Let’s Build an Affordable Seattle: Community Conversations on Affordable Housing and More

2016inventoryslideEmployment is growing in the Seattle area, yet the ratio of listings to closed sales (months of housing supply) has declined steadily since 2012 (see chart). The King County average for 2016 is 1.25 months of supply; a 4 – 6 month supply is considered a healthy, balanced housing market. As our supply of housing has decreased, prices have skyrocketed.

The Seattle-Bellevue-Tacoma area is projected to add 1.4 million new residents (a 38 percent increase in population) by 2040.

“There is no way we can accommodate middle income customers if we don’t have housing supply. We’ve added jobs, but not housing,” said Russell Hokanson, CEO of the Seattle King County REALTORS®.

The City of Seattle, through its Housing Affordability and Livability Agenda (HALA), is proposing a net increase of 50,000 units of housing – 20,000 units of affordable housing and 30,000 new units of market rate housing over the next decade.

The City of Seattle wants to hear your opinions about securing affordable housing for many years to come. The Open Houses are intended to find acceptance for upzones and making density work in order to accommodate projected population increases and help in solving our housing crisis.  You are invited to attend any of the following Open Houses: