WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), on March 8, secured $6.5 million in the Fiscal Year 2024 spending package for half a dozen affordable housing projects that will provide hundreds of families and children throughout Washington state a place to live.
“These projects will create new housing for the people in the State of Washington who need it the most, including families with children, low-income veterans, and people experiencing homelessness. Affordable housing projects boost our economy, revitalize communities, and drive down inflation — I will continue to advocate for investments and legislation that help us build more,” Sen. Cantwell said.
The package now heads to the President’s desk for signature. On Friday, March 8, the United States Senate approved the spending package by a final vote of 75 to 22 which was approved by the United States House of Representatives on Wednesday by a 339 to 85 vote.
Below is a breakdown of the $6,566,279 Senator Catwell secured for the six housing projects:
Edmonds – Scriber Place Affordable Housing for Homeless Students: $1,500,000 to construct 52 units of permanently affordable housing for families with children in the Edmonds School District who are experiencing homelessness.
Kittitas County – HopeSource Veterans Housing: $1,616,279 to construct 12 units of affordable rental units dedicated to low-income senior veterans in Kittitas County.
Seattle – Mary’s Place Emergency Family Shelter: $1,000,000 to rebuild an aging emergency shelter to provide safe shelter and services for up to 70 families with children experiencing homelessness.
Tacoma – Micro-Shelter Expansion: $850,000 to purchase 75 micro-shelter units to support individuals transitioning to permanent supportive housing, as well as the demolition and preparation of a long-term location for the micro-shelters.
Makah Reservation Workforce Housing: $800,000 to construct six duplexes on the Makah Reservation for essential workers.
Sequim – Habitat for Humanity of Clallam County