Awards for 2023 funding opportunities highlight investments in future affordable rental homes and affordable homeownership opportunities..

SEATTLE, WA – Today, Mayor Bruce Harrell celebrated the City of Seattle’s investments in affordable housing for the 2023 Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA), totaling $66.7 million for the construction of 443 affordable rental homes and 114 future affordable homeownership opportunities throughout the city. In the two years since taking office, Mayor Bruce Harrell has committed over $282 million for investments in housing and homeownership, and supporting operations, maintenance, and services (OMS) for affordable housing providers, in addition to efforts to streamline permitting and design review processes.

“Today marks another significant milestone in addressing housing affordability throughout our city,” said Mayor Harrell. “Too many are grappling with the burden of soaring housing costs and the ongoing housing crisis. These new investments signify crucial steps towards realizing our commitment to providing affordable rental housing, homeownership opportunities, and preventing displacement. They also reflect a collective One Seattle effort to overcome these challenges together and shape a city where every individual can find not just a place to call home, but a place to thrive.”

The Office of Housing provides funding availability every year for the Rental Housing Program, and this year’s awards support four new buildings that will provide 443 affordable rental homes. The remaining funds from the 2016 Levy were fully utilized during the 2022 NOFA awards, resulting in lower funding amounts this year. The newly approved 2023 Seattle Housing Levy is set to begin for awards in 2024.

The investments for 2023 awards include a range of housing types for low-income residents, including permanent supportive housing for those experiencing homelessness and apartments for low-income seniors.

Rental Housing Investments: $53.3 million

Building Name Sponsor	Population to be Served	Incomes Served	Homes	Neighborhood
Beacon Hill TOD El Centro de la Raza and Edge Developers	Low-income individuals and families	30 – 60% AMI	84	Beacon Hill
Bryant Manor Phase II First A.M.E. Housing Association and Lotus Development Partners	Low-income individuals and families	50 – 60% AMI	149	Central District
DESC Lake City DESC	Homeless Individuals	30 – 50% AMI	120	Lake City
LIHI 125th and Aurora Low Income Housing Institute	Low-income and homeless seniors	40 – 60% AMI	90	Bitter Lake

In addition to the funding for rental housing, the Office of Housing’s 2023 investments also include a commitment for 114 future affordable homeownership projects, including four sites within the Rainier Valley Affordable Homeownership Initiative in partnership with community-based organizations and Sound Transit.

Homeownership Investments: $13.4 million

Rainier Valley Homeownership Initiative

Building Name Sponsor	Population to be Served	Homes	Neighborhood
3601 Martin Luther King Jr. Way S Habitat for Humanity and African Community Housing & Development	First Time Homebuyers	31	Rainier Valley
4865 Martin Luther King Jr. Way S Habitat for Humanity and African Community Housing & Development	First Time Homebuyers	3	Rainier Valley
6740 Martin Luther King Jr. Way S Habitat for Humanity and African Community Housing & Development	First Time Homebuyers	30	Rainier Valley
7908 Martin Luther King Jr. Way S Homestead Community Land Trust	First Time Homebuyers	8	Rainier Valley

Other Homeownership investments

Building Name Sponsor	Population to be Served	Homes	Neighborhood
Licton Springs Homestead Community Land Trust	First Time Homebuyers	3	Licton Springs
North Beach Homestead Community Land Trust	First Time Homebuyers	2	North Beach
North Admiral Homestead Community Land Trust	First Time Homebuyers	18 total (11 affordable)	North Admiral
Yarrow Cottages Habitat for Humanity	First Time Homebuyers	26	South Park

For more information on the City of Seattle’s affordable housing initiatives, please visit seattle.gov/housing. You can view more information about individual projects here.

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What People Are Saying

Councilmember Cathy Moore, District 5
“As Chair of Seattle’s Housing committee, I am excited to join community partners and our Office of Housing in celebrating the City’s investments in affordable housing programs. I look forward to hearing the announcement of the award recipients for rental housing and homeownership programs and am most eager to see the positive impact these dollars will have on our community.”

Maiko Winkler-Chin, Director, Office of Housing
“This round of funding in both rental housing and homeownership shows the City’s commitment to creating a One Seattle where everyone has a safe and affordable home. As Director of the Office of Housing, I know that we are entrusted with the stewardship of this funding in order to support our affordable housing developers and providers. We’re grateful to Mayor Harrell for making housing and homelessness a top priority.”

Estela Ortega, Executive Director, El Centro de la Raza / Joel Ing, Principal, Edge Developers
“We are thrilled to be given the opportunity to continue to develop transit-oriented affordable housing on Beacon Hill that will offer long-time residents the opportunity to remain or return to the neighborhood they have called home for many years. This will promote racial equity by preserving the diversity and cultural richness of Beacon Hill that has historically been the home of immigrant and BIPOC communities, who make up over 70% of Beacon Hill’s population and speak over 23 languages. The development partners have extensive experience and commitment to this community, with the project at the front door of El Centro de la Raza’s Plaza Roberto Maestas, and within two blocks of two multifamily projects developed by Edge Developers.”

Sharon Lee, Executive Director, Low Income Housing Institute
“Seattle desperately needs more senior housing. The timely awarding of funds from Mayor Harrell and the Office of Housing enabled LIHI to leverage state Housing Trust Fund, housing credits and HUD funds to construct 90 apartments for low-income and formerly homeless seniors in north Seattle. We hope to break ground this year. The Friendship Heights Tiny House Village that currently occupies the site at 125th and Aurora Ave. N. will be moved to another location.” 

Daniel Malone, Executive Director, DESC
“We thank the city for its continued commitment to permanent supportive housing through investment in buildings such as DESC Lake City, that will ensure a good home for 120 people, for 50 years. Housing with wrap-around services is probably the best and most enduring intervention for people with complicated behavioral health conditions who experience homelessness.”

Roxanne Buchanan, President, First AME Housing Association
“We’ve been addressing housing inequities in the Central District since the 1960s. Combatting the effects of gentrification on our community has always been a priority. This award from The City of Seattle will help us continue to support families of color who have been uprooted or are at risk of displacement by providing them with healthy, affordable, and culturally enriched homes where they can thrive.”

Hamdi Abdulle, Executive Director, African Community Housing & Development
“African Community Housing & Development (ACHD) and Habitat for Humanity Seattle-King & Kittitas Counties’ partnership is based on innovation that the Seattle Office of Housing is helping to make possible. It is the first of its kind. After years of work breaking down systems of oppression, this partnership is an example of how we can dismantle the disproportionality facing the BIPOC community. ACHD looks forward to becoming independent developers after a period of co-learning and capacity building. As they say, “Rome was not built in a day”. We thank the Seattle Office of Housing and Mayor Harrell’s leadership for their unwavering commitment to build more affordable and equitable homeownership and to fight the widespread displacement!”