>>> THE MORTGAGE 11,
2026, MEETING OF THE HOUSING,
ARTS AND
CIVIL RIGHTS COMMITTEE WILL
COME
TO ORDER. IT IS 2:03 P.M.
I'M DIONNE FOSTER.
WILL THE COUNCIL CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL?
[ INDISCERNIBLE ]
[ NO AUDIO ]
>> COUNCIL RINCK
HAS A PREVIOUSLY EXCUSED
ABSENCE.
>> GREAT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, CLERK.
IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION,
THE AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED.
HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE
AGENDA IS ADOPTED.
WE WILL NOW OPEN THE HYBRID
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
COMMENTS SHOULD RELATE TO
TODAY'S AGENDA OTHER WITHIN
THE PURVIEW OF THE AGENDA.
HOW MANY SPEAKERS ARE SIGNED UP
TODAY?
>> ONE.
>> EACH SPEAKER WILL HAVE TWO
MINUTES. WE WILL START WITH IN-
PERSON SPEAKERS FIRST.
CLERK, CAN YOU PLEASE READ
THE PUBLIC COMMENT INSTRUCTIONS.
>> THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
IS UP TO 60 MINUTES.
SPEAKERS WILL BE CALLED IN THE
ORDER IN WHICH THEY ARE
REGISTERED. WE WILL BEGIN WITH
IN-
PERSON SPEAKERS AND MOVE TO
REMOTE.
SPEAKERS WILL HEAR A CHIME
WHEN TEN SECONDS ARE LEFT.
THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS
OPEN.
WE BEGIN WITH THE FIRST
SPEAKER ON THE LIST.
FIRST SPEAKER IS RYAN Mc
KENSTER.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR FOSTER
AND MY TWO COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY.
I'M HERE TO SHOW SUPPORT FOR
YOUR WORK AND THAT OF THE
OFFICE OF HOUSING ESPECIALLY
AROUND AFFORDABLE HOMEOWNER
SHIP. THIS WORK MATTERS DEEPLY
TO
US AS WELL AS OUR FAMILIES THAT
LIVE IN H OUR HOMES.
I WANT TO TELL YOU ABOUT ADAM.
ADAM IS ONE OF OUR HOMEOWNERS.
HE WORKED AS A COMCAST BUSINESS
TECHNICIAN FOR 25 YEARS.
HE AND HIS WIFE ARE RAISING
SEVEN CHILDREN.
FOR YEARS THEY SHARED A THREE
BEDROOM APARTMENT IN SEATTLE.
HE ALWAYS WANTED TO BUY A
HOME BUT COULDN'T.
THEY ARE NOW HOMEOWNERS AT
5042 MARTIN LUTHER KING WAY.
THAT IS MADE POSSIBLE FOR
THE INVESTMENT THIS COUNCIL
FUNDS
AND THIS DEPARTMENT SUPPORTS.
THE LARGEST SINGLE
BUILDING HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
PROJECT IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY
WITH 50
PERMANENTLY AFFORDABLE
HOMES, STEPS FROM LIGHT RAIL IN
A NEIGHBORHOOD WORKING HARD TO
PREVENT DISPLACEMENT.
LIBERTY COMMONS IS NOT ALONE.
THROUGH OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH
THE COMMUNITY HOUSING
DEVELOPMENT
WE'RE DEVELOPING 65
PERMANENTLY AFFORDABLE HOMES IN
RAINIER
VALLEY AS WELL.
EVERY DOLLAR INVESTED
IS LEVERAGED THREE TIMES FROM
DONORS.
THIS IS WHY 80% OF OUR
UPCOMING PIPELINE OCCURS IN
SEATTLE.
THESE HOMES ARE AFFORDABLE FOR
99 YEARS AND BEYOND.
WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THIS
COUNCIL, THE MAYOR'S OFFICE,
THE OFFICE OF HOUSING AND
THE SEATTLE COMMITTEE AS A WHOLE
FOR
THEIR CONTINUED SUPPORT AND
PARTNERSHIP.
WE THANK YOU VERY
MUCH.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
WE APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENT.
CLERK, ARE THERE ANY
OTHER REGISTERED SPEAKERS?
>> NO.
>> OKAY.
FANTASTIC.
WITH THAT, WE WILL MOVE TO
OUR FIRST ITEM OF BUSINESS.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ
ITEM ONE INTO THE RECORD?
>> AGENDA ITEM ONE, APPOINTMENT
03348. THE APPOINTMENT OF JURIC
AS MEMBER OF THE BURKE- GILMAN
--
[ INDISCERNIBLE ]
FOR A TERM OF DECEMBER 31st,
2026.
>> I WELCOME TO THE
COMMITTEE TABLE BOTH CARLIN
LLORENTE
AND MIKE HATSENBELLER.
WELCOME.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
SO THE BURKE- GILMAN
PUBLIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY IS
A
28 ACRE PIECE OF PROPERTY
LOCATED
IN NORTHEAST SEATTLE
ROUGHLY BETWEEN SAND POINT WAY
AND 40
th AVENUE NORTHEAST BORDERED BY
55th STREET ON THE SOUTH AND
METROPOLITAN MARKET AND -- THE
TRAIL ON THE NORTH.
THIS IS PROPERTY
ORIGINALLY OWNED BY THE COAST
GUARD.
IT WAS DONATED TO THE
CITY IN THE 1970s.
THE CITY CREATED THE
PUBLIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY TO
DEVELOP THE SITE FOR HOUSING AND
OTHER
SERVICES.
SO TODAY THERE ARE ABOUT 130,
140 UNITS OF AFFORDABLE
HOUSING ON ON SITE THAT ARE
OWNED BY
A COUPLE DIFFERENT ENTITIES.
THERE ARE TWO SEPARATE
BUILDINGS OWNED AND OPERATED BY
RONALD
McDONALD CHARITIES.
THERE'S ONE BY PROVAIL AND
CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL IS A USER
ENTITY.
THE PDA HAS RELATIVELY FOCUSED
REALLY ON MAINTENANCE
AND MANAGEMENT OF THE PROPERTY
AND
OVERSIGHT OF DEVELOPMENT
THAT MIGHT TAKE PLACE THERE.
AND THERE ARE FOUR USER
REPRESENTATIVES ON THE BOARD
THAT REPRESENT THE
ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE PRESENCE
THERE,
PROVAIL BEING ONE OF
THEM, RONALD McDONALD HOUSE,
THE CHILDREN CENTER WHICH IS AN
EARLY LEARNING CENTER ON
THE PROPERTY AND CHILDREN'S
HOSPITAL AND THERE ARE FIVE AT
LARGE
BOARD SEATS, TWO OF WHICH
ARE OPEN RIGHT NOW.
WE'RE RECRUITING MEMBERS FOR
THE BOARD IF YOU KNOW ANYBODY
THAT'S INTERESTED.
THAT'S AN OVERVIEW OF THE PDA.
HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
WHY DON'T WE GO ACTUALLY
RIGHT INTO HAVING CARLIN
INTRODUCE HERSELF AND WE'LL SEE
IF
THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS FROM
COLLEAGUES BEFORE WE
PROCEED.
>> THANK YOU.
I'M HONORED TO BE WITH YOU
TODAY.
IF CONFIRMED I LOOK FORWARD
TO WORKING TO ADVANCE THE PDA'S
CORE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING
HOUSING, HEALTH CARE,
EDUCATION AND MAKING SURE THE
FACILITIES SERVE THE
COMMUNITY. I UNDERSTAND THE
BOARD'S
WORKED NOT ONLY AS OVERSIGHT OF
PROPERTY BUT A STEWARDSHIP OF A
SHARED PLACE WITH
WHERE LONG- TERM PUBLIC VALUE
DEPENDS ON THOUGHTFUL
GOVERNANCE,
GOOD JUDGMENT AND STRONG
PARTNERSHIPS.
MY CURRENT ROLE IS THE
PRESIDENT AND CEO OF PRO VAIL.
I WORK AT THE INTERSECTION OF
MISSION, LONG RAGE STRATEGY
OPERATIONS AND SHARED
ACCOUNTABILITIES.
OUR WORK IS GROUNDED
IN SUPPORTING PEOPLE
WITH DISABILITIES TO LIVE LIVES
OF THEIR CHOICE FULL OF PURPOSE
AND OPPORTUNITY AND DIGNITY.
PROVAIL'S WORK HAS SHOWN
ME AGAIN AND AGAIN HOW
MUCH FACILITIES MATTER, MUCH
MORE THAN ASSETS ON BALANCE
SHEETS
THEY ARE CIVIC INFRASTRUCTURE.
THEY MAKE CARE,
LEARNING, HOUSING AND BELONGING
POSSIBLE.
IF CONFIRMED, I LOOK FORWARD
TO APPROACHING THIS ROLE WITH A
COLLECTIVE AND A
PARTICULAR SENSE OF
RESPONSIBILITY.
COLLECTIVE BECAUSE THE
PDA EXISTS TO SERVE
MULTIPLE ORGANIZATIONS AND
PURPOSES AND
PARTICULAR BECAUSE I'M
VERY SERIOUS ABOUT PROVAIL
MAKING SURE THAT ITS PROPERTY IS
PUT TO
THE HIGHEST AND BEST USE
IN SERVICE OF THE PDA'S PUBLIC
PURPOSE. I APPRECIATE THE
COUNCIL'S CONSIDERATION AND
LOOK
FORWARD TO ANSWERING YOUR
QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I APPRECIATE THAT.
AND I APPRECIATE YOUR
COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY AS YOU
REMINDED
ME WE MET AT A YOUTH CARE
FUNDRAISER EARLIER THIS
YEAR. IT WAS LOVELY TO SEE YOU
THERE AND I KNOW YOU ARE ENGAGED
IN MANY ORGANIZATIONS
THINK YOUR DAY JOB AND YOUR OWN
PERSONAL
COMMITMENTS.
COLLEAGUES, DO YOU HAVE
ANY QUESTIONS FOR FOLKS AT THE
TABLE? I AM SEEING A QUESTION
FROM COUNCILMEMBER LIN.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR.
THANK YOU FOR BEING WILLING
TO STEP UP INTO THIS ROLE.
BACK IN MY PRIOR WORK I
WAS WORKING WITH THE OFFICE OF
HOUSING, INCLUDING HEARING A
LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE
STRUGGLES TO KEEP THE
BOARD, YOU KNOW, HAVE ENOUGH
FOLKS FOR THE BOARD.
CERTAINLY I WANT TO DO WHAT
I CAN TO SUPPORT, TO MAKE
SURE THOSE POSITIONS ARE FILLED,
BUT JUST MORE GENERALLY I KNOW
THIS
PDA IS A LITTLE BIT
UNUSUAL COMPARED TO SOME OF OUR
OTHER
PDAs GIVEN HOW IT'S SO PROPERTY
SPECIFIC GIVEN THE HISTORY
OF THIS PARCEL.
CERTAINLY JUST WANT TO OFFER
PARTNERSHIP IF THERE'S ANY
SORT OF PLAN TO REIMAGINE A
DIFFERENT
STRUCTURE OR DIFFERENT SORT
OF WAY TO ORGANIZE AROUND THIS
SPECIFIC PIECE OF PROPERTY.
IN THE MEANTIME, JUST REALLY
APPRECIATE THE SERVICE AND
IF THERE'S OTHER FOLKS THAT
YOU'RE AWARE OF CERTAINLY HAPPY
TO
PUT FORWARD OTHER NAMES TO FILL
OUT
THE BOARD.
SO THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> AS MIKE MENTIONED A MOMENT
AGO, WE HAVE TWO OPEN SEATS.
WE HAVE MATERIALS TO
DESCRIBE THE OPPORTUNITY AND
WE'RE
EAGER FOR
PARTNERSHIP TO HELP FILL THOSE
VACANCIES.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THANK YOU SO MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER LIN.
ARE THERE OTHER QUESTIONS FROM
FELLOW COMMITTEE MEMBERS?
LET THE RECORD REFLECT COUNCIL
PRESIDENT HOLLINGSWORTH
HAS JOINED US.
WITH THAT, THANK YOU FOR
YOUR PRESENTATION AND WE WILL
FOLLOW
UP WITH YOU ON ANY ENGAGEMENT TO
MAKE SURE WE GET THE REST
OF THOSE SEATS FILLED AND
HOPEFULLY BE AS EXCELLENT
CANDIDATES AS
YOURSELF. WITH THAT, I MOVE THAT
THE
COMMITTEE RECOMMEND CONFIRMATION
OF APPOINTMENT 03348.
SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> FANTASTIC.
IT IS MOVED AND SECONDED
TO RECOMMEND CONFIRMATION
OF APPOINTMENT 03348.
ARE THERE ANY FURTHER COMMENTS?
ALL RIGHT.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL
THE ROLL TO RECOMMEND
APPOINTMENT.
>>
HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> YES.
>>
JUAREZ.
>>
AYE.
>>
LIN.
>>
YES.
>> FOSTER.
>>
YES.
>> THERE ARE FOUR VOTES IN FAVOR
AND NONE
OPPOSED.
>> FANTASTIC.
CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK
YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
THE MOTION CARRIES AND
THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
THAT THE CITY COUNCIL
CONFIRM APPOINTMENT 03448 WILL
BE
SENT TO THE MARCH 17 th, 2026
CITY
COUNCIL MEETING.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
WITH THAT WE WILL MOVE
ONTO ITEMS TWO THROUGH EIGHT.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ
ITEMS TWO THROUGH EIGHT INTO THE
RECORD.
>> AGENDA ITEMS TWO
THROUGH EIGHT REAPPOINTMENTS
03449 THROUGH 03451 AND
REAPPOINTMENTS
03453 THROUGH 03456.
THE REAPPOINTMENTS OF AVERY
BARNES, YOON HIG -- AS MEMBERS
TO THE SEATTLE ARTS COMMISSION.
>> EXCELLENT.
THESE ARE ALL REAPPOINTMENTS,
COLLEAGUES.
ALL OF THE INFORMATION
WAS PROVIDED IN YOUR PACT. YOUR
PACKET.
DO ANY OF MY FELLOW
COMMITTEE MEMBERS HAVE QUESTIONS
ABOUT
ANY OF THE APPOINTMENTS?
GREAT.
SEEING NONE, I'LL JUST TAKE
A QUICK MOMENT TO SAY I GOT
A CHANCE TO SIT AND CHAT WITH
SOME
OF THE MEMBERS AT AN EVENT I
WAS AT LAST NIGHT.
WE'RE PLEASED TO HAVE SUCH
A FANTASTIC GROUP OF FOLKS
SERVING
ON OUR COMMITTEE.
WITH THAT, I MOVE THAT THE
COMMITTEE RECOMMEND
CONFIRMATION OF APPOINTMENTS
03449 THROUGH
03451 AND APPOINTMENTS
0353 THROUGH 03456.
THE REAPPOINTMENTS
TO THE SEATTLE ARTS COMMISSION.
IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> IT IS MOVED AND SECONDED
TO RECOMMEND CONFIRMATION OF THE
APPOINTMENTS AND THE
REAPPOINTMENTS.
ARE THERE ANY FURTHER COMMENTS?
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL
THE ROLL ON THE
RECOMMENDATION.
>>
HOLLINGSWORTH.
>>
YES.
>> JUAREZ.
>>
AYE.
>> VICE CHAIR
LIN.
>> YES.
>> CHAIR
FOSTER.
>> YES.
>> THERE ARE FOUR VOTES IN
FAVOR AND NONE
OPPOSED.
>> FANTASTIC.
THE MOTION CARRIES AND
THE COMMITTEE RECK OMMENDATION
THAT
THE APPOINTMENTS WILL
CONFIRMED WILL BE SENT TO THE
MARCH 17th,
2026 CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
WITH THAT WE MOVE ONTO AGENDA
ITEM NINE.
>> AGENDA ITEM
NINE, SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF
CONSTRUCTION AND
INSPECTIONS RENTAL PROGRAMS
OVERVIEW.
>> WILL OUR PRESENTERS
PLEASE JOIN US AT THE TABLE AND
WE'LL HAVE YOU UNMUTE AND
INTRODUCE YOURSELVES WHEN READY.
JUST TO NOTE, YOU MAY WANT
TO SCOOT THE MICS
A LITTLE BIT CLOSER THAN THEY
ARE RIGHT NOW.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO
PRESENT TODAY.
I'M JEFF TALENT.
I'M THE CODE COMPLIANCE
DIRECTOR.
WE HAVE THE LANDLORD AND TENANT
PROGRAMS IN OUR DIVISION.
I'LL
LET -- [ INDISCERNIBLE ]
IN A SECOND A LITTLE BIT OF
A SHOUTOUT FOR HER.
SHE'S NEW IN THE POSITION.
SHE'S JUST BECOME A
RENTAL PROGRAMS MANAGER.
SHE COMES WITH GREAT
EXPERTISE AND EXPERIENCE TO HELP
US
OUT HERE IN THE CITY.
SHE HAS A BACKGROUND IN
LANDLORD TENANT LAW.
SHE'S AN ADJUNCT
FACULTY -- [ INDISCERNIBLE ]
AND SHE'S --
[ INDISCERNIBLE ]
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT
HOLLINGSWORTH, CHAIR
FOSTER, COMMITTEE MEMBERS, THANK
YOU
SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY
TO SPEAK TODAY.
AS GEOFF MENTIONS I'M MAUREEN
ROAT.
I'VE BEEN WITH THE DEPARTMENT
FOR SIX YEARS PREVIOUSLY WORKING
WITH THE PROPERTY OWNER
AND TENANT ASSISTANCE TEAM.
LANDLORD TENANT AND
HOUSING HAS BEEN MY WORK FOR 20
YEARS NOW.
HAPPY TO BE HERE TODAY.
ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS
YOU MIGHT HAVE AND GIVE AN
OVERVIEW OF
THE WORK OUR DEPARTMENT
DOES.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
WE'RE SO LUCKY TO HAVE BOTH
OF YOUR EXPERIENCE AND EXPERTISE
IN
THIS ISSUE.
ONE OF THE REASONS WE WANTED TO
HAVE STCI JOIN IS WE ARE
STILL IN THE BEGINNING OF THE
YEAR AS A COMMITTEE AS WE'RE
ROUNDING OUT THE OVERVIEW OF ALL
OF
THE ITEMS UNDER THE PURVIEW OF
THIS
NEWLY FORMED COMMITTEE
AND OF COURSE SDCI IS PART OF
THAT
COMMITTEE IN SO MUCH AS
IT'S RELATED TO LANDLORD TENANT
RELATIONS.
WE'RE EXCITED TO GET THIS
OVERVIEW OF THE WORK THAT YOU
DO WITH LANDLORD TENANT AND
RENTAL INSPECTIONS AND SO MUCH
MORE.
ARE WE ABLE TO GET THE
SLIDES PULLED UP?
FANTASTIC.
SO I'LL JUST CONCLUDE MY
BRIEF REMARKS AND SAY WITH MORE
THAN HALF OF THE RESIDENTS IN
THE CITY BEING RENTERS, IT'S
INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT
WE'RE RESPONSIVE AND WE KNOW
WHERE RENTERS GO WHEN THEY
HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THEIR
RIGHTS AND
ALSO WHERE LANDLORDS GO WHEN
THEY HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT
INSPECTIONS.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO THIS
OVERVIEW OF THE RULES,
REGULATIONS
AND THE FANTASTIC WORK THAT YOU
DO IN SDCI.
I'LL HAND IT OVER TO YOU FOR A
PRESENTATION.
I'LL ASK MY COLLEAGUES
TO HOLD ANY QUESTIONS UNTIL THE
END.
THE FLOOR IS
YOURS.
>> I'LL KICK IT OFF.
WE'RE GOING TO COVER A LOT
OF GROUND HERE.
WE WON'T READ EVERYTHING ON
THE SLIDE BUT YOU SHOULD LEAVE
WITH
A FULL UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT
WE DO AND SOME OF THE
PERFORMANCE
METRICS, HOW WE'RE SERVING
OUR CUSTOMERS AND WHAT OUR
PRIORITIES ARE FOR THIS YEAR.
I'LL PASS IT OVER TO MAUREEN
TO WORK THROUGH THE FIRST SLIDES
HERE.
>> WE WANTED TO GIVE
EVERYONE HERE A SENSE OF WHO WE
ARE
AND WHAT WE DO IN CODE
COMPLIANCE AT
CONSTRUCTION INSPECTIONS.
WE PROVIDE A WIDE ARRAY OF
SERVICES THROUGH MULTIPLE
TEAMS IN OUR OFFICE AND ALL OF
THESE TEAMS INTERCONNECT AND
WORK TOGETHER IN SOME WAY TO
SERVE RESIDENTS OF SEATTLE,
BOTH LANDLORDS AND TENANTS.
WE HAVE OUR PROPERTY OWNER
AND TENANT ASSISTANCE TEAM.
THIS IS THE TEAM I MANAGED PRIOR
TO MY NEW
ROLE. IT'S A FAIRLY LARGE TEAM
WITH
11 FULL- TIME POSITIONS.
HOWEVER, FOR THE WORK THAT
TEAM COVERS IT DOESN'T EVEN
SEEM
LIKE 11 WOULD BE ENOUGH.
WE DO INVESTIGATE COMPLAINTS
AND ENFORCE CITY RENTAL HOUSING
REGULATIONS.
THAT IS EVERYTHING THAT
FALLS OUTSIDE OF THE WORLD OF
INSPECTIONS.
SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT RENTAL
AGREEMENT COMPLAINTS,
PROHIBITED ACTS COMPLAINTS.
WE'LL GET MORE INTO THE CODE
SPECIFICALLY THAT WE
ENFORCE. BUT KNOWING THAT WE
DEAL
QUITE FREQUENTLY WITH COMPLAINTS
THAT ARE COMING IN FROM TENANTS.
WE ALSO HAVE OUR RENTAL HOUSING
STANDARDS.
THOSE ARE GOING TO BE
GOVERNED BY BOTH OUR HOUSING
ZONING
INSPECTORS AND OUR RIO TEAM OUR
RENTAL INSPECTION ORDINANCE
TEAM.
THOSE COMBINED REALLY MAKE
UP THE HOUSING CODE
COMPLIANCE PORTION OF SDCI AS
FAR AS
WHAT THE MINIMUM STANDARDS ARE
FOR HEALTH AND SAFETY IN THOSE
UNITS
THAT ARE BEING RENTED OUT.
WE HAVE OUTREACH AND EDUCATION.
THAT IS LINKED DIRECTLY TO
THE RENTAL PROGRAMS IN SDCI
THROUGH OUR RENTING IN SEATTLE
PROGRAM
AND ONE FULL- TIME
OUTREACH COORDINATOR WHO HANDLES
QUITE
A LOT OF WORK WITH RESPONDING
TO QUESTIONS FROM OWNERS
AND RENTERS AND HOSTING LANDLORD
TRAININGS, MAINTAINING A WEB
AND PRINT MATERIALS AVAILABLE TO
THE GENERAL PUBLIC.
AND WE'RE WORKING TO MAKE
SURE THAT ALL OF OUR MATERIALS
THAT ARE PUBLIC FACING ARE
MEETING
FEDERAL ACCESSIBILITY STANDARDS.
SO WE'RE WORKING VERY HARD WITH
OTHER DEPARTMENTS IN THE CITY
TO MEET ALL OF THOSE
REQUIREMENTS AND REALLY GO
THROUGH THOSE
DOCUMENTS.
WE ALSO ADMINISTER $2. 5
MILLION IN TENANT SERVICES
GRANTS.
WE PARTNER WITH COMMUNITY BASED
ORGANIZATIONS TO
PROVIDE SERVICES TO PARTICULARLY
HARD
TO REACH COMMUNITIES AND
ESSENTIAL SERVICES FOR HOUSING
STABILITY THAT OUR DEPARTMENT
DOESN'T
PROVIDE.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE REALLY
LOOKING AT THOSE CDOs THAT
PROVIDE
WRAPAROUND SERVICES, RENTAL
ASSISTANCE, LEGAL AID,
THINGS THAT WE CAN'T DO BUT WE
WANT TO
SUPPORT IN WORKING THROUGH THE
CITY.
AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST,
WE'RE HERE TODAY.
AND WE ARE PROVIDING
HOPEFULLY SUBJECT MATTER
EXPERTISE TO
ELECTED OFFICIALS, TO OUR CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND
OTHER DEPARTMENTS AND THE WORK
THAT
WE DO.
WE'RE ALWAYS AVAILABLE TO
ANSWER QUESTIONS RELATED TO OUR
LAN
--
LANDLORD TENANT REGULATIONS.
OUR TEAMS ARE WORKING
DIRECTLY WITH RESIDENTS, HEARING
THE COMPLAINTS THAT ARE COMING
IN, SEEING THE PROBLEMS THAT
CAN HAPPEN WHEN HOUSING IS
NOTNOT SAFE.
AND THEY ARE REALLY EXCITED TO
PARTICIPATE IN THAT WORK.
WE'RE GOING TO TALK A LITTLE
BIT ABOUT CODES.
THIS IS A PRETTY HIGH LEVEL
OF THE WORK THAT WE DO JUST TO
GIVE YOU A SENSE OF THE SCOPE OF
THAT
WORK.
IT REALLY FALLS INTO
TWO BUCKETS.
ONE OF THOSE BUCKETS BEING
MAINTENANCE, HABITABILITY AND
SAFETY.
OUR RENTAL REGISTRATION AND
INSPECTION ORDINANCE TEAM.
THESE ARE OUR INSPECTORS WHO GO
OUT IN THE FIELD, WHO LOOK
AT THE PROPERTIES AND ENSURE
ON THAT RIO SIDE THAT ANY
NEW RENTALS OR RENEWED RENTALS
ARE MEETING THOSE MINIMUM
STANDARDS
AND ALSO ENSURING
THAT PROPERTIES ARE GETTING
THOSE RANDOMLY SELECTED
INSPECTIONS EVERY FIVE TO TEN
YEARS IF WE
HAVE NOT RECEIVED A COMPLAINT IN
THE INTERIM.
HOUSING BUILDING AND
MAINTENANCE CODE, THESE REQUIRES
FOR GENERAL
STANDARDS SHOULD LOOK PRETTY
FAMILIAR.
THEY ARE SIMILAR TO THOSE
THAT ARE REQUIRED IN THE
RCWs AS FAR AS MAINTAINING UNITS
AND ALSO
PROVIDING FOR MAINTENANCE,
HEAT, ELECTRICAL SAFETY, FIRE
AND
SECURITY SAFETY.
THIS ALSO OUR HOUSING
BUILDING AND MAINTENANCE CODE IS
ALSO
A COMPLAINT BASED RESPONSE.
SO WE ARE TAKING COMPLAINTS
FROM USUALLY TENANTS,
SOMETIMES NEIGHBORS WHO ARE
REPORTING
ISSUES WITH PROPERTIES.
AND THEN OUR INSPECTORS
ARE DEPLOYED TO THE FIELD TO
DO THOSE INSPECTIONS.
OFTENTIMES OUR INSPECTORS
ARE PARTNERING WITH A MEMBER OF
OUR
PROPERTY OWNER AND
TENANT ASSISTANCE TEAM TO ANSWER
ANY
QUESTIONS THAT MIGHT COME UP.
OKAY.
FOR OUR TENANT PROTECTIONS,
WE REGULATE EVERYTHING FROM MOVE
IN TO MOVE OUT AND EVERYTHING IN
BETWEEN. WE HAVE REGULATIONS
AROUND RENTAL AGREEMENTS AND
FEES.
WE HAVE SOME PROHIBITED
ACTS THAT OWNERS ARE NOT
PERMITTED
TO DO IN THE COURSE OF
A RESIDENTIAL RENTAL.
WE ALSO HAVE THE DUTIES
OF OWNERS WHICH AGAIN REFLECT
THE
DUTIES OF OWNERS THAT ARE
THERE IN THE
RESIDENTIAL LANDLORD TENANT ACT.
WHILE WE DO RECEIVE MOST
COMPLAINTS ABOUT PROPERTIES FROM
TENANTS OR COMPLAINTS
ABOUT THESE ISSUES, RENTAL
AGREEMENTS AND FEES PROHIBITED
ACTS
AND DUTIES OF OWNERS, WE DO HAVE
A FAIRLY ACTIVE LANDLORD
COMMUNITY IN SEATTLE AND WE DO
HAVE
A DESIGNATED STAFF MEMBER WHO'S
ACTUALLY OUR
OUTREACH COORDINATOR WHO
HANDLES QUESTIONS FOR
EDUCATIONAL AND
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FROM
OWNERS.
THOSE QUESTIONS REALLY COME IN
AROUND NEW LAWS WHEN THEY'RE
PASSED.
THEY COME IN AROUND SOME OF OUR
MORE COMPLICATED LAWS
WITH RENTAL AGREEMENTS AND ALSO
ABOUT BEST PRACTICES, LIKE AS
A LANDLORD WHAT IS THE
BEST PRACTICE I CAN DO TO BE
COMPLIANT WITH THESE LAWS.
IT HELPS THAT OUR
OUTREACH COORDINATOR IS ALSO A
LANDLORD HERSELF.
THAT REALLY CAME OUT OF
CONVERSATIONS WE HAD WITH SMALL
LANDLORDS WHO EXPRESSED A BIT
OF UNEASINESS AROUND
COMMUNICATING THEIR QUESTIONS ON
EDUCATION
TO THE SAME PEOPLE THAT WERE
DOING
COMPLIANCE AND ENFORMENT.
WHILE WE TRY TO EDUCATE
OWNERS WHEN WE'RE ENGAGED IN
THAT
ENFORCEMENT ROLE, THEY
WERE REALLY COMFORTABLE HAVING
THIS
PERSON THEY COULD GO TO SAYING
THIS IS WHAT I'M DOING, IS IT
WRONG, HOW CAN I FIX IT.
WE CREATED THAT SEASON WITHIN
SDCI.
SO
FAR IT'S BEEN WORKING REALLY
WELL.
SO MOVE IN TO MOVE OUT.
WE TALK ABOUT WHAT CAN
AND CANNOT BE CHARGED TO A
TENANT AT MOVE IN.
WHAT TYPES OF FEES CAN BE
CHARGED DURING THE TENANCY.
WE TALK ABOUT A LOT OF WHAT
CAN HAPPEN DURING THE
TENANCY AS FAR AS AN OWNER
COMING INTO THE
PROPERTY AND WHAT NOTICE THAT
REQUIRES.
WE GET A LOT OF CALLS
AROUND RENT INCREASES.
