the private rental market for victims of domestic violence and their families in East King County. Award: $139,127 of 2163/1359 funding annually for five years for case management services and rental assistance. Contact: Barbara Langdon, Eastside Domestic Violence Program, 425-562-8840.
Eastside Interfaith Social Concerns, Congregations for the Homeless Permanent Supportive Housing - Create 15 new units of permanent supportive housing in the private rental market for chronically homeless adults in East King County. Award: $140,685 of 2163/1359 and VHS Levy funding annually for five years for rental assistance and case management services. Contact: Steve Roberts, Eastside Interfaith Social Concerns, 206-295-7803.
Friends of Youth, Supportive Permanent Housing Program - Create 13 new units of service-enriched permanent housing in the private rental market for young adults and families in East King County. Award: $29,433 of 2163/1359 funding annually for five years for rental assistance and client support and 10 KCHA Section 8 rental subsidies. Contact: Joan Campbell, Friends of Youth, 425-869-6490.
Low Income Housing Institute, McDermott Place - Provide critical supportive services and operating support for 75 units of permanent supportive housing in Seattle for chronically homeless individuals, including veterans. Award: $256,250 of VHS Levy and UWKC funding annually for five years for case management, employment services and operating support. Contact: Karen Anderson-Bittenbender, Low Income Housing Institute, 206-957-8050.
Muslim Housing Services, Homeless Assistance Program - Create 12 new units of permanent, service-enriched housing in the private rental market in Seattle for homeless immigrant and refugee families. Award: $160,800 of 2163/1359 funding annually for five years for case management services and rental assistance. Contact: Mohamed Aden, Muslim Housing Services, 206-723-1712.
Public Health of King County, Housing Health Outreach Team (HHOT) - Expand nursing services to new units of permanent supportive housing for chronically homeless persons. Award: $85,000 of UWKC funding annually for five years for nursing services. Contact: Natalie Lente, Public Health of King County, 206-263-8343.
Sound Mental Health, Kenyon House - Provide critical supportive services for 18 new units of permanent supportive housing in Seattle for homeless persons living with HIV/AIDS. Award: $75,000 of MIDD funding annually for five years for onsite support services. Contact: Trish Blanchard, Sound Mental Health, 206-302-2240
Valley Cities Counseling and Consultation, Coming Up Program - Create 15 new units of permanent supportive housing in the private rental market for young adults in South King County ages 18-24. Award: $120,000 of 2163/1359 funding annually for five years for case management and other support services and 15 KCHA Section 8 rental subsidies. Contact: Faith Richie, Valley Cities Counseling and Consultation, 253-335-3839.
YMCA of Greater Seattle, Homeless Youth Housing Program - Create 10 new units of service-enriched, permanent housing in the private rental market in Seattle for young adults ages 18-24. Award: 10 SHA Section 8 rental subsidies. Contact: Brooke Sharnke, YMCA of Greater Seattle, 206-749-7551.
