By Aaron Allen, The Seattle Medium
Last week, the King County Council approved a $1 billion Regional Workforce Housing Initiative sponsored by Councilmember Girmay Zahilay. This ambitious measure aims to address the region’s worsening housing crisis by creating permanently rent-restricted housing for the county’s workforce. The initiative will leverage the county’s unused debt capacity to partner with developers and housing agencies to build affordable, multi-unit housing for working-class families.
“To properly tackle the housing crisis, we must use every tool available to us to act urgently and aggressively,” Zahilay said following the council’s decision. “Today’s vote is an investment in the workers who power our economy, who deserve sustainable and affordable housing close to where they work.”
King County’s housing challenges have reached a critical juncture, with more than 124,000 low- and moderate-income households spending more than a third of their income on housing. This cost burden leaves many families in precarious financial situations, making it difficult to afford other essentials like food, healthcare, and transportation. Communities of color and renters bear the brunt of these economic hardships, facing disproportionately high risks of eviction and housing instability.
The initiative specifically targets households earning at or below 50%, 80%, and 120% of the area median income (AMI), ensuring affordability for a wide range of workers. By focusing on rent-restricted housing, the plan aims to create long-term solutions to counteract rising housing costs, which have forced many residents to move farther away from their jobs and communities.
Patience Malaba, executive director of the Housing Development Consortium, praised the council’s vote as a critical step toward meeting housing needs.
“Workforce housing is a vital part of addressing King County’s pressing housing needs,” Malaba said. “By leveraging public-private partnerships and focusing on permanently rent-restricted homes, this initiative paves the way for sustainable and inclusive development that meets the diverse needs of our workforce. Proximity to jobs is crucial for reducing housing instability and supporting economic growth.”
Homelessness in King County continues to escalate, highlighting the urgency of initiatives like this. The 2024 Point-in-Time Count reported a record 16,000 individuals experiencing homelessness in the region, a 23% increase since 2022. Nearly 10,000 of these individuals are unsheltered, reflecting a 27.7% rise in just two years. Racial disparities are stark, with African Americans, Native Americans, and Pacific Islanders significantly overrepresented among those experiencing homelessness. These figures underscore the need for targeted, systemic solutions to reduce housing insecurity and prevent more families from falling into homelessness.
The Regional Workforce Housing Initiative aims not only to increase the availability of affordable housing but also to ensure fair labor practices and sustainable development. The legislation calls for prevailing wage rates and King County’s priority hire community workforce agreement program to be used in construction projects, supporting local workers and maintaining ethical standards. Additionally, the initiative emphasizes the importance of transit-oriented development, enabling residents to live closer to their workplaces and reduce commuting costs.
Union leaders have expressed strong support for the initiative, recognizing its potential to create jobs while addressing critical housing shortages.
“Affordable, quality workforce housing is a critical need in King County,” said Heather Kurtenbach of Ironworkers Local 86. “This motion has the potential to bring hundreds of jobs to our region and help union members afford to live close to where they work. By supporting ironworkers and others who are pivotal to our workforce and daily life, we can build stronger and more vibrant communities for all.”
Since introducing the proposal in September, Zahilay has worked with various stakeholders to refine the measure. Key amendments include exploring a revolving construction loan fund for housing units to be sold to income-qualified buyers, prioritizing historically underrepresented developers, and addressing potential financial risks. These provisions aim to ensure the initiative’s feasibility while maximizing its benefits for residents and developers alike.
The council has also directed the Executive to assess the potential impact of the initiative on King County’s financial standing, including its strong bond rating. This analysis will help identify any opportunity costs and ensure that efforts to address low-income housing needs are not compromised.
Robin Walls, president and CEO of the King County Housing Authority, expressed optimism about the initiative’s potential to drive meaningful change through collaboration.
“The King County Housing Authority strongly supports the Regional Workforce Housing Initiative,” Walls said. “We know from 25 years of experience that leveraging King County’s bonding authority is effective. This initiative has the potential to make a significant impact by connecting public, private, and nonprofit partners, leveraging our shared development expertise, and creating more affordable workforce housing across King County.”
The next step is the development of an implementation plan, which is due to the council by June 15, 2025. This plan will include detailed projections of how many units can be built with the $1 billion debt financing, strategies for balancing income levels, and the legislative framework needed to create a more equitable and sustainable housing market while fostering economic growth and community stability.