By Aaron Allen, The Seattle Medium
Seattle is grappling with a severe housing crisis as wages fail to keep pace with rising housing costs, forcing many residents out of their homes. In addition, according to advocates to end homelessness, the destruction of unhoused people’s makeshift shelters and their subsequent relocation by city officials have only worsened the situation, pushing more individuals onto the city’s streets. In response, the House of Neighbors (HON), an organization focused on advocating for “Social Housing,” has successfully submitted enough certified signatures with the King County Elections Department for Initiative 137 (I-137), a measure that aims to generate a sustainable revenue stream to address social housing in Seattle, to qualify for placement on an upcoming election ballot.
Seattle’s housing costs have skyrocketed over the past 15 years, with house prices more than doubling between 2010 and 2024. According to Zillow’s Home Value Index, the average price for a single-family detached house rose from $444,000 in January 2010 to $926,000 in 2024. The 2022 Point in Time Count revealed that 13,368 people were experiencing homelessness in Seattle and King County, with 57% unsheltered. The city’s data shows vacancy rates are less than one percent on average.
According to supporters, I-137 proposes an annual revenue stream that can be bonded to accelerate the production of social housing. Nikkita Oliver, a member of HON’s Steering Committee, says the initiative includes a 5% marginal tax on employers who pay more than $1 million in total compensation to highly compensated workers.
“Employers pay the social housing payroll tax, not employees,” says Oliver. “Around the world, social housing is a time-tested, proven, effective strategy for ensuring access to housing for all.”
The initiative follows a 2021 legal decision against a charter amendment (CA-29) sponsored by “Compassion Seattle.” CA-29 aimed to legalize the sweeping of unhoused residents from public places, a practice found unconstitutional under the Eighth Amendment. HON and its community partners successfully defeated CA-29, paving the way for the passage of I-135 in February 2023, which established a Social Housing Developer funded by the compensation tax.
“Initiative 135 for social housing passed with 57% of the vote in February 2023,” says Oliver. “We are now focusing on supporting the newly created Seattle Social Housing Developer (SSHD) with campaigns for progressive revenue and changes in land use policy to ensure its success. The advent of social housing around the world has never simply been due to the benevolence of those in power.”
HON’s vision for Seattle’s social housing landscape involves comprehensive strategies to tackle the root causes of the housing crisis. The organization aims to foster a political environment conducive to sustainable solutions, ensuring that housing remains accessible and affordable for all residents. This involves advocating for policies that support non-market housing, which allows residents to secure housing without being subjected to market-driven price fluctuations.
Tiffany McCoy, HON’s Policy and Advocacy Director, urges the Seattle City Council to act swiftly on I-137.
“They should pass I-137 as is,” says McCoy. “Seattleites have already shown overwhelming support for social housing through I-137. If the council decides to put this to the voters, they should immediately place I-137 on the November ballot without a competing measure. There is no time to waste on the housing crisis.”
“Each year that goes by without ambitious solutions to our affordable housing needs, rent continues to rise, more neighbors are pushed into homelessness, and low- and middle-income workers are priced out of our city. Black, Brown, and Indigenous communities are disproportionately affected, exacerbating existing inequities,” added McCoy.
HON aims to create a political environment effective in producing solutions to the housing crisis, which has been declared a public health crisis.
“Housing is a key determinant of health, wellness, and safety,” says Oliver. “The housing and homelessness crisis in Seattle/King County impacts all aspects of our lives.”
In addition to advocating for policy changes, HON is deeply involved in community outreach and education. The organization works to raise awareness about the importance of social housing and mobilizes residents to support initiatives like I-137. HON’s efforts include town hall meetings, informational campaigns, and collaboration with other community groups to build a broad coalition in favor of social housing.
Some of the housing solutions proposed by HON include building more non-market housing and ensuring that those earning between 60-120% of the Area Median Income have access to affordable housing. They advocate for housing where residents can “grow in place” without fearing the loss of benefits as their income increases. This approach, according to supports, aims to create stable, long-term housing solutions that can adapt to residents’ changing financial situations.
“House Our Neighbors will be ready for whichever ballot I-137 is placed on,” McCoy assures. “We hope the Seattle City Council quickly puts I-137 on the November 2024 ballot. However, should it be on a February ballot, we look forward to making good on the democratic mandate to build social housing set by the passage of I-135.”