AND THEN ONCE WE GET THROUGH
TO THE END OF THE TENANCY, MOST
OF WE HANDLE
ARE ABOUT WHEN THE TENANCY
DOESN'T END AS EVERYONE HOPED
AND
EXPECTED. THOSE CALLS ARE COMING
FROM THOSE EVICTION
PROTECTIONS THAT ARE IN THE
CODE.
CITY OF SEATTLE HAS A
PLETHORA OF RENTER PROTECTIONS
AS FAR
AS EVICTION GOES, THE MOST
RECENT
BEING RIGHT TO COUNSEL.
WITH RIGHT TO COUNSEL,
THAT PROVIDES LOW INCOME TENANTS
IN
SEATTLE WITH THE RIGHT TO
AN ATTORNEY IF THEY ARE FACING
AN
EVICTION.
THE CITY PARTNERS WITH
THE HOUSING JUSTICE
PROJECT CURRENTLY TO PROVIDE
THAT
SERVICE.
IT IS A SERVICE
THAT'S MANDATED TO BE FUNDED
THROUGH THE CODE.
ANY EVICTION THAT TAKES PLACE IN
THE CITY OF SEATTLE HAS TO
BE DONE WITH JUST CAUSE.
AND SIMILARLY LEASE
RENEWALS REQUIRE IF YOUR LEASE
IS
GOING TO BE TERMINATED, THE
OWNER
HAS TO HAVE JUST CAUSE TO DO
THAT.
RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL IS HOW
WE REFER TO IT.
IT WAS ALSO DONE IN SEATTLE
TO BRIDGE A GAP IN THE STATE
LAW.
THE STATE LAW HAS A SIMILAR
RENEWAL POLICY WHERE LEASES
NEED TO BE RENEWED UNLESS
THERE'S CAUSE NOT TO RENEW
THEM, BUT
IT EXCLUDED TERM LEASES.
SO SEATTLE CLOSED THAT GAP
WHERE YOU NEED TO RENEW A LEASE
REGARDLESS OF WHETHER IT'S
TERM OR MONTH TO MONTH AND YOU
NEED
TO HAVE CAUSE TO DO THAT.
THERE ARE SEVERAL EVICTION
DEFENSES. THESE ARE SEPARATED
OUT BECAUSE
EVICTION DEFENSES ARE TOOLS
FOR THE TENANTS TO RAISE WHEN
THEY'RE FACING AN EVICTION.
AT THIS POINT, THE CASE
IS USUALLY IN LITIGATION IN
THAT STATUS WHERE WE ARE NO
LONGER
INVOLVED ONCE IT'S IN THE
COURTS.
AND THE DEFENSES THE TENANTS
CAN RAISE TO THE EVICTION
ITSELF.
SO THE FIRST AND EARLY ON IN
THE TENANCY BEING IS THE
PROPERTY RIO REGISTERED.
WHENEVER WE RECEIVE A
COMPLAINT FROM A TENANT, WE
CHECK TO SEE
IS THERE A RIO REGISTRATION.
IF THERE ISN'T, THAT
PROPERTY GOES ON THE LIST TO
BE CONTACTED TO GET THAT PROCESS
MOVING FORWARD SO THAT THE
PROPERTY CAN BE REGISTERED AS
IT'S
REQUIRED TO BE.
IF THEY'RE GOING THROUGH THE
COURT SYSTEM AND A
PROPERTY ISN'T REGISTERED, THE
TENANT CAN
RAISE THAT AS A DEFENSE.
THEY CAN ALSO RAISE
DEFENSES AROUND THE TIME OF YEAR
THESE EVICTIONS ARE HAPPENING.
SO DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR AND IT
FOLLOWS SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOL
SCHEDULE, TENANTS WITH
CHILDREN UNDER 18 IN THE
HOUSEHOLD,
SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS AND
SCHOOL STAFF CANNOT BE
PHYSICALLY
REMOVED FROM THE HOME
DURING THAT PERIOD OF TIME WITH
VERY
LIMITED EXCEPTIONS.
THE WINTER EVICTION DEFENSE ALSO
PROHIBITS EVICTIONS FOR
MODERATE INCOME HOUSEHOLDS
DURING WINTER
MONTHS.
THAT'S READ AS DECEMBER
1st THROUGH MARCH 1st, AGAIN
WITH
LIMITED EXCEPTIONS.
THESE ARE DEFENSES THAT CAN
BE RAISED IN THE COURT PROCESS.
WE ADMINISTER SEVERAL RELOCATION
EXCEPTIONS OF THE CODE.
PROBABLY THE ONE PEOPLE
ARE FAMILIAR WITH IS THE TENANT
RELOCATION ASSISTANCE
ORDINANCE. IT RELATES TO
DEVELOPMENT
ACTIVITY, CHANGE OF USE, USE
RESTRICTIONS.
THERE'S SOME OVERLAP WITH
THE OFFICE OF HOUSING AND OUR
MFTE PROGRAM WHERE PROPERTIES
ARE COMING OUT OF AN AFFORDABLE
HOUSING PROGRAM
AND TRANSITIONING BACK TO MARKET
RATE.
THIS PROVIDES EARLY NOTICE TO
EVERYONE.
SO THERE IS NO
INCOME REQUIREMENT TO GET THE
NOTICE THAT THE CODE PROVIDES,
WHICH
IS ABOUT SIX MONTHS OF NOTICE
WHEN YOU GO THROUGH THE TREO
PROCESS.
IT PROVIDES
RELOCATION ASSISTANCE HALF PAID
BY THE
CITY, HALF PAID BY THE OWNER.
THAT'S THE CURRENT AMOUNT, THE
5354. IT CHANGES ANNUALLY WITH
THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX.
ONLY LOW INCOME
TENANTS ARE ENTITLED TO THAT
ASSISTANCE.
ECONOMIC DISPLACEMENTMENT
RELOCATION ASSISTANCE CAME
AFTER COVID.
IT WAS ENACTED TO TRY TO
PREVENT
MASS DISPLACEMENT. THAT DEALS
WITH RENT
INCREASES OF 10% OR MORE.
IF THE RENT INCREASES 10% OR
MORE, EDRA PROVIDES UP TO
THREE TIMES THE RENT TO 80% AMI
HOUSEHOLDS. SOME DISTINCTIONS
WITH EDRA,
IT APPLIES TO THE HOUSEHOLD
BUT THERE CAN BE MULTIPLE
HOUSEHOLDS WITHIN THE UNIT.
SO IF YOU HAVE TWO ROOMMATES
WHO WANT TO MOVE SEPARATELY,
THEY CAN BOTH APPLY AND THEY
GET ASSISTANCE AND THE
ASSISTANCE IS
SPLIT BETWEEN THEM AS OPPOSED
TO THEM HAVING TO DIVVY IT
UP THROUGHOUT THE HOUSEHOLD.
ALSO WITH ECONOMIC DISPLACEMENT
RELOCATION ASSISTANCE, WE
THOUGHT WE WOULD SEE A DROP
IN THIS AFTER THE STATE
PASSED HOUSING STABLIZATION AND
RENT
STABLIZATION.
SO FAR THE WAY OUR NUMBERS
LOOK AND GEOFF WILL GET INTO
THIS IN
MORE DETAIL WITH THE NUMBERS
CONVERSATION, SO FAR WE'RE
STILL SEEING QUITE A BIT OF 10%
OR
MORE RENT INCREASES QUALIFYING
FOR THE EDRA PROGRAM.
WE BELIEVE THAT'S IN LARGE
PART DUE TO EXCEPTIONS IN STATE
LAW
THAT ARE STILL ALLOWING FOR
RENT INCREASES IN CERTAIN TYPES
OF
BUILDINGS.
WE ALSO HAVE EMERGENCY AND
OTHER RELOCATION ASSISTANCE.
THIS IS THE TYPE OF
ASSISTANCE THAT'S PARTNERED
WITH OUR
HOUSING ZONING INSPECTORS.
THEY'LL GO OUT TO A
PROPERTY. IF THEY IDENTIFY
LIFE- THREATENING ISSUES, THEN
WE
ISSUE WHAT'S CALLED A REPAIR
AND RESTORE.
IT WILL GIVE THE PROPERTY
OWNER AN OPPORTUNITY TO FIX IT.
IF THE FIX CAN'T BE MADE
OR CAN'T BE MADE IN A
REASONABLE TIME WHILE KEEPING
THE PROPERTY
SAFE, WE CLOSE THE PROPERTY.
THAT MEANS ANYONE LIVING
THERE HAS TO LEAVE.
THIS IS DONE AS A LAST RESORT.
WE DON'T WANT TO DISPLACE
PEOPLE.
WE ALWAYS TRY IN
ANY CIRCUMSTANCE WHERE A
CORRECTION HAS TO BE MADE TO A
PROPERTY TO
HAVE THAT CORRECTION MADE AS
OPPOSED TO REQUIRING PEOPLE TO
VACATE.
SOMETIMES IT'S JUST NOT
POSSIBLE
DEPENDING ON THE EXTENT.
AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE NO
ONE'S LIVING IN AN
IMMINENTLY HAZARDOUS CONDITION.
IN DOING THAT, WE DO PROVIDE
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IN
CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES FOR
PEOPLE WHO HAVE TO VACATE.
PROBABLY THE MOST COMMON THAT
WE DON'T PROVIDE ASSISTANCE FOR
ARE
GOING TO BE FIRES AND OTHER
EVENTS THAT ARE NOT WITHIN
THE CONTROL OF THE OWNER.
THAT SOMETHING WE GET A LOT OF
QUESTIONS ABOUT WITH RESPECT TO
WHAT DOES EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE
COVER.
AS YOU CAN IMAGINE WE HAVE QUITE
A BIT OF OVERLAP WITH STATE LAW
AND A LOT OF AREAS WHERE
SEATTLE'S LAWS ARE
MORE PROTECTIVE AND ALSO AREAS
WHERE THERE'S A STATE LAW THAT
EXISTS BUT WE HAVE JURISDICTION
UNDER THE CODE BUT NOT
JURISDICTION
OVER THE STATE LAW. LET ME
EXPLAIN THAT A LITTLE
BIT.
SO RENT STABLIZATION WAS
PASSED AT THE STATE LEVEL.
WE SPEND A LOT OF OUR
TIME EDUCATING RENTERS AND
OWNERS
ABOUT THE REQUIREMENTS OF RENT
STABLIZATION.
WE PROVIDE THEM WITH
HELPFUL INFORMATION INCLUDING
LINKS
TO THE TEXT OF THAT LEGISLATION
SO
THAT THEY CAN BECOME
FAMILIAR WITH IT BUT WE DO NOT
ENFORCE
THAT LEGISLATION.
IT'S ENFORCED THROUGH
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE.
NOTICES TO TERMINATE FOR
CAUSE AND LEASE RENEWALS, AGAIN,
THERE
IS A STATE LAW REQUIRING LEASE
RENEWAL. CITY OF SEATTLE IS
MORE PROTECTIVE INCLUDING THOSE
TERM
LEASES. WE HAVE TIMELINES FOR
REPAIR.
WE ARE OFTEN ASKED HOW LONG
AN OWNER HAS TO MAKE THOSE
REPAIRS.
THESE TIMELINES ARE IN STATE
LAW.
SO AGAIN WE'RE PROVIDING
EDUCATION AND INFORMATION
ON THOSE STATE LAWS.
AND SECURITY DEPOSITS, WE DO
ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITY OVER
SECURITY DEPOSITS BUT THERE
ARE ALSO GOOD CIVIL REMEDIES IN
THE
STATE LAW FOR TENANTS WHO
CAN ACTUALLY GET, IF THEY GO
TO COURT ON AN INTENTIONAL
SECURITY DEPOSIT WITHHOLDING,
THEY
CAN GET MORE THROUGH THAT STATE
ACTION IF THEY CAN PROVE
THAT WITHHOLDING WAS
INTENTIONAL.
WHILE WE DO HAVE
ENFORCEMENT
AUTHORITY OVER SECURITY
DEPOSITS, SOMETIMES THE PATH
TO GETTING THAT DEPOSIT BACK
IS BETTER TAKEN THROUGH THE
STATE.
AND AGAIN THAT'S NOT AN
EXHAUSTIVE LIST,
JUST ONE WE SEE THE MOST
QUESTIONS ON.
OUTREACH.
WE DO A WHOLE LOT OF IT.
WE TRY TO SPEND AS MUCH TIME AS
WE CAN IN THE COMMUNITY
AND WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY.
THIS DOESN'T ALWAYS MEAN
THAT WE ARE THE ONES PROVIDING
THE
DIRECT WORKSHOP OR THE TRAININGS
OR THE
COUNSELLING. A LOT OF TIMES
WE'RE RELYING ON
COMMUNITY PARTNERS THAT WE FUND
TO REACH THOSE AUDIENCES
THAT FOR GOOD REASON MIGHT NOT
WANT
TO ENGAGE WITH THE
GOVERNMENT AND REALLY GET TO
THOSE POPULATIONS THAT
HISTORICALLY
DO NOT REACH OUT FOR HELP
DIRECTLY TO GOVERNMENT
OFFICIALS.
SO THAT'S ONE OF THE WAYS THAT
WE EXPAND OUR OUTREACH
AND INCLUSION IS WORKING WITH
THOSE
CBOs.
INTERNALLY WE HAVE THE RENTING
IN SEATTLE PROGRAM.
IT'S A FULLY BRANDED
PROGRAM THAT REALLY HAS TAILORED
RESOURCES.
IF YOU'RE HAD A CHANCE TO
LOOK AT THE WEBSITE THE RESOURCE
IS DESIGNED TO BE USED BY
RENTERS AND OWNERS AND EACH
SECTION
OF RENTING IN SEATTLE
IS SPECIFICALLY TAILORED TO
THOSE
AUDIENCES.
IF YOU CLICK ON THE I'M A
RENTER, YOU'RE GOING TO GET
A DIFFERENT READ THAN IF YOU
CLICK ON I'M AN OWNER.
THE IDEA IS TRYING TO
TAKE YOU THROUGH THE INFORMATION
THAT'S
MOST RELEVANT TO YOU BASED ON
YOUR POSITION.
WE ALSO DO LANDLORD TRAININGS.
WE HAVE FOUR PLANS SO FAR IN
2026.
WE JUST HAD ONE LAST WEEK AT --
AND HAD 74 LANDLORDS TURN
OUT. SOME GREAT DISCUSSION IN
THAT
TRAINING.
OUR RENTERS HANDBOOK
WHICH IS AVAILABLE IN 14
LANGUAGES, WE
DO PARTNER WITH THE RENTAL
ASSOCIATION WITH ON THIS
HANDBOOK.
THIS HANDBOOK IS RETIRED TO
BE PROVIDED BY OWNERS WHEN A
TENANT IS MOVING INTO A PROPERTY
AND
AT RENEWALS DURING A TENANCY.
THE IDEA IS EVERY RENTER IN THE
CITY OF SEATTLE SHOULD HAVE
A COPY OR ACCESS TO THIS
HANDBOOK.
WE HAVE LANDLORD
NEWSLETTER THAT'S BASED ON OUR
RIO REGISTRATIONS AND
ADDITIONAL LANDLORDS WHO SIGNED
UP TO BE
ON A LIST SERVE, WE SEND OUT
A NEWSLETTER THROUGH THAT
LIST SERVE AND COMMUNICATE
THINGS
THAT COME UP IN BETWEEN THE
NEWSLETTER. IF NEW LAWS PASS AND
THINGS
NEED TO BE COMMUNICATED TO
THE LANDLORD COMMUNITY URGENTLY,
WE CAN SEND IT OUT THROUGH THAT
TOOL. WE DO A NUMBER OF PARTNER
TRAININGS.
WE WORK WITH COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS, LANDLORD
ORGANIZATIONS.
WE GO TO A LOT OF
COMMUNITY EVENTS WHERE WE CAN DO
TABLING, GET OUT AND REALLY
REACH
PEOPLE WHO MAY NOT COME TO
DOWNTOWN SEATTLE OR WHO AGAIN
MIGHT
NOT WANT TO ENGAGE IN A
GOVERNMENT
BUILDING.
I KEEP TALKING ABOUT COMMUNITY
PARTNERS.
HERE THEY ARE.
THESE ARE THE COMMUNITY
PARTNERS WE ARE DIRECTLY WORKING
WITH THROUGH OUR GRANT PROGRAM.
THESE PROVIDERS DO EVERYTHING
FROM DIRECT EVICTION DEFENSE TO
SUPPORTIVE SERVICES LIKE
CASE WORK AND DISPUTE
RESOLUTION.
THE PARTNERSHIP WITH
DISPUTE RESOLUTION IS NEW THIS
YEAR,
SO WE'RE REALLY LOOKING TO SEE
HOW WE CAN EXPAND THAT AND WORK
WITH
DISPUTE RESOLUTION TO HELP US
IN THOSE SCENARIOS WHERE WE
HAVE CUSTOMERS CALL AND IT'S
CLEARLY JUST A DISPUTE BETWEEN
THE TENANT AND THE OWNER THAT
NEEDS TO BE AMICKABLY RESOLVED.
WE PROVIDE ANNUAL TRAINING
FOR THE PROVIDERS WHETHER THEY
ARE RETURN GRANTEES OR NEW
GRANTEES WHICH WE ARE HOSTING
TOMORROW.
WE HAVE A BIG TRAINING TOMORROW
FOR THESE ORGANIZATIONS
TO PARTICIPATE IN.
OUR ANNUAL GRANT SOLICITATION IS
2. 5 MILLION FOR 2026.
WE'RE HOPING TO MAINTAIN
THAT BASELINE IN 2027 AND 2028.
FROM ALL OF THESE
ORGANIZATIONS WE RECEIVE A
MONTHLY REPORT
ON BOTH WHAT'S BEEN SPENT AND
WITH WHAT THE
DELIVERABLES ARE THAT
HAVE BEEN MET IN THAT PERIOD OF
TIME.
IN ADDITION TO INTERSECTING
WITH CBOs, WE ALSO INTERSECT
QUITE FREQUENTLY WITH OTHER CITY
DEPARTMENTS.
SO THE SEATTLE OFFICE FOR CIVIL
RIGHTS, IN THE BEGINNING
WHEN I SAID WE REALLY DEAL WITH
THE TENANCY FROM THE MOVE IN TO
THE
MOVE OUT, SEATTLE OFFICE
OF CIVIL RIGHTS LOOKS AT
THOSE ISSUES OR AT LEAST SOME OF
THOSE ISSUES THAT ARE HAPPENING
BEFORE A TENANCY EVEN EXISTS.
SO THEY'RE DEALING WITH FIRST
IN TIME AND FAIR CHANCE HOUSING
AND THEN ALSO ANY FAIR
HOUSING VIOLATIONS THAT MAY
OCCUR
DURING THE TENANCY.
WE FREQUENTLY GET QUESTIONS
ABOUT THIS AND ARE
REFERRING CUSTOMERS TO SOCR FOR
HELP.
THE DEPARTMENT OF
NEIGHBORHOODS, WE HEAR FROM THE
DEPARTMENT
OF NEIGHBORHOODS ON
COMMUNICATIONS AND CONCERNS THAT
HAVE
COME THROUGH THE RENTERS
COMMISSION.
OFTEN TIMES WE'RE ABLE TO
HELP THEM DIRECT A CUSTOMER
EITHER
TO US OR TO THE RIGHT PLACE WHEN
THEY'RE LOOKING FOR
ASSISTANCE WITH THEIR RENTAL.
HSD PROVIDES RENT ASSISTANCE
THROUGH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS.
MANY OF THOSE ORGANIZATIONS
OVERLAP WITH SOME OF THE
ORGANIZATIONS WE'RE FUNDING FOR
SERVICES.
OFFICE OF HOUSING.
OUR PARTNERS THAT ARE HERE
WITH US TODAY, WE WORK FAIRLY
CLOSELY
ON MFTE PROPERTIES PARTICULARLY
THAT ARE GOING TO EXPIRE.
WE IN THE LAST SEVERAL
YEARS HAVE STARTED A STRUCTURED
OUTREACH FOR PROPERTIES WHEN
WE KNOW THEY ARE NOT GOING TO
RENEW
THEIR MFTE.
WE WANT THEM TO KNOW EARLY THAT
THEY'RE REQUIRED TO GO THROUGH
TENANT RELOCATION.
WE WORK WITH OFFICE OF
HOUSING TO COMMUNICATE WITH THEM
THAT
THEY'RE REQUIRED TO GO
THROUGH THAT PROCESS.
CITY UTILITIES, FOR ANY
REQUESTS WE GET FROM TENANTS
WITH
UTILITY DISPUTES OR PROBLEMS
WITH SHUTOFFS WE WORK WITH
CITY UTILITIES ON THOSE ISSUES.
SOMETIMES WE DON'T KNOW
WHY SOMETHING HAS BEEN SHUT
OFF, WHETHER IT'S A NONPAYMENT
ISSUE OR A MECHANICAL OR OR
PROPERTY RELATED ISSUE.
SO OUR INSPECTORS WORK WITH CITY
UTILITIES TO TRY TO
PINPOINT THAT PROBLEM.
AND WE REFER PEOPLE THERE
FOR BILLING DISPUTES ALONG WITH
THE HEARING EXAMINER'S OFFICE.
SO MY LAST SLIDE BUT
PROBABLY ONE OF OUR MOST
IMPORTANT
SLIDES IS HOW DO CUSTOMERS GET
TO US?
I JUST SPENT THE LAST 15
MINUTES OR SO TALKING ABOUT ALL
THE
THINGS WE DO AND ALL THE
THINGS WE COVER.
WELL, THOSE SERVICES ARE ONLY
AS USEFUL AS PEOPLE'S ABILITY
TO GET TO US AND TO REPORT
THEIR PROBLEMS AND GET
ASSISTANCE.
HOW CUSTOMERS REACH US, THEY
CAN REACH US IN A NUMBER OF
WAYS.
THEY CAN SUBMIT
COMPLAINTS THROUGH SEATTLE
SERVICES
PORTAL WHICH IS AN ONLINE
PORTAL.
OR THEY CAN CALL THE RENTING
IN SEATTLE HOTLINE.
ONCE WE RECEIVE A
COMPLAINT WHETHER IT'S FROM A
TENANT OR AN
OWNER, WE HAVE AN INTAKE
TEAM THAT CAN HANDLE BASIC
QUESTIONS AND CORRECTLY FUNNEL
THOSE
QUESTIONS TO THE RIGHT TEAM.
IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT
ISN'T MEANT FOR SDCI, THEY CAN
ALSO PROVIDE REFERRALS.
OUR COMPLAINTS ARE TRIAGE BASED.
THIS IS LARGELY
DUE TO THE NUMBER AND COMPLEXITY
OF COMPLAINTS THAT WE RECEIVE
WITH FIRST PRIORITY GOING
TO EMERGENCY CONDITIONS,
EVICTIONS, LOCKOUTS AND RENT
INCREASES.
THOSE TEND TO BE THE MOST
TIME SENSITIVE AND PRESSING FOR
CUSTOMERS, SO THEY GO TO
THE FRONT OF THE LINE.
ONCE WE GET TO THE POINT WHERE
A COMPLAINT HAS BEEN
PROCESSED, THEN A SPECIALIST OR
AN INSPECTOR CONTACTS THE
CUSTOMER AND WILL FOLLOW UP FROM
THAT POINT WITH AN INVESTIGATION
TO
DETERMINE IF A VIOLATION
EXISTS OR WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE
FOR
COMPLIANCE.
AND WITH THAT,LY TURN I WILL
TURN
IT BACK TO
GEOFF.
>> THANK YOU.
I'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
PERFORMANCE AND OUR NUMBERS, HOW
WE'RE DOING IN TERMS OF SERVING
CUSTOMERS.
WE TAKE OUR PERFORMANCE VERY
SERIOUSLY.
WE TRACK IT CAREFULLY.
WE MANAGE IT, WE CHECK IN
WITH OUR TEAM AND ADJUST AS WE
NEED
TO.
THE GRAPH THERE IS THERE TO SHOW
YOU WE HAD A COUPLE OF VERY
TOUGH YEARS THERE COMING OUT
OF THE PANDEMIC AND THE LIFTING
OF THE EVICTION MORATORIUM.
THERE WAS QUITE A BIT
OF PENTUP DEMAND FOR OUR
SERVICES.
CALL IT THE PIG AND THE
PYTHON OR THE MOUNTAIN OR
SOMETHING --
OVER THE COURSE OF 2021,
2022 AND 2023 WE WERE VERY BUSY
AND STRUGGLING TO KEEP UP WITH
THE DEMAND FOR OUR SERVICES.
I THINK THE MESSAGE WE'RE
HERE TODAY IS WE THINK THE
WORKLOAD IS STABILIZING.
IT STOPPED SETTLING OUT ABOUT
70% OVER PRE- PANDEMIC LEVELS
BUT AT A LEVEL WE CAN MANAGE.
>> IF WE CAN GET YOU TO
COME CLOSER TO THE MIC, THAT
WOULD BE
FANTASTIC.
>> OKAY.
SO IN 2025 WE HAD OVER
5,000 RENTAL COMPLAINTS MADE AND
ABOUT THE SAME NUMBER OF RENTAL
COMPLAINTS ADDRESSED.
SO MORE OR LESS PARITY.
WE WERE ABLE TO KEEP UP
WITH DEMAND IN 2025.
THAT WAS THE FIRST YEAR AFTER
A FEW YEARS OF STRUGGLING TO
KEEP UP.
MAUREEN MENTIONED THIS TRIAGE
SYSTEM WE USE.
WE PRIORITIZE HIGHER AND LOWER
CASES.
WE GET FRONT OF THE LINE
TREATMENT FOR THE MOST URGENT
SITUATIONS.
SOME SITUATIONS TAKE LONGER
IF IT'S A WHAT IF SCENARIO OR
JUST WANTING GENERAL ADVICE,
THOSE
GO TOWARDS THE BACK OF THE LINE.
THERE'S A BUNCH OF STUFF IN THE
MIDDLE.
WE DID A DEEP DIVE INTO HOW THE
TRIAGE SYSTEM WAS WORKING LAST
YEAR. WE SAT PRETTY COMFORTABLY
WITH THE RESPONSE.
THAT WAS ONE- DAY MEDIUM
RESPONSE TIME TO THE COMPLAINTS
THAT
CAME IN.
HALF THE PEOPLE CALLING US
ARE IN THAT EXPRESS LANE WITH
HIGH PRIORITY CALLS.
WE GET THAT ASSIGNED TO
AN ANALYST RIGHT AWAY.
THE ANALYST STARTS WORKING ON
THEIR CASE. ON THE OTHER END 28-
DAY
AVERAGE RESPONSE TIME FOR OTHER
CALLS COMING IN.
SO THE MIDDLE TIER PROBABLY
A LITTLE BIT AHEAD OF THAT 28,
THE
LOWER PRIORITY CALLS COULD
TAKE A MONTH OR LONGER TO GET A
RESPONSE.
IT'S BEEN STEADILY
IMPROVING OVER THE LAST COUPLE
OF
YEARS HERE AS THE DEMAND FOR
SERVICES
HAS GONE DOWN.
WE HAD 289 ENFORCEMENT CASES IN
2025.
WE'RE QUITE SUCCESSFUL IN
NOT HAVING TO MOVE TO FORMAL
ENFORCEMENT. EVERYTHING WE DO IS
ENFORCEMENT AT SOME LEVEL.
WE GET A COMPLAINT, WE GET
ON THE PHONE, WE TALK TO A
TENANT, WE LEARN
WHAT THE SITUATION IS. WE TALK
TO A LANDLORD, THEY
FIX THE ISSUE.
WE GET QUITE A BIT OF
SUCCESS JUST IN THOSE
CONVERSATIONS THAT
WE HAVE .
A FEW OTHER NUMBERS FOR YOU.
SO TENANT RELOCATION
ASSISTANCE ORDINANCE WE HAD 86
HOUSEHOLDS
GO THROUGH THE TREO PROCESS.
THEY RECEIVED AN AVERAGE OF
$2600 LAST YEAR IN EDRA
ECONOMIC DISPLACEMENT RELOCATION
ASSISTANCE, THERE WERE
75 HOUSEHOLDS WITH AN AVERAGE
PAYOUT OF $4700.
AS MAUREEN MENTIONED WE KIND OF
EXPECTED A DECREASE IN EDRA
DEMAND WITH THE STATE
RENT STABLIZATION BUT WE'VE HAD
24
EDRA CASES SO FAR THIS YEAR.
WE'RE ONLY 2 1/2 MONTHS IN.
WE'RE ON TRACK RIGHT NOW TO
BE AT THE SAME LEVEL AS THE
PAST.
RIO, JUST SOME NUMBERS FOR
YOU. THE RIO PROGRAM HAS TWO
COMPONENTS BOTH A
REGISTRATION AND INSPECTION
COMPONENT.
THE REGISTRATION IS KIND OF
LIKE A BUSINESS LICENSE.
OF THE LICENSED
RENTAL PROPERTIES IN THE CITY WE
HAVE
28,000 PROPERTIES IN THE
CITY AND CONTAINED ON
THOSE PROPERTIES IS 195,000
UNITS.
THAT'S THE SCOPE OF OUR RENTAL
INSPECTION PROGRAM.
THEN LAST YEAR WE DID
3600 INSPECTIONS ON THOSE
PROPERTIES.
THOSE ARE THOSE
RANDOMLY SELECTED INSPECTIONS
EVERY
FIVE TO TEN
YEARS. FOR OUTREACH WE HOSTED
OR STAFFED 22 2 EVENTS LAST
YEAR.
IN OUR LANDLORD TRAININGS
WE
HAD --
[ INDISCERNIBLE ] OUR GRANTEES
REPORTED
9244 DIRECT TENANT
CONTACTS. IT A ES A VARIETY OF
THINGS
WE KIND OF TOTALLED UP.
IT COULD BE TENANT
SUPPORT IN THE EVICTION PROCESS.
IT COULD BE INTERESTED
PEOPLE, RENTERS THAT SHOWED UP
AT AN
OUTREACH EVENT.
THEN 147,000 DIGITAL OUTREACH
CONTACTS. THOSE ARE ALWAYS A
LITTLE BIT
SOFT, BUT DIGITAL MEDIA IS A
SUPER IMPORTANT WAY TO REACH
PEOPLE. SO IT MAY BE EASY TO GET
HIGH
NUMBERS, BUT THAT'S AN
IMPORTANT PLACE WHERE
WE'RE REACHING A LOT OF
RENTERS.
ALL RIGHT.
2026 PRIORITIES.
I DON'T KNOW, MAUREEN,
MAYBE I'LL JUMP IN AND YOU CAN
ADD.
>> YEAH.
GO FOR
IT.
>> SO I THINK THE BIGGEST
THEME FOR US THIS YEAR IS
ADAPTING
TO THIS NEW NORMAL.
AGAIN HOPEFULLY WE'VE
STABILIZED AT A WORKLOAD WE CAN
KEEP
UP WITH AND IMPROVE THE
CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE IN THIS NEW
NORMAL, UPDATING CUSTOMER INTAKE
SYSTEMS FOR FASTER MOVEMENT FROM
OUR CALL CENTER TO ASSIGNED TO
AN ANALYST TO A RESPONSIVE CALL.
WE'RE DOING ACTIVE WORK ON THE
EDRA INTAKE AND I.T.
SYSTEM RIGHT NOW TOGETHER WITH
SEATTLE
I.T.
EXPAND COLLABORATION WITH
OUR COMMUNITY BASED PARTNERS TO
MEET
SOME OF THE UNMET NEEDS AND
COMPLETE ACCESSIBILITY WORK FOR
ALL OF OUR PUBLIC
FACING MATERIALS HAS BEEN A BIG
EFFORT THIS YEAR .
REALLY IMPORTANT TO US IS TO
IMPROVE THE RIO I.T. SYSTEM.
WE KNOW THERE'S SOME
CHALLENGES WITH OUR CUSTOMERS
USING IT.
IN THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO
GET THE PRIORITIZATION WITHIN
SEATTLE'S BROADER I.T.
PORTFOLIO TO WORK ON THAT.
AND THEN A BIG ONE RIGHT NOW IS
JUST TO CONTINUE TO
PROVIDE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTISE
TO
THE POLICY MAKERS IN THE CITY
LIKE THE COUNCILMEMBERS HERE,
MAYOR'S
OFFICE, CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE,
OTHER PARTIES THAT MAY
BE CALLING LOOKING FOR SOME
ADVICE.
>> I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO
ADD.
THAT WAS FULL COVERAGE OF THAT
SLIDE.
>> WE COVERED A LOT OF GROUND
HERE FOR YOU.
WE'RE ALWAYS AVAILABLE AND
HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS NOW
OR FOLLOW- UP QUESTIONS LATER
ON.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I REALLY APPRECIATE BOTH OF
YOU AND THE WORK THAT YOU PUT
INTO THIS GREAT PRESENTATION.
YOU COVER ADD LOT ED A LOT OF
GROUND
IN I WANT TO SAY 30 MINUTES.
THANK SO MUCH.
WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR
SERVICE AND LEADERSHIP.
I WILL NOW TURN TO MY COLLEAGUES
TO SEE IF THERE ARE
ANY QUESTIONS FOR OUR PRESENTERS
TODAY.
COUNCILMEMBER LIN.
>> THANK YOU BOTH.
ON THE EDRA STUFF, IS THAT NEWER
BUILDINGS?
COULD YOU GIVE MORE
INFORMATION ABOUT WHO'S
APPLYING FOR THOSE?
>> YEAH.
WE ARE STILL OF COURSE GETTING
APPLICATIONS FROM BUILDINGS THAT
ARE NOT EXEMPTED FROM THE STATE
CAP ON RENT, BUT WE STILL ARE
PROCESSING THOSE REQUESTS.
WE LET PEOPLE KNOW YOU CAN
REPORT THIS TO THE ATTORNEY
GENERAL'S OFFICE IF IT IS OVER
A 10% INCREASE.
MOST PEOPLE CHOOSE TO
GO FORWARD WITH EDRA.
AT THAT POINT THEY WANT
TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS AND
THEY WANT TO MOVE ON.
SO WE DO PROCESS
THOSE APPLICATIONS IF THEY ARE
10% OR
GREATER.
THE REASON FOR MOST OF THE
CONTINUING APPLICATIONS THAT
ARE OVER 10% IS THE FACT THAT A
LOT OF BUILDINGS FIT THAT THEY
ARE NEWER THAN 12 YEARS.
>> OKAY.
THANK YOU.
GLAD TO HEAR THAT YOU'RE IN
A PLACE WHERE YOU THINK THE
WORKLOAD SOUNDS LIKE IS SOMEWHAT
MANAGEABLE.
COULD YOU JUST -- ANY BIG
PICTURE IMPROVEMENTS, THINGS
THAT YOU THINK WE COULD BE
DOING BETTER?
I KNOW THAT'S A BIG QUESTION
AND HAPPY TO HAVE THAT QUESTION
OFFLINE.
JUST HOW ARE WE DOING FROM A
BIG PICTURE
PERSPECTIVE? OR WHAT PERHAPS
THIS IS A DIFFERENT
ONE.
HOW DO THEY COMPARE TO OTHER
CITIES OF SORT OF SIMILAR SIZE
IN TERMS OF OUR KIND OF HOW
YOUR DEPARTMENT IS STRUCTURED OR
KINDKIND LIKE THE STAFFING?
>> SO A LOT OF MY EXPERIENCE
WITH OTHER CITIES COMES
FROM REQUESTS THAT WE'VE HAD
TO PRESENT AT CONFERENCES.
I WILL SAY THAT SEATTLE
IS UNIQUELY POSITIONED IN THE
WAY
OUR DEPARTMENT IS SET UP
ALMOST TO THE POINT WHERE
JURISDICTIONS
SEEM ENVIOUS OF THE IDEA THAT WE
HAVE THIS
BASICALLY COLLABORATING TEAM OF
INSPECTORS AND PROPERTY OWNER
AND TENANT
ASSISTANCE ANALYSTS WHO CAN
HELP WITH RIGHTS QUESTIONS THAT
COME
UP.
IN THOSE AUDIENCES WE TEND TO
BE A MORE ROBUST DEPARTMENT THAN
WHAT ANY OF SIMILARLY
SITUATED CITIES ARE TALKING
ABOUT.
DOESN'T MEAN THAT OTHER
CITIES DON'T EXIST LIKE THAT,
BUT
JUST A LOT OF THE INTEREST THAT
WE GET WHEN WE'RE HAVING THOSE
CONVERSATIONS IS AROUND,
WELL, HOW DID YOU BUILD RIO, AND
WHAT
KIND OF LIFT DID IT TAKE,
WHAT KIND OF MONEY DID IT TAKE
TO
PUT THAT PROGRAM INTO PLACE.
I THINK IN A LOT OF WAYS THE WAY
WE'RE SET UP REALLY IS AT
THE FOREFRONT OF WHAT A LOT
OF CITIES OF SIMILAR SIZE ARE
DOING.
AND WE GET A LOT OF
CALLS FRANKLY TO PROVIDE
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ON HOW TO
DO IT
AND TO THE EXTENT WE CAN OFFER
SOME GUIDANCE ON THIS IS WHAT WE
DID.
IF WE DID IT AGAIN, THIS IS
WHAT WE MIGHT DO DIFFERENTLY AND
HELP OTHER CITIES THROUGH THAT.
WE DO SPEND SOME TIME DOING
THAT.
>> I MIGHT OFFER, WE DID --
IT'S BEEN SEVERAL YEARS BUT WE
DID
LOOK AT PEER CITIES QUITE A BIT.
THE ONE PLACE I WOULD SAY
WHERE SOME CITIES HAVE WHAT
MIGHT
BE SEEN AS BIGGER STAFFS ARE
CITIES THAT ARE RUNNING THEIR
OWN
RENT STABLIZATION PROGRAMS WHERE
THEY HAVE A WHOLE LINE OF
BUSINESS
THAT WE DON'T DO THAT CAN
TAKE QUITE A FEW STAFF.
THAT'S KIND OF APPLES
AND ORANGES
COMPARISON.
>> IS THAT BECAUSE A LOT OF
OUR PARTNERS ARE DOING THAT
RENTAL
ASSISTANCE, SO IN SOME WAYS
IT'S KIND OF OUTSOURCED TO A
CERTAIN
DEGREE?
>> RENT STABLIZATION
IN WASHINGTON IS MANAGED AT THE
STATE LEVEL, AND WE'RE ACTUALLY
SPECIFICALLY EXCLUDED FROM
ENFORCING IT ON THE STATE'S
BEHALF.
>> OH, THE RENT STABLIZATION.
I THOUGHT YOU MEANT RENTAL
ASSISTANCE.
SORRY.
>> YEAH.
DIFFERENT JURISDICTIONS
HAVE SEPARATE DEPARTMENT IES
THAT YOU CAN PUSH COMPLAINTS
FOR RENT STABLIZATION THROUGH
WHEN
THEY'RE MANAGED AT THE LOCAL
LEVEL.
>> ONE LAST QUESTION.
ANY BIG REQUESTS FROM OUR
CBOs OR JUST ANY THOUGHTS ON
THOUSAND
THEY'RE DOING?
>> IN THE SENSE OF THINGS
THAT THEY WOULD LIKE US TO DO OR
--
>> YEAH.
ANYTHING, IMPROVEMENTS THAT
THEY'RE LIKE, OH, I
WISH ANYTHING THEY COULD DO.
I'M SURE FUNDING IS HARD FOR
THEM.
I'M SURE TENANT NEEDS OR
AT LEAST I'VE HEARD, BUT
ANYTHING ELSE IN TERMS OF
SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS YOU'VE HEARD
OR
REQUESTS FROM THEM?
>> I MEAN, WE'VE HEARD VERY
DIRECTLY IN THE RIGHT TO COUNSEL
THE EVICTION DEFENSE
SERVICES THAT THE DEMAND HAS
STAYED
VERY
HIGH POST PANDEMIC HERE AND THE
PROVIDERS OF THOSE
SERVICES HAVE BEEN STRUGGLING TO
KEEP UP WITH
CLIENT DEMAND AND THEY HAVE
SET THRESHOLDS FOR SCREENING
CRITERIA FOR WHO THEY CAN
ACCEPT AND WHO THEY
HAVEN'T.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, VICE
CHAIR LIN.
THOSE ARE GREAT QUESTIONS.
ANY QUESTIONS FROM OTHER
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE FOR OUR
PRESENTERS TODAY?
FANTASTIC.
I'LL JUST ADD ONE.
WELL, WE'LL SEE IF I ADD ONE
OR TWO OR THREE OR FOUR.
BUT A COUPLE
OF COMMENTS I WANTED TO MAKE.
I'LL THROW IT TO
YOU TO HIT THIS POINT AROUND
EDRA AND THE
STATEWIDE RENT ZABELIZATION.STAB
LIZATION.
THE GAP AS I UNDERSTAND IT
IS THE STATEWIDE RENT
STABLIZATION DOES NOT APPLY TO
BUILDINGS 12
YEARS OR NEWER.
SO WE ARE STILL SEEING FOLKS WHO
MIGHT BE GETTING RENT INCREASES
ABOVE 10%
IN THOSE BUILDINGS, AND THEN
THOSE FOLKS ARE
COMING
-- [ INDISCERNIBLE ]
IS THAT CORRECT?
>> THERE ARE A FEW
EXCEPTIONS IN THE STATE LAW BUT
PREDOMINANTLY FOR LARGER
BUILDINGS THAT'S THE
ISSUE.
>> FANTASTIC.
THIS CAME TO ME AS I
WAS WATCHING YOU
PRESENT TODAY. I THINK I SAW ON
ONE OF YOUR
SLIDES THAT THE PAYOUT FOR
EDRA IS ON AVERAGE ABOUT
$2,000 HIGHER THAN IT IS FOR
TRAO.
AND IT'S ALSO CORRECT THAT
EDRA IN ORDER TO QUALIFY YOU CAN
BE UP TO 80% AMI AND FOR TRAO
YOU CAN BE UP TO 50% AMI.
STRUCK ME THAT WE'RE SEEING
A LARGER PAYOUT IN A
PROGRAM THAT YOU CAN ACCESS WITH
A HIGHER
MEDIAN INCOME.
CAN YOU SHARE MORE ABOUT
HOW THAT CAME TO BE?
>> YEAH.
A COUPLE THINGS.
ONE IS THAT TENANT
RELOCATION ASSISTANCE THROUGH
TRAO, A
LOT OF IT IS GOVERNED BY THE
STATE.
SO THERE'S AN ENABLING
STATUTE IN STATE LAW THAT GIVES
CITIES
THE AUTHORITY TO CREATE A TENANT
RELOCATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
THAT STATE LAW LIMITS THE
QUALIFY QUALIFICATION TO 50%
AMI.
WE HAVE UTILIZED THAT AMI SINCE
TRAO'S INCEPTION.
WHEN CITY OF SEATTLE
PUT ECONOMIC RELOCATION INTO
EFFECT WE HAD 80% AMI
SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE WE WOULD BE
ABLE
TO QUALIFY MORE PEOPLE IN
THAT
CIRCUMSTANCE. I THINK THE
UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCE IS WHAT
YOU
WERE TALKING ABOUT, WHICH IS WE
END UP WITH THIS SCENARIO
WHERE PEOPLE WHO ARE PAYING
HIGHER
RENTS WHO IN THEORY WOULD
BE HIGHER INCOME, IF THEIR
PAYOUT IS THREE TIMES THEIR
RENT,
THEN PEOPLE WHO ARE MAKING MORE
BUT STILL QUALIFYING FOR THE
PROGRAM ARE GOING TO GET MORE
RELOCATION ASSISTANCE THAN A LOW
INCOME
TENANT.
I THINK THAT WAS AN
UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCE OF HOW
THE
FORMULA WAS WRITTEN INTO THE
CODE.
>> THANK YOU.
I REALLY APPRECIATE
THAT. CERTAINLY SEEMS LIKE AN
AREA FOR
FURTHER EXPLORATION TO THE
EXTENT WE'RE ABLE TO
COLLABORATE WITH SOME OF OUR
STATE
PARTNERS AND FOCUS ON MAKING
SURE
THAT OUR LOW INCOME OR LOWEST
INCOME RENTERS HAVE ACCESS TO
THAT
RELOCATION ASSISTANCE.
IT FEELS LIKE A GOODGOOD
OPPORTUNITY.
PROBABLY OVER THE COURSE OF MY
FOR YEARS I KNOW --
[ INDISCERNIBLE ] WE JUST HAD
THEM PRESENT
AND TALK A FEW WEEKS AGO AND
TALK ABOUT AREA MEDIAN INCOME
AND
BLACK HOUSEHOLDS.
WE KNOW THE AVERAGE
BLACK HOUSEHOLD IS AT ABOUT 50%
AREA
MEDIAN INCOME.
JUST GIVES INFORMATION
ABOUT WHO'S ABLE TO ACCESS
WHICH
PROGRAM. I APPRECIATE THAT.
THE FINAL QUESTION I WANT TO ASK
IS JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE
INFORMATION AROUND THE -- I
LOST MY NOTE HERE.
SECURITY DEPOSITS .
CAN YOU JUST SHARE WITH US WHAT
GOVERNS RETURN OF SECURITY
DEPOSITS AND WHAT ENFORCEMENT
CAPACITY THERE CURRENTLY IS?
>> RIGHT NOW WITH SECURITY
DEPOSITS, WE DO HAVE A
HOLD PROVIDING DIRECT
ENFORCEMENT WHERE WE WOULD
CONTACT THE
OWNER AND REQUIRE THE RETURN OF
THE
DEPOSIT.
THAT LARGELY IS THE RESULT OF
A CAPACITY ISSUE THAT CAME
UP DURING THAT WAVE OF CALLS
THAT YOU SAW COME IN POST COVID.
AND RIGHT NOW WE ARE DOING AN
EDUCATION AND SELF- HELP
ASSISTANCE FOR ANYONE WHO
CALLS WITH A DEPOSIT DUE.
THE REASON FOR THAT IS WHEN
WE LOOKED AT ALL THE
DIFFERENT THINGS WE ENFORCE, WE
SAW
THAT SECURITY DEPOSITS WAS ONE
OF THOSE AREAS WHERE THERE IS
A GOOD PATH FOR SELF- HELP AND
ALSO THE REMEDY IN THE STATE LAW
WHERE YOU CAN GET TWO TIMES
YOUR DEPOSIT BACK IF IT'S
AN INTENTIONAL WITHHOLDING.
COULD BE A BETTER OUTCOME FOR A
TENANT THAN THE CITY
JUST GETTING THEIR BASELINE
DEPOSIT BACK FOR A WITHHOLDING.
THERE WERE EXCELLENT SELF-
HELP MATERIALS AVAILABLE THROUGH
WASHINGTON LAW HELP
THAT WE COULD PROVIDE DIRECTLY
TO
TENANTS.
WE FOUND MOST OF THE
CALLS COMING IN WITH RESPECT
TO SECURITY DEPOSITS WERE NOT
ABOUT
THE DEPOSIT ITSELF,LIKE THE
FACT THAT THE OWNER MISSED A
DEADLINE AND DIDN'T RETURN THE
DEPOSIT.
THEY WERE ABOUT DISPUTES
OVER WHETHER OR NOT THE DAMAGE
WAS
DONE.
THAT'S NOT SOMETHING SDCI
GETS DIRECTLY INVOLVED IN.
SO A LOT OF THOSE WE'RE LOOKING
AT IS THERE A WAY TO UTILIZE
OUR NEW GRANTEE WITH THE
DISPUTE RESOLUTION CENTER TO
WORK
WITH THEM ON POTENTIALLY SOME
OF THOSE ISSUES AS WELL TO
EXPAND THAT OUT A LITTLE BIT.
AND ALSO OUR AUTHORIZATION FOR
ENFORCEMENT ON SECURITY
DEPOSITS IN OUR CODE JUST
REFERENCES
RIGHT BACK TO STATE LAW.
IF YOU LOOK UNDER THE
SECURITY DEPOSIT SMC YOU'LL SEE
IT
REFERENCES THE RCW, SO
ESSENTIALLY ANYTHING IN THAT
RCW WITH RESPECT TO THE
REQUIREMENTS, HOW LONG AN
OWNER HAS TO RETURN A DEPOSIT,
WHAT THEY HAVE TO PROVIDE
TO ESSENTIALLY SECURE THEIR
RIGHT
TO WITHHOLD THE DEPOSIT, THAT'S
ALL GOVERNED BY THE
STATE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I REALLY APPRECIATE
THAT INFORMATION AND
CLARIFICATION.
ALL RIGHT.
GOING ONE LAST TIME
TO COLLEAGUES FOR FURTHER
QUESTIONS.
SEEING NONE, I WANT TO THANK
YOU BOTH.
THIS WAS AN
EXCELLENT PRESENTATION.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
ALL RIGHT.
WHERE ARE WE NOW.
WE ARE GOING TO NOW MOVE
ONTO ITEM TEN.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM
TEN.
>> AGENDA ITEM TEN SEATTLE
OFFICE OF HOUSING HOMEOWNER SHIP
PROGRAM OVERVIEW.
>> ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU.
WILL OUR PRESENTERS PLEASE JOIN
US AT THE TABLE?
WE WILL GIVE YOU A SECOND TO GET
YOUR PRESENTATION PULLED UP.
SO I WILL JUST DO A LITTLE
STANDUP ROUTINE HERE.
WE HAVE JOY HUNT WITH US THE
INTERIM MANAGER OF HOME
OWNER SHIP PROGRAMS AND KELLI
LARSEN.
WE'RE EXCITED TO HAVE YOU
WITH US TODAY TO TALK ABOUT
OUR HOMEOWNER SHIP PROGRAMS IN
THE
CITY.
AS I'VE SHARED WITH FOLKS, I
OWN
MY HOME BECAUSE I
GOT DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE
WHICH IS
ONE OF THE MANY TYPES OF
HOMEOWNER SHIP PROGRAMS THAT WE
HAVE.
AS THE COST OF LIVING GOES UP
IN SEATTLE, AS THE COST
OF PURCHASING A HOME GOES UP IN
SEATTLE, THE WORK THAT WE
AND YOU ARE DOING TO ENSURE WE
CAN KEEP HOMEOWNERSHIP
WITHIN REACH I THINK IS
INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT.
I'M REALLY EXCITED TO HAVE YOU
WITH US TODAY BECAUSE I THINK
TOO OFTEN FOLKS HAVE A
MISUNDERSTANDING OF
WHAT HOMEOWNERSHIP PROGRAMS ARE
AND WHAT THEY CAN DO AND IN
FACT MAYBE SOMETIMES A
MISUNDERSTANDING OF
HOW IMPORTANT THEY ARE EVEN
STILL WITHIN SUCH AN EXPENSIVE
HOUSING
MARKET. I THINK I'VE BOUGHT
ENOUGH TIME
HERE. WITH THAT, I'LL HAND IT
OVER
TO YOU TO INTRODUCE YOURSELVES
AND
START YOUR PRESENTATION.
COLLEAGUES, WE'LL DO THE
SAME THING WITH
ANY QUESTIONS UNTIL AFTER THE
BRIEFING.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, CHAIR
FOSTER.
GOOD AFTERNOON.
I'M KELLI LARSEN DIRECTOR OF
POLICY AND PLANNING FOR THE
OFFICE OF HOUSING.
I'M HERE WITH MY COLLEAGUE JOY.
>> I'M JOY HUNT, I'M THE
INTERIM MANAGER FOR HOMEOWNER
SHIP
WITH THE OFFICE OF
HOUSING.
>> WE'RE GOING TO PROVIDE AN
OVER VIEW OF THE HOMEOWNERSHIP
PROGRAMS STARTING WITH THE
NEED FOR HOMEOWNERSHIP AND
BROADER ROLE IN SUPPORTING
HOMEOWNERS .
THEN WE'RE GOING TO
SHARE DETAILS ABOUT THE
HOME -- [ INDISCERNIBLE ]
AND THE INVESTMENTS THAT
CREATE AFFORDABLE PERMANENT
HOMES FOR
SALE.
FINALLY WE'LL SHARE SOME
OPPORTUNITIES AND
CHALLENGES WE ARE WRESTLING WITH
NOW AND THAT
WE ANTICIPATE IN THE YEARS
AHEAD.
IT IS THE OFFICE OF
HOUSING'S VISION FOR EVERYONE
TO HAVE
A HEALTHY AND AFFORDABLE HOME.
OH AFFORDABLE HOMEOWNER
SHIP INVESTMENTS ARE CRITICAL TO
ACHIEVING THIS VISION.
WE KNOW STABLE HOUSING PROVIDES
A FOUNDATION FOR FAMILIES
AND INDIVIDUALS TO THROW AND
THRIVE AND THE DEPARTMENT'S
HOMEOWNERSHIP
INVESTMENTS PREVENT DISPLACEMENT
AND
SUPPORT MORE DIVERSE
NEIGHBORHOODS.
THIS IS A KEY STRATEGY
FOR ADDRESSING RACIAL
DISPARITIES
IN SEATTLE'S HOUSING
MARKET AS WELL AS THE RACIAL
WEALTH GAP.
THE PERMANENTLY AFFORDABLE
HOMES FUNDED BY THE OFFICE OF
HOUSING MAINTAIN AFFORDABILITY
AT
RESALE FOR OVER 50 YEARS
OFFERING LASTING STABILITY AND A
SHIELD AGAINST SHIFTING MARKET
CONDITIONS.
WE ARE REVISITING THIS
GRAPHIC FROM OUR LAST BRIEFING
TO
THIS COMMITTEE WHICH PRESENTS
A BROADER VIEW OF
SEATTLE'S HOUSING NEEDS AND
EXISTING
EFFORTS.
SEATTLE NEEDS 112,000 HOMES BY
2044 AS THE CITY GROWS.
THE GREEN REPRESENTS
AFFORDABLE AND -- HOUSING AND
THE
GRAY REPRESENTS PRIVATE MARKET
HOUSING.
YOU CAN SEE WHERE OH
FUNDED
HOMEOWNERSHIP INVESTMENTS
GENERALLY POLAND SUPPORTING
HOMEOWNERS IN THE 30 TO 80% IN
THE RANGE OF MEDIAN INCOME.
THE GROWTH TARGETS
ON THIS CHART DON'T CLEARLY
DISTINGUISH BETWEEN RENTAL AND
HOMEOWNERSHIP, THOUGH
WE STRONGLY SUPPORT BOTH TYPES
OF
HOUSING.
THIS IS AN JOSEFA VIEW OF
OVERVIEW OF --
INVEST IN ACQUISITION AND
CONSTRUCTION OF PERMANENTLY
AFFORDABLE HOMES.
OH PROVIDES DOWN PAYMENT
ASSISTANCE.
ALL HOMEOWNERSHIP PROGRAMS
SERVE HOUSEHOLDS UP TO 80% OF
AREA
MEDIAN INCOME, WHICH IS
JUST OVER $100,000 FOR A
TWO-PERSON
HOUSEHOLD IN SEATTLE.
THIS IS A SUMMARY OF
OUR HOMEOWNERSHIP INVESTMENTS IN
2026.
THE BUDGET FOR ACQUISITION
AND DEVELOPMENT OF NEW FOR
SALE HOMES IS 16 MILLION AND THE
TOTAL BUDGET FOR WEATHERIZATION
IS 9 MILLION.
TAX PROVIDES 10 MILLION ANNUALLY
FOR NEW HOMES AND
PROVIDING WEATHERIZATION AND
HOME REPAIR.
7 MILLION ANNUALLY FOR
HOMEOWNERSHIP AND MHA
REVENUES ARE DEDICATED TO
HOMEOWNERSHIP
ESTIMATED TO BE ABOUT $1 MILLION
IN 2026 BUT THIS MAY BE MORE
DEPENDING ON ACTUALS.
WE HAVE OTHER FEDERAL AND STATE
SOURCES THAT SUPPORT
PROGRAMS FOR A TOTAL BUDGET OF
$25 MILLION ANNUALLY.
AS COUNCIL PRESIDENT
HOLLINGSWORTH KNOWS IN
ADDITION TO WHAT IS LISTED IN
THIS
CHARGE OH AND COMMUNITY RECEIVED
A
ONE TIME APPROPRIATION OF $3
MILLION
FOR 2026 HOMEOWNER STABLIZATION
CONTRACTS AS WELL.
TO PUT THIS IN CONTEXT OF
HISTORY, FOR THREE SUCCESS IVE
HOUSING LEVIES PRIOR TO
THE CURRENT LEVY FROM 2022 02 TO
2016, IT TOTALLED AROUND $10
MILLION.
THIS MEANS FOR THREE SEVEN
YEAR CYCLES HOMEOWNERSHIP
RECEIVED
$10 MILLION FOR SEVEN YEARS.
IT HAS CHANGED A LOT WITH NEW
MHA AND JUMP START PAYROLL
TAX REVENUES AS WELL AS A
HIGHER HOUSING
LEVY. IT COMMITTED A HIGHER
PERCENTAGE OF REVENUE TO
HOMEOWNERSHIP THAN
EVER BEFORE.
THE LEVY COMMITS $50 MILLION
OVER A SEVEN YEAR PERIOD AND
JUMP START PROVIDES 7% OF
TOTAL REVENUES TO HOMEOWNERSHIP.
WE KNOW CONSISTENT
AND PREDICTABLE FUNDING
ALLOWS DEVELOPERS TO PLAN FOR
THE FUTURE AND COMMIT TO
NEW PROJECTS YEAR AFTER YEAR.
DIVE A LITTLE MORE DEEPLY
INTO OUR HOME REPAIR PROGRAM, WE
FIRST HAVE A HOME REPAIR
LOAN PROGRAM PROVIDING LOANS TO
INCOME QUALIFIED HOMEOWNERS TO
ADDRESS CRITICAL LIFE SAFETY AND
INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUES IN THEIR
HOME.
IT CAN GO UP TO $24,000 WITH
ZERO INTEREST.
IF A HOMEOWNER REPAIR
PRESENTS MORE URGENT HEALTH OR
SAFETY RISKS THEY ARE ELIGIBLE
TO RECEIVE UP TO $20,000 AS A
GRANT THROUGH OUR HOME REPAIR
GRANT
PROGRAM.
TO QUALIFY, COMMUNITY
MEMBERS MUST OWN A PROPERTY IN
SEATTLE AND INCOME QUALIFY AT
THE
80% AREA MEDIAN INCOME LEVEL.
WE OFFER A VARIETY OF INTERIOR
AND EXTERIOR
IMPROVEMENTS THROUGH THESE LOAN
AND GRANT
PROGRAMS, ROOF REPAIRS AND
REPLACEMENTS, PLUMBING,
KITCHEN AND BATHROOM REPAIRS,
GUTTER AND
SEWER IMPROVEMENTS AND
OTHER ACCESSIBILITY
MODIFICATIONS LIKE
A TUB TO SHOWER CONVERSION,
ADA TOILET INSTALLATIONS AND
DOORWAY
WIDENING, MANY MORE
THINGS BEYOND THAT AS WELL.
WE ALSO HAVE AN
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH
SPU WHERE HOMEOWNERS CAN REPAIR
FOR
A LOW INTEREST LOAN TO
REPAIR THEIR SIDE SEWER.
OUR WEATHERIZATION
PROGRAM PROVIDES FREE
IMPROVEMENTS
TO INCOME QUALIFIED HOMES
DECREASING ENERGY BILLS
INCREASING COMFORT AND SAVING
MONEY.
THE TYPES OF
AVAILABLE IMPROVEMENTS A
HOMEOWNER
MAY RECEIVE THROUGH
THE WEATHERIZATION PROGRAM ARE
INSULATION, DUCTLESS HEAT PUMPS,
HOT WATER HEATER
REPLACEMENTS, DUCT AND AIR
SEALING, FURNITURE
REPAIR REPLACEMENT AND OTHER
REPAIRS AND UPGRADES.
AGAIN, HOMEOWNERS MUST LIVE IN
SITE SEATTLE OR BE A CITY LIGHT
CUSTOMER.
OUR OIL TO
ELECTRIC PROGRAM IS A
PARTNERSHIP WITH THE OFFICE OF
HOUSING, OFFICE OF
SUSS STAINABILITY AND THE
ENVIRONMENT AND CITY LIGHT.
IT OFFERS FREE CONVERSIONS AT
80% OF AMI AND AIMS
REDUCE UTILITY COSTS.
IF A HOMEOWNER QUALIFIES FOR
THE UTILITY DISCOUNT PROGRAM
OFFERED
BY THE CITY, THEY CAN SAFE UP
TO 60% ON THE UTILITY BILLS
IN COMBINATION
WITH THIS PROGRAM. THE SERVICES
OFFERED
INCLUDE CONVERSION OF AN OIL
FURNACE
TO AN ELECTRIC HEATING SYSTEM,
DECOMMISSIONING A
HOMEOWNER'S OIL TANK AND
GENERAL HEALTH AND
SAFETY INSPECTIONS.
OUR GOAL WITH THESE PROGRAMS IS
TO HELP KEEP PEOPLE IN THEIR
HOMES. WE RECOGNIZE THAT
IMPROVEMENTS TO HOMES MEAN
HEALTHIER RESIDENTS AND
IT'S ONE OF THE MANY I WAYS OUR
OFFICE
WORKS TO PREVENT HIGH LIVING
COSTS
PREVENT DISPLACEMENT.
WE HAVE WEATHERIZED 1100 HOMES,
CONVERTED HOMES TO ELECTRIC
ELECTRIC
PROVIDED
85 HOME REPAIR LOANS AND GRANTS.
>> NOW I'LL TALK
MORE SPECIFICALLY ABOUT
PERMANENTLY AFFORDABLE
HOMEOWNERSHIP.
IT IS PART OF A LARGER
MOVEMENT. HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
WAS FOUNDED
IN RURAL GEORGIA.
THE LAND TRUST GREW OUT OF
THE SOUTHERN CIVIL RIGHTS
MOVEMENT OFFENSIVE ZONE A TOOL
FOR ESTABLISHING A NEW FORM OF
LAND TENURE FOR BLACK FARMERS
AND
FAMILIES. THE MOVEMENT WAS
FOUNDED
BY CIVIL S LEADERS.
TODAY THERE ARE 225 COMMUNITY
LAND TRUSTS IN THE UNITED
STATES.
BUYERS OF PERMANENTLY AFFORDABLE
HOMES MUST HAVE INCOMES BELOW
80% OF AREA MEDIAN INCOME.
TO ENSURE A BAND OF
ELIGIBLE BUYERS HOMES ARE PRICED
AT
65% OF AREA MEDIAN INCOME OR
BELOW.
HOME PRICE CALCULATIONS
ARE BASED ON THE ASSUMPTION THAT
NO
MORE THAN 35% OF PRETAX
INCOME SHOULD BE USED FOR
HOUSING.
FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS
CALCULATION, HOUSING
COSTS INCLUDE MORTGAGE PRINCIPLE
INTEREST PROPERTY
TAXES INSURANCE HOA DUES AND ANY
MONTHLY STEWARDSHIP FEE.
THIS MEANS CURRENTLY PERMANENTLY
AFFORDABLE HOME PRICES
RANGE FROM 250 TO
$350,000 DEPENDENT ON THE NUMBER
OF BEDROOMS IN
THE HOME.
PERMANENTLY AFFORDABLE HOMES ARE
RESALE RESTRICTIONS WHICH
MAKE THEM AVAILABLE TO THE
FIRST AND -- TO BALANCE BUYER
EQUITY
WITH AN ONGOING AFFORDABILITY
WITH SUCCESSIVE BUYERS
FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.
HERE'S SOME ADDITIONAL DETAIL
ON
HOW THE MODEL WORKS.
INCOME ELIGIBLE BUYERS
FOLKS WITH INCOMES BELOW 80% OF
AREA MEDIAN INCOME PURCHASE A
HOME.
THEY LEASE THE LAND UNDER
THE HOME IN A LONG- TERM
RENEWABLE
LEASE.
WHEN THEY EVENTUALLY CHOOSE --
SORRY.
THANK YOU.
WHEN THEY EVENTUALLY CHOOSE TO
SELL, THEY SELL THE HOME AT A
RESTRICTED PRICE TO THE NEXT
BUYER.
[ INDISCERNIBLE ]
MOST KMONTLY USED IN SEATTLE IS
1. 5% ANNUAL INTEREST.
THE HOME IS OWNED BAY NONPROFIT,
FOR EXAMPLE HABITAT FOR
HUMANITY.
THE NONPROFIT PROVIDES LONG-TERM
STEWARDSHIP OF THE LAND
AND HOMES TO ENSURE THEY ARE
SOLD
TO INCOME ELIGIBLE BUYERS IN
PERPETUITY.
THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF A CAPITAL
FUNDING STACK NEEDED TO DEVELOP
THE HOMES.
THERE ARE THREE SOURCES OF
FUNDING, AN OH LOAN, FUNDING
FROM THE WASHINGTON
STATE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND
CONSTRUCTION LOAN.
THIS IS A HIGHLY
EFFICIENT PUBLIC INVESTMENT.
FOR EVERY DOLLAR THE OFFICE
OF HOUSING CONTRIBUTES TO
THE DEVELOPMENT WE LEVERAGE $3
IN
STATE AND PRIVATE INVESTMENT.
HOWEVER, AT THIS TIME WE ARE
SEEING A THREE- YEAR WAIT FOR
STATE FUNDS NEEDED TO MATCH OUR
LOCAL INVESTMENT.
TO DATE WE HAVE 358 PERMANENT
LY AFFORDABLE HOMES IN SEATTLE.
THESE ARE HOMES
WHERE CONSTRUCTION IS COMPLETE
AND THE
HOMES ARE INHABITED BY
INCOME ELIGIBLE BUYERS.
40 WE LOVE BUILDING IN THE
SOUTH END AND ARE ALSO LOOKING
FORWARD TO COMPLETING TWO LARGE
PROJECTS
IN DISTRICT 6 THIS YEAR.
MOST OF OUR HOMES ARE
FAMILY SIZED HOUSING INCLUDING
47% TWO
BEDROOMS, 34% THREE BEDROOMS
AND 5% FOUR AND FIVE BEDROOMS.
HERE'S SOME HIGH LEVEL
INFORMATION ON OUR HOME BUYER
DEMOGRAPHICS FROM 2020 THROUGH
FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR.
28% OF BUYERS IDENTIFY AS BLACK
OR AFRICAN-AMERICAN.
27% WHITE.
16% ASIAN OR ASIAN AMERICAN.
9% HISPANIC, 9% MULTIPLE RACES,
1% AMERICAN INDIAN OR ALASKA
NATIVE.
LOOKING AT INCOME DATA, 79%
OF OUR BUYERS ARE BETWEEN 50 AND
80% OF AREA MEDIAN INCOME.
THE REMAINING 21% ARE BETWEEN
30 AND 50% OF AREA MEDIAN
INCOME.
SOME OF THE FOLKS IN THAT 30 TO
50% BRACKET HAVE BEEN
ASSISTED WITH DOWNPAYMENTS
THROUGH
THE COVENANT HOMEOWNER PROGRAM
OR OTHER DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM WHICH IS ALLOW
US TO REACH DEEPER AFFORDABILITY
FOR
HOME
SALES. I'M EXCITED TO SHARE
SOME OF
OUR PROJECTS WITH YOU.
THIS IS HABITAT FOR
HUMANITY'S LIBERTY COMMONS
PROJECT
LOCATED AT 5022 MARTIN LUTHER
KING WAY
SOUTH.
IT'S FIVE STORIES AND 58 UNITS.
IT'S THE LARGEST PROJECT IN
THE UNITED STATES RIGHT HERE IN
SEATTLE.
IT'S OPENING IN JULY.
WE EXPECT HOME SALES TO WRAP
UP BY THE END OF THIS YEAR.
HOMES WILL BE SOLD
USING COMMUNITY PREFERENCE
WHICH DRIVES BUYER OUTREACH IN
NEIGHBORS WITH A HIGH RISK OF
DISPLACEMENTMENT.
IT FOCUSES ON PEOPLE WHO
LIVE, HAVE FORMERLY
LIVED WORK OR USE SERVICES OR
VOLUNTEER IN THE
COMMUNITY.
I'M EXCITED TO PRESENT HOME --
LAND TRUST IN THE --
[ INDISCERNIBLE ]
THIS PROJECT WILL HAVE 19
HOMES WITH SOME MARKET RATE
HOMES AND GROUND FLOOR RETAIL.
HOMES WILL BE PRICED BETWEEN
245 AND $315,000 AND WILL
BEGIN SELLING THIS
SPRING. THIS PROJECT IS LOCATED
AT
5819 FINNEY AVENUE NORTH IN
DISTRICT
6. THIRD AND FINAL PROJECT TO
PRESENT TODAY IS
-- [ INDISCERNIBLE ]
THIS IS A UNIQUE AND
INNOVATIVEINNOVATIVE
OPPORTUNITY.
GOOD WILL BAPTIST CHURCH SITS AT
15th AVENUE AND EAST
STREET IN THING CENTRAL
DISTRICT.
THE CHURCH OVERS WNS A LARGE
PARKING
LOT.
HOMES WILL BE BUILD WHERE THE
PARKING LOT IS LOCATED.
THE PARKING LOT WILL BE
BELOW THE HOMES.
I ALSO WANT TO SHARE
A PARTICULARLY
EXCITING PARTNERSHIP INITIATIVE
WHICH
IS THE RAINIER VALLEY
INITIATIVE.
GOALS INCLUDE BUILDING A
HUNDRED NEW HOMES, MITIGATING
DISPLACEMENT AND MITIGATING
THE CAPACITY OF COMMUNITY
BUILDING
ORGANIZATIONS. THESE HOMES ARE
BUILT ON TEN
SITES OF SURPLUS SOUND
TRANSIT LAND PREVIOUSLY USED FOR
LIGHT RAIL CONSTRUCTION STAGING.
NINE OF THE SITES HAVE BEEN
AWARDED FOR DEVELOPMENT AND A
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS TO
DEVELOP THE TENTH SITE WILL BE
RELEASED LATER THIS YEAR.
DEVELOPERS INCLUDE HABITAT
FOR HUMANITY
AND -- [ INDISCERNIBLE ]
DEVELOPMENT IS COMPLETE ON TWO
OF THE SITES AND WILL
COMPLETE ON A THIRD SITE IN THE
NEXT COUPLE MONTHS.
LEVERAGING PUBLICLY OWNED SITES
LIKE THESE IS AN EMERGING
STRATEGY THAT
INCREASES VIABILITY AND
SOMETIMES
ALLOWS FOR MORE DEEPLY
AFFORDABLE
HOMES.
NEXT I WANT TO SHARE
SOME HOMEOWNERSHIP RELATED
OPPORTUNITIES.
WE'RE LUCKY IN SEATTLE TO
HAVE THREE LOAN SOURCES TO
SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF
PERMANENTLY AFFORDABLE HOMES THE
HOUSING
LEVY, MHA FEES AND
THE -- [ INDISCERNIBLE ]
NONPROFIT DEVELOPERS TO
COMPETITIVELY SEEK STATE OR
FEDERAL MATCH IN CONSTRUCTION
LOANS.
SECOND, OUR PARTNERSHIPS
WITH AGENCIES INCLUDING SOUND
TRANSIT ARE ALLOWING US TO
SUPPORT DEVELOPMENT ON PUBLICLY
OWNED LAND WHICH HELPS CONTROL
COSTS AND INCREASES PROJECT
VIABILITY.
THIRD PERMANENTLY
AFFORDABLE HOMEOWNER SHIP IS A
UNIQUELY FLEXIBLE MODEL.
WE CAN BUILD ROJECTS WITH AS
FEW AS ONE HOME OR CONDO
BUILDINGS. FOURTH WE KNOW
THERE'S A LOT OF
ENERGY AROUND SOCIAL HOUSING.
OUR PROGRAM SHARES SOME OF
THE GOALS OF SOCIAL HOUSING
INCLUDING BEING FREE FROM
MARKET SPECULATION AND
PERMANENT AFFORDABILITY IN
PERPETUITY.
FINALLY, IN ADDITION
TO SUPPORTING PERMANENTLY
AFFORDABLE HOMEOWNERSHIP OH
IS THINKING OF STRATEGIES TO
ASSIST
MARKET RATE AND OWNERS
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE BLACK --
[ INDISCERNIBLE ] THIS MIGHT
LOOK LIKE
ADVOCATING FOR EXPANDED PROPERTY
TAX
RELIEF TO ASSIST MARKET RATE
HOMEOWNERS
FOR CLOSURE PREVENTION
GRANTS AND SERVICES RESOURCES TO
HELP FAMILIES PREPARE WILLS TO
FACILITATE THE
INTERGENERATIONAL TRANSFER OF
HOMES OR
ADDITIONAL HOME REPAIR RESOURCES
TO HELP
HOMEOWNERS UP TO 100%
OF AREA MEDIAN INCOME AND MORE.
NOW I'LL SPEAK ABOUT
CHALLENGES.
OUR NUMBER ONE
CHALLENGE IS MANAGING DEMANDS
FOR
PERMANENTLY AFFORDABLE HOMES.
THERE'S CONSISTENTLY HIGH
DEMAND AND GREAT
INTEREST WHENEVER WE HAVE HOMES
OF THIS TYPE UP FOR
SALE.
THAT'S BEEN TRUE SINCE
THE BEGINNINGS OF THE
AVAILABILITY OF THESE HOMES IN
SEATTLE.
SECOND CHALLENGE IS ACCESS TO
RESOURCES INCLUDING DELAYS
FOR STATE FUNDS NEEDED
TO MATCH LOCAL INVESTMENT, THE
HIGH INTEREST RATE FOR
CONSTRUCTION
LOANS RIGHT NOW, AND
QUESTIONS ABOUT FUTURE ACCESS TO
PAYROLL EXPENSE TAX FUNDS.
FINALLY WE WANT TO
SUPPORT EMERGING DEVELOPERS OF
AFFORDABLE OWNERSHIP HOMES AND
ONGOING STEWARDSHIP
ACTIVITIES COULD FACILITATE
BRINGING
MORE DEVELOPERS AND STEWARD INTO
THIS
WORK. I'M SO EXCITED TO SHARE
OUR
PIPELINE WITH YOU.
WE CURRENTLY HAVE 22
PERMANENTLY AFFORDABLE
HOMEOWNERSHIP
PROJECTS WITH 455 HOMES IN OUR
PIPELINE.
THESE PROJECTS RANGE FROM TWO
TO 68 HOMES THE MAJORITY ARE
FAMILY
SIZED HOUSING UNITS.
IN THE FUTURE WE LOOK FORWARD
TO ADDING A LARGE NUMBER OF
HOMES IN OUR PROGRAM WHEN THE --
PROJECT IS APPROVED BY
THIS COUNCIL
FOR FORMAL SUBMISSION TO OUR
FEDERAL PARTNERS.
>> FANTASTIC.
THANK YOU BOTH SO MUCH.
I THINK I WAS WAITING FOR
A QUESTION SLIDE TO POP UP THERE
FOR SOME REASON.
WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
THAT WAS A FANTASTIC OVERVIEW
OF THE HOMEOWNERSHIP PROGRAMS.
I'LL CHECK IN WITH MY
COLLEAGUES FIRST TO SEE IF THEY
HAVE ANY
QUESTIONS. COUNCIL PRESIDENT
HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
GREAT PRESENTATION.
JUST TO GET KIND OF AN OVERVIEW
OF WHERE WE ARE -- AND I WILL
SAY LIKE THE CHAIR
MENTIONED NEAR AND DEAR TO HER
HEART,
SAME THING.
I KNOW ALL THE COUNCILMEMBERS
ARE ALWAYS TALKING ABOUT
HOMEOWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES FOR
FOLKS.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I
WANTED TO KNOW FROM YOU ALL IS
HOW --
AND WE MIGHT BE CONSTRICTED BY
STATE GUIDELINES BUT
OPPORTUNITIES TO PUSH
A LITTLE BIT ON THE AMI PIECE
FOR NOT
THE HOMEOWNERSHIP PIECE BUT
THE WEATHERIZATION OR ADA STUFF.
AS YOU ALL KNOW, THERE'S A
LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE IN
THEIR HOMES AND THEY JUST DON'T
MEET THAT THRESHOLD BUT THEY
DON'T
MAKE ENOUGH TO MAKE THE
ENDS MEET JUST ENOUGH AND THEY
JUST MIGHT BE IN A HOUSE
THAT MIGHT BE WORTH $1 MILLION
THAT
THEY BOUGHT YEARS AGO FOR
$50,000 AND
THEY JUST DON'T -- YOU
KNOW, MOST OF THEIR INCOME IS
GOING
TO TAXES AND A WHOLE BUNCH.
