For the past year, Building Changes has worked closely with local governments in Snohomish County to develop recommendations for supporting affordable housing. We are very pleased that on June 17th, Snohomish County Tomorrow unanimously approved our final report and passed a resolution to co-convene a task force to implement our recommendations. The complete report can be accessed here.
During the course of this project, we've spoken with over 75 stakeholders in Snohomish County, including council members, mayors, city and county planning staff, representatives from the private sector, and leaders in the affordable housing field. What we've learned is that while cities understand the huge unmet needs for safe, affordable housing in their communities, most jurisdictions don't have the
June 18th is an historic day with two significant announcements that demonstrate the holistic approaches and foresighted leadership of the Obama administration and Washington's Congressional delegation:
New Leadership in Ending Homelessness - Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan and Labor Secretary Hilda Solis were elected today as Chair and Vice Chair, respectively, of the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness. The mission of the Council is to coordinate the federal response to homelessness and to create a national partnership with every level of government and the private sector to address homelessness in the nation.
"It is simply unacceptable for individuals, children, families, and our nation's veterans to be faced with homelessness in this country," said
Seattle has a long history of creating and sustaining innovative affordable housing solutions for those who need it most. What began as a small housing bond in 1981 for low-income seniors and disabled citizens has evolved into a levy supporting affordable housing development and restoration, down payment assistance to first time homebuyers and emergency rental assistance for families on the verge of homelessness. On Monday, the Seattle City Council voted unanimously to renew the housing levy in 2010, which will be on the ballot this November. If Seattle voters approve the measure, taxpayers will invest $145 million back into our community over the next seven years.
The housing bond and three subsequent levies passed because they produce outstanding results. The current levy, spanning from
In the middle of May, just as the weather in Washington State finally began warming up, homelessness providers and advocates from all over the state descended on the Vancouver Hilton for
three days of networking and learning organized by the Washington State Coalition for the Homeless (WSCH). We heard moving keynote speeches from Eric Tars of the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty and formerly homeless Richard LeMieux, author of
Breakfast at Sally's. Several Building Changes staff members also participated in multiple workshops, meetings, and panel discussions.
Emily Nolan, Washington Families Fund Manager, spoke on a panel called Writing for Dollars, which focused on grant writing basics (and not-so-basics): deciding which grants to go after, leveraging fund sources,
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