New housing study from Affordable Housing Advisory Board is most comprehensive in a decade Over 390,000 Washington households pay more than 50 percent of their income for housing expenses, Faith Li Pettis, chair of the Affordable Housing Advisory Board (AHAB), told the Legislature today. “Since 2000, incomes in the state have declined by 2.4 percent but median rents have increased 7.8 percent in real dollars,” Pettis said. “Over the next…

Funds will support 479 units of affordable housing and nearly 300 beds for low-income people OLYMPIA, WA – The Washington State Department of Commerce today awarded $28.98 million in loans and grants from the state’s Housing Trust Fund for 15 affordable housing projects in nine counties across the state. These projects will provide a total of 479 units of affordable housing for low-income households, 200 beds for migrant seasonal farmworkers, 66 beds…

Funds will support redevelopment of former Sand Point Naval Station barracks OLYMPIA, WA – The Washington State Department of Commerce today announced a $9.7 million award to Mercy Housing Northwest to convert a historic Seattle property into 128 units of affordable housing. Building 9, a remnant of the Sand Point Naval Station once located at Warren G. Magnuson Park, will be redeveloped into 128 units designed primarily for families, but will also…

The Washington State Department of Commerce today announced an effort to solicit public comment on housing needs across the state. Any Washington resident is encouraged to participate in an 11 question online survey. The survey results will guide plans for using federal funds aimed at addressing housing needs throughout Washington State. Each year, the state receives approximately $8 million in funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to…

Point in Time Count shows services effective, still work to be done OLYMPIA, WA – Homelessness has decreased throughout the state, according to numbers released today by the Washington State Department of Commerce. The numbers are from the statewide annual Point in Time Count that took place January 24, 2013. Local homeless service providers and volunteers across the state counted 17,775 people living unsheltered or in emergency shelters or transitional housing. Of those,…