On April 28, Councilmember Tammy J. Morales (District 2, Chinatown/International District and South Seattle) and the 13-member Seattle Social Housing Developer Board convened for the first time at Morales’ Neighborhoods Committee meeting. The board focuses on building permanently affordable housing in Seattle, created with the passing of Initiative 135 earlier this year, which garnered 57 percent of votes in a public referendum.
“After two months of meeting weekly with all appointing entities, I am excited to announce that we have finally appointed the first Seattle Social Housing Board,” said Councilmember Tammy Morales. “This board represents a broad array of experience and knowledge, from lived experience of housing instability, homelessness, and accessing services in our current ecosystem, to public finance, labor representation, public policy, non-profit affordable housing development, social housing and regional planning experience.”
Social Housing is regular rental housing but is publicly owned and operated. In Seattle, housing under this program will prioritize those making between 0-120 percent of the city’s median income. Rents will be set according to what people are able to pay.
“I’ve worked to get this social housing initiative passed because I believe housing is a human right, not a commodity to make profits,” said Devyn Forschmiedt, Seattle Renters Commission Appointee. “Now it’s time to bring the vision to reality.”
