$8 million to help address lack of affordable housing
As rents continue to rise, more Washingtonians are unable to find affordable housing, increasing the number of people at risk for homelessness. This is true not just in central Puget Sound, but all over the state. Whatcom County, for example, currently has the lowest vacancy rate in the state. Commerce administers the Washington State Housing Trust Fund and National Housing Trust Fund programs under the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), as part of our mission to strengthen communities. We provide grants to nonprofit organizations, housing authorities, local and tribal governments for projects that best meet established goals, plans and criteria for increasing and maintaining access to sufficient affordable housing units across the state.
In 2017, uncertainty and delay in Washington D.C. and our state legislature adjourning without passing a capital budget (for the first time in state history), hampered progress on projects that Commerce had selected in that year’s competitive funding round. Once all obstacles resolved, Commerce moved quickly to get the grants under contract with our community partner organizations so they could move forward with projects that will add 199 housing units in four counties. These projects focus on serving people with chronic mental illness, disabilities, homeless families with children, seniors, veterans and others in the general low-income population.
2017 Affordable Housing Funding Cycle - Federal Funds Track
HOME and National Housing Trust Fund Awards| Applicant Name | Project Name | City, County | Population | Affordable Housing Units | Requested CHDO Certification | HOME or NHTF | Request | Award |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| REACH Community Development | Isabella Court Phase II | Vancouver, Clark Co | HFwC, G | 49 | Yes | HOME | $2,149,106 | $2,149,106 |
| HopeSource | Spurling Court Apartments | Ellensburg, Kittitas Co | HFwC, S | 49 | No | HOME | $925,000 | $925,000 |
| Low Income Housing Institute | Pioneer Street Apartments | Oak Harbor, Island Co | V, D, G | 51 | Yes | NHTF* | $3,000,000 | $3,000,000 |
| Catholic Housing Services of Eastern Washington | Father Bach Haven 4 | Spokane, Spokane Co | CMI, G | 50 | No | HOME, NHTF* | $2,365,000 | $2,018,673 |
| TOTALS | $8,439,106 | $8,092,779 |
Read about how one of these Housing Trust Fund grants is strengthening communities on Whidbey Island