Title
Consideration of the Responses of Other Communities that Have Engaged in Coordinated Efforts to Address Housing Affordability and Homelessness
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Not referred to a committee
City Manager Recommendation:
Provide feedback and direction on ongoing efforts to develop a meaningful response to housing affordability and homelessness issues.
Report
Issue:
Whether to discuss the work of other communities such as Bellingham, Vancouver, Everett, or Seattle that have engaged in coordinated efforts to address housing affordability and homelessness.
Staff Contact:
Keith Stahley, Director Community Planning and Development Department 360.753.8227
Presenter(s):
Keith Stahley, Director Community Planning and Development Department
Mike McCormick Home Fund
Background and Analysis:
On March 29, 2017, the Home Fund held a forum on housing. The forum featured speakers from Bellingham and Vancouver Washington. Both of these communities passed housing levies in the past five years. A copy of the notes from that forum is attached.
Bellingham Summary:
In 2012, Bellingham voters approved a property tax levy of $21 million over a 7-year period (2013-2019) to provide, produce, and/or preserve affordable housing. Two-thirds of the funding must benefit those households earning less than 50 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI). Additional information about Bellingham's Home Fund can be found in the attachments linked below.
The City of Bellingham's levy was approved for inclusion on the 2012 ballot in January of 2012 and passed in November of 2012.
In addition to the Home Fund, Bellingham has a rental registration and inspection program.
Vancouver Summary:
In January 2016, following eight months of discussion by the City of Vancouver's Affordable Housing Task Force, City Council reviewed several recommendations to address Vancouver's lack of affordable housing options. Creating a locally controlled affordable housing fund wa...
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