DO YOU ALL THINK THERE
ARE OPPORTUNITIES FOR US TO
FIND CREATIVE WAYS TO
INCORPORATE
MORE PEOPLE TO STABILIZE THEM
IN THEIR HOMES?
I KNOW IT'S A
LOT.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.
WE ARE LOOKING A LOT AT AREA
MEDIAN INCOME IN THE LAST TWO
YEARS AND REALLY TRYING TO BE
AS THOUGHTFUL AS WE CAN AND
CAREFUL, BECAUSE THERE HAS
BEEN SUCH A SHIFT IN OUR AREA
MEDIAN
INCOME IN THIS CITY WITH
GROWTH OF HIGH WAGE EARNERS
PULLING
UP THE ENTIRE CHART.
SO WE ARE REALLY CAUTIOUS
ABOUT OVER CORRECTING IN THIS
TIME
TO MAKE SURE WE'RE WATCHING WHO
ARE THE RENTERS THAT WE ARE
TRYING
TO SERVE, WHO ARE THE
HOMEOWNERS WE ARE TRYING TO
SERVE.
AND MANY -- YOU FERENCED
A DATA POINT CHAIR FOSTER
AROUND THE AVERAGE BLACK SEATTLE
-- AND
THEY'RE AT 50% OF AREA MEDIAN
INCOME.
THERE'S A LOT OF DATA PIECES
TO LOOK AT.
IN OUR LAST UPDATE TO
THE HOUSING FUNDING POLICIES
THAT GUIDE OUR INVESTMENTS AND
WORK IN OUR OFFICE, WE DID RAISE
THE INCOME THRESHOLDS FOR ALL OF
OUR
WEATHER REPAIR PROGRAMS THAT
WERE PRIOR AT 50.
WE RAISED THEM UP TO 80
SO WE DID EXPAND THE
POPULATION WE COULD SERVE THERE.
WE FACED POTENTIALLY
SOME CONSTITUTIONAL LIMITS AS
WELL WITH SOME OF THESE
DEFINITIONS AROUND SERVING THE
POOR AND
INFIRM. I'M QUOTING SOMEBODY
ELSE.
THAT IS NOT MY TERMINOLOGY.
WE ALWAYS WRESTLING WITH
THIS AND TRYING TO ASK THESE
QUESTIONS.
I KNOW THE TEAM IS INTERESTED
IN FINDING WAYS TO
EXPAND ELIGIBILITY FOR
CERTAIN POPULATIONS AND WE'RE
WORKING
ON THAT.
>> IF I MAY, ANOTHER QUESTION --
>> I ALSO WANT TO SHARE
THROUGH THE -- INITIATIVE
THERE'S A LOT
OF CONVERSATION AROUND
PROPERTY TAXES FOR MARKET RATE
HOMEOWNERS.
THERE'S CURRENTLY AN EXEMPTION
OPTION FOR FOLKS WHO ARE SENIORS
OR DISABLED.
IF YOU INHERIT A HOME, A
YOUNG PERSON STARTING OUT IN
THEIR
CAREER, THERE'S TYPICALLY NO
EXEMPTION OPTION.
JUST KNOWING THAT FAMILIES
ARE VULNERABLE TO HOMEOWNERSHIP
LOSS AT THE POINT OF
INHERITANCE, WE ARE THINKING HOW
TO BE
IN CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHEN WE
CAN LEAN IN AND SUPPORT THE
BHI'S WORK TO HAVE
CONVERSATIONS
ABOUT PROPERTY TAX REFORM FOR
FOLKS
OF ALL AGES AND
ABILITIES.
>> AWESOME.
I SO APPRECIATE YOU ALL
THAT WORK BECAUSE I KNOW I WOULD
GET TONS OF PEOPLE ASKING
ABOUT HOMEOWNER SHIP
OPPORTUNITIES BUT PEOPLE SHIFTED
THE
CONVERSATION AND SAID JOY WE
CAN'T EVEN THINK
ABOUT THAT IF WE CAN'T
STABILIZE
OUR OWN HOME.
SO OBVIOUSLY AS YOU MENTIONED
WE HAD SOME $3 MILLION FUNDS
WE SHIFTED TO YOU ALL.
JUST REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR
WORK ON THAT FOR THOSE COMMUNITY
GROUPS WHO DO A LOT OF THAT
STABLIZATION TAX REFORM.
NOT REFORM, BUT YOU KNOW,
TAX EDUCATION FOR PEOPLE OR
PROVIDING LAWYERS SO
FOLKS UNDERSTAND WHEN PROBATE
PROBATE
OR THE REVERSE MORTGAGE THAT
BIG MAMA TOOK OUT AND
UNDERSTANDING WHEN THAT HOUSE IS
PASSED DOWN
SO PEOPLE AREN'T LOSING THOSE.
SO REALLY APPRECIATE THE
INTENTIONALITY BEHIND IT
BETWEEN THE WEATHERIZATION
STUFF, THE
ADA IMPROVEMENTS,
THE HOMEOWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
AS
WELL FOR PEOPLE AND THEN
THE STABLIZATION PIECE THAT I
KNOW IS REALLY HUGE FOR
COMMUNITIES AND THEN THE
PROJECTS THAT
YOU ALL HAVE TALKED ABOUT THAT
ARE
COMING ONLINE.
YOU KNOW ENTRY POINT AT 315,
HELLO, YOU KNOW, WHERE IS THAT
AT FOR FOLKS?
THAT BRINGS ME BACK TO TO 2008
BACK IN THE DAY WHICH IS WILD.
JUST THINKING ABOUT THOSE
OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE TO
BE ABLE TO HAVE THAT IS REALLY
HUGE, BECAUSE THEN THEY FEEL
LIKE, OKAY, THIS IS MINE AND
WE WANT TO CREATE MORE OF THOSE
OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE AND
BE ABLE TO BE INVESTED IN THE
CITY
AND WE'RE ALSO GOING TO
CONTINUE TO HAVE RENTERS IN OUR
CITY.
WE JUST HEARD A PRESENTATION
ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THOSE
RESOURCES FOR RENTERS.
IT'S A DELICATE BALANCE.
I THINK JUST THE WORK THAT
YOU DO IS REALLY GREAT.
HAPPY TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT
AND ALSO TO GET UPDATES ABOUT
THE OUTCOMES AS WELL I THINK
IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
THANK YOU, CHAIR.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
I SEE ANOTHER HAND
FROM COUNCILMEMBER LIN.
BEFORE I GO TO YOU, I
JUST QUICKLY WANT TO SAY LET'S
MAKE
SURE WE FOLLOW UP BECAUSE PART
OF WHAT I HEARD IN THE COUNCIL
PRESIDENT'S QUESTION IS
LOOKING FOR CLARIFICATION IN
WHAT WE HAVE AUTHORITY TO DO
THROUGH OUR
HOUSING FUNDING.
WHAT'S THE P IN THERE?
>>
POLICY.
>> THROUGH OUR HOUSING
FUNDING POLICIES WHICH WILL BE
COMING
IN FRONT OF THIS COUNCIL
LATER ON IN THE YEAR COMPARED TO
WHAT
DETERMINATIONS ARE MADE AT
THE STATE LEVEL.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE
THAT CLARIFICATION FOR HER.
OVER TO YOU VICE
CHAIR LIN.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR.
THANK YOU FOR PRESENTING.
CERTAINLY NEAR AND DEAR TO MY
HEART AS
WELL. THANK YOU COUNCIL
PRESIDENT
FOR RAISING QUESTIONS AND
CONCERNS AROUND COST IN GENERAL.
I THINK THIS IS CRITICAL
TO OUR AN TI-
ANTI- DISPLACEMENT EFFORTS
WITH THE HOME REPAIR,
THE WEATHERIZATION AND
ADDRESSING
THE TAX CONCERNS.
I CERTAINLY WOULD LOVE TO WORK
WITH YOU ON OUR STATE
LEGISLATIVE AGENDA FOR NEXT YEAR
AND ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO
INCREASE THOSE INCOME
LIMITS AND THE RELIEF THAT IS
AVAILABLE
AND ALSO JUST GETTING THE WORD
OUT.
I KNOW THAT THE BLACK
LEGACY HOMEOWNERS GROUP IS DOING
A GREAT JOB OF GETTING THE
WORD OUT
BUT SO MANY PEOPLE STILL DON'T
KNOW ABOUT
THE POSSIBILITIES OF GETTING TAX
RELIEF, PROPERTY TAX RELIEF.
IF THERE'S ANYWAY WE CAN
WORK WITH OUR KING COUNTY
ASSESSOR
TO MAKE IT MORE STANDARDIZED
WE'VE GOT A LOT OF TECHNOLOGY
IF THERE'S WAYS TO MAKE IT
EASIER
TO ACCESS TAX EXEMPTIONS
THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
IF WE NEED TO FUND THAT
OUTREACH, I THINK IT'S WELL
WORTH IT.
ONE LAST QUESTION.
ON THE OPPORTUNITIES, YOU
KNOW, DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE
HAS BEEN
DIFFICULT TO MAKE PENCIL
JUST GIVEN THE VERY HIGH COSTS.
WE DO HAVE THE NEW STATE
PROGRAM WITH A HOMEOWNER
COVENANT ACT.
I'VE HEARD FROM A LOT
OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT EVEN
WITH THE HOMEOWNER
COVENANTCOVENANT IT
IS HARD FOR PEOPLE TO MAKE THAT
PENCIL IN SEATTLE JUST
BECAUSE THE DOWN PAYMENT
ASSISTANCE EVEN AT $150,000 IS
NOT ENOUGH. JUST WONDERING IF
THERE'S
OPPORTUNITIES THERE TO LAIR YER
OUR
SUBSIDIES WITH THE
HOMEOWNER COVENANT ACT SO PEOPLE
CAN
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT
INCREDIBLE
PROGRAM WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY AS
WELL.
>> YES.
OUR ASSISTANCE CAN
BE LAYERED WITH THE COVENANT
HOMEOWNERSHIP PROGRAM AND WE
PARTNER
WITH HOMESITE
WASHINGTON TO ADMINISTER THOSE
DOLLARS.
>> THANK YOU, JOY.
>> FANTASTIC.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM
COLLEAGUES?
GREAT.
I WILL BEGIN MY AD LIB NOW.
SO I'LL JUST SAY I
REALLY APPRECIATE THAT QUESTION,
COUNCILMEMBER LIN.
WE ACTUALLY WILL BE HAVING FOLKS
COME AND TALK TO THIS COMMITTEE
ABOUT THE WASHINGTON STATE
COVENANT HOMEOWNERSHIP
PROGRAM AND HOW THAT'S
STRUCTURED.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT
CONVERSATION BECAUSE THEY'VE
HAD TREMENDOUS SUCCESS IN
GETTING HOME FINANCING OUT TO
BLACK
WASHINGTONIANS.
WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO
HAVING THEM IN COMMITTEE LATER
ON THIS
MONTH, I BELIEVE, OR LATER
ON THIS YEAR.
I WANT TO GO BACK TO
SOMETHING THAT YOU SHARED IN
TERMS OF A
THREE- YEAR WAIT FOR STATE
DOLLARS.
CAN YOU JUST SHARE MORE
DETAIL ABOUT THAT WHAT'S
CAUSING
THAT AND WHAT IMPACT THAT HAS ON
OUR
INVESTMENTS WHEN WE'RE DOING
AFFORDABLE
HOMEOWNERSHIP.
>> YEAH.
THERE'S A LIMITED AMOUNT OF
RESOURCES DESIGNATED
FOR HOMEOWNERSHIP THROUGH THE
STATE
HOUSING TRUST FUND.
ONE OF THE FACTORS THAT YOU SET
ASIDE HOW THOSE AWARDS ARE
MADE IS PERMANENT READINESS AND
HOW
LONG FOLKS HAVE
BEEN IN THE QUEUE WAITING TO GET
FUNDS.
SO WE JUST END UP WITH
A LONG- TERM PIPELINE TO BUILD
HOMES.
IF WE MAKE AN INITIAL
AWARD, FOLKS CAN SUBMIT THEIR
HOUSING TRUST FUND APPLICATION,
WAIT THREE YEARS TO DO THAT AND
THEN
WE CLOSE THE LOAN, THEN
THEY BEGIN CONSTRUCTION, MEANING
IT'S TAKING YOU KNOW AT LEAST
FIVE YEARS FROM INITIAL
APPLICATION
TO US TO COMPLETE HOMES.
>> THERE'S PRESSURE
FOR JURISDICTIONS THAT ARE
LARGER THAN THE CITY TO
ACHIEVE GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION
AS WELL.
SO THEY ALWAYS FACE COMPETING
DEMANDS.
WE WOULD BE REMISS TO
NOT ADVOCATE FOR MORE RESOURCES
FOR
HOUSING AND
HOMEOWNERSHIP AND ALL TYPES OF
HOUSING WHICH
IS WHAT WE ARE ASKED TO
DO IF WE WORK IN THIS SECTOR FOR
MANY
MANY YEARS IS TO SAY
THAT WE HAVE INCREDIBLE NEED AND
IN
ORDER TO MEET THOSE NEEDS
WE NEED MORE RESOURCES.
SO IT'S REALLY ABOUT A
SHORTAGE OF ADEQUATE RESOURCES
TO MAKE
THESE NEW HOMES
COMPLETE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
AND THE ONLY OTHER THING
I WANTED TO UPLIFT IS ACTUALLY
IN RESPONSE TO COUNCILMEMBER
LIN I KNEW I HAD THIS NUMBER
SOMEWHERE.
WITH THE COVENANT HOMEOWNERSHIP
PROGRAM, 191 LOANS WERE
FUNDED IN KING COUNTY AND 39 OF
THEM WERE IN SEATTLE.
JUST FOR FUN.
OKAY.
I DON'T HAVE ANY
FURTHER QUESTIONS FOR YOU.
I APPRECIATE YOU AND THE
WORK THAT YOU DO.
I THINK YOU'VE CERTAINLY
GIVEN US A LOT TO THINK ABOUT
AROUND THE IMPACT OF
HOMEOWNERSHIP
AND CLARIFYING HOW MUCH SPACE
THERE STILL IS IN THE WORLD OF
HOMEOWNERSHIP EVEN IN SUCH A
CONSTRAINED FISCAL
ENVIRONMENT AND SUCH AN
EXPENSIVE HOUSING
MARKET.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR
LEADERSHIP AND WE LOOK FORWARD
TO
HAVING YOU BACK LATER
THIS YEAR.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR FOSTER.
>> ALL RIGHT.
I BELIEVE THAT CONCLUDES
OUR BUSINESS FOR THE COMMITTEE
TODAY.
IS THERE ANY OTHER
FURTHER BUSINESS TO COME IN
FRONT OF THE
COMMITTEE?
[ INDISCERNIBLE ]
>> I COULDN'T HEAR
YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ.
>> NO.
I WAS SAYING THANK YOU.
GOOD-BYE.
[ LAUGHTER ]
>> THIS CONCLUDES THE MARCH
11, 2026 MEETING OF THE HOUSING
ARTS AND CIVIL RIGHTS COMMITTEE.
OUR NEXT SCHEDULED
MEETING IS MARCH 25th .
THANK YOU FOR
ATTENDING. IT IS
3:34 P.M. AND WE ARE ADJOURNED.