Seattle has put a group in place that will be the city’s landlord for some residents. The Social Housing Developer Board will oversee rental housing that is publicly owned. Some are pointing less to the old government housing model of the 70s and more towards models used in Vienna, Singapore, and a number of other cities around the world.
The Seattle City Council is responsible this week for voting on nominees who would become the Council’s first ever appointments to the Seattle Social Housing Developer Board. The new board will also manage the social housing developer. Earlier this year, Seattle passed initiative I-135 mandating the creation of a new public agency to develop, acquire, and maintain social housing in the city — the Seattle Social Housing Developer.
A number of cities on the west coast are dealing with heavy increases in housing costs. Social housing has been a way many feel can address this issue for the most vulnerable. Some feel it stops real estate investors from making more money. Renting an apartment has gone up more than 90 percent over the past decade in Seattle.
Some point to social housing as a way to offset the homelessness crisis. The homes are rented to people making between 0-120 percent of Seattle’s Area Median Income and rents are set according to what people are able to pay. The rent goes toward paying off the construction and operational costs of the building. Any excess profit may be reinvested into building new affordable housing.
The Seattle Social Housing Developer Board is a 13 board member commission. Seven members are appointed by the Seattle Renters’ Commission. One is appointed by the Martin Luther King, Jr. County Labor Council. Another member is appointed by El Centro De La Raza. The Green New Deal Oversight Board gets to appoint a member and two are appointed by the Seattle City Council.
