Housing Solutions

Housing that provides warmth, safety and security is a basic necessity for everyone. Unfortunately, most housing options in King County come with a price tag that can exclude many of our neighbors including seniors on fixed incomes, low-wage workers, youth aging out of foster care, immigrants and refugees and, in the urban areas, even people of moderate income. The market prices for rental and owned housing vary in communities throughout the county but in all areas high-quality, low-cost options are difficult if not impossible to find.

Recognizing that the conventional housing market is designed to serve those with the financial means to participate, and at its lowest-price end varies greatly in quality, public and non-profit affordable housing options have been created to fill the serious gap left in affordable, high-quality options.  In King County each night about 30,000 families and individuals are housed in rentals units and homeownership opportunities created by housing authorities and non-profits.  While this is an impressive number, the need is much greater with over 100,000 moderate to low-income county households paying 50% or more of their monthly income for rent and additional thousands left homeless every night.

Affordable housing provides stability for residents who, safe from the elements and free from the burden of rent beyond their means, can begin to focus on improving their lives and those of their families. Many non-profit affordable housing providers offer supportive services and community building programs for their residents who need such assistance to reach their highest degree of self-sufficiency and independence.

Affordable housing and conventional housing options can be mutually compatible in any community and the goal for most living in affordable housing is to someday secure appropriate market rate housing opportunities; non-profit housing allows them to reach toward that dream.