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Home > About Us
Seattle's Office of Housing funds affordable workforce housing, both
rental and ownership, as well as supportive housing that helps vulnerable
people achieve stability and move along a path toward self-sufficiency.
Office of Housing initiatives also help stimulate housing development,
allowing families to thrive and neighborhoods to provide a full range
of housing choice and opportunity. The mission of the Seattle Office
of Housing is to build strong healthy communities and increase opportunities
for people of all income levels to live in our city.
Adrienne Quinn
Director
Office of Housing
(206) 684-0721
For more information on Office of Housing, see the detailed information in our 2008 Annual Report; in the 2008 Housing Levy Report of Accomplishments; call us direct at (206) 684-0721; or read on below:
How the Seattle Office of Housing Addresses the Mayor's Priorities:
Get Seattle moving. Office of Housing programs increase
the supply of affordable housing within the city, allowing people to
live closer to where they work. This reduction in transportation needs
benefits both families and the environment.
Keep our neighborhoods safe. Office of Housing promotes
and funds mixed-use and mixed-income housing that supports broader community
development objectives, including safer neighborhoods.
Create jobs and opportunities for all. Increasing
Seattle's supply of affordable workforce housing is critical to promoting
economic development. It helps attract a diverse workforce and broadens
economic opportunity for Seattle residents.
Build strong families and healthy communities. Office
of Housing (OH) funds and administers programs offering developer incentives
to provide affordable housing for rent or purchase. Homeownership, promoted
by both the Homebuyer and HomeWise programs at OH, allows families to
build equity and accumulate savings. Affordable rents help keep housing
costs reasonable for renters, allowing income to be available for food,
clothing, and health care needs. Office of Housing also promotes sustainable
building practices that help build healthy communities by conserving
resources.
What We Do
The Office of Housing has invested millions of dollars in Seattle's neighborhoods, meeting the needs of first-time homebuyers; homeowners struggling with repair bills; lower-wage workers looking for affordable housing; and those with no home at all.
- Through two funding rounds each year, Office of Housing staff analyze multifamily housing proposals, funding solid projects that best serve the community’s needs – be it affordable rental units or housing for the homeless.
- The City provides up to $45,000 in low-interest deferred payment loans to first-time homebuyers.
- On-site conservation and construction experts identify energy-use and home repair needs for low-income customers, and then we provide both low-interest loans and grants to help cover energy conservation and home improvement expenses.
- Our staff advocates for state and local legislation that will help create more affordable housing for all.
- We manage and market a Multifamily Tax Exemption Program in 39 target neighborhoods, requiring a portion of units in new rental projects that receive tax incentives to be affordable to Seattle’s low-to-middle income workforce.
- We oversee all City-funded projects to ensure that they serve the people they are intended to serve, are well maintained and financially sound.
- Our staff promotes green building principles, offering training and guidance on creating environmentally sound proposals (in 2002 the Office of Housing created the country’s first single set of comprehensive criteria to develop sustainable rental housing for low-income people).
Our Programs
Affordable Housing Development
For developers and nonprofit owners of affordable housing.
NOFA applications, income limits, and borrower's guide. More...
Property Management
For affordable housing owners, property managers, service providers
and on-site staff.
Annual report forms and instructions, income and rent limits, transfer
of ownership application. More...
Incentive Programs
For commercial and residential developers.
Seattle has several programs that provide commercial and residential
developers incentives to build, preserve, or contribute funding for
affordable housing in certain parts of the city. More..
Homeownership Assistance
For first-time lower-income homebuyers.
The Office of Housing provides up to $45,000 per household in purchase
assistance funds to eligible buyers through partnerships with local
nonprofits and lending institutions. Our partners use Office of Housing
funds in their programs to create affordable homeownership opportunities
in Seattle. More...
HomeWise: Repairing Your Home
For homebuyers, homeowners, renters and landlords.
HomeWise homeowner program provides free weatherization for both homeowners and
landlords. HomeWise also offers home repair loans with very low-interest
rates for homeowners. Households must meet current income limits. More...
SeaGreen: Sustainability and Conservation
For developers, property owners and managers, homeowners and renters
interested in 'green' building and environmentally friendly practices.
SeaGreen is a guide for greening Seattle's affordable housing. Resource
information about energy conservation, health and indoor air quality,
materials efficiency, recycling, design strategies, site planning, water
management, operating and maintenance practices. More...
Ending Homelessness: Supportive Housing
For persons interested in understanding supportive housing and its
role in ending homelessness.
Supportive housing stock for formerly homeless families and single
adults. Best practices such as housing first, and the role of the Office
of Housing in the planning efforts to end homelessness. Taking Health
Care Home Initiative, Sound Families. More...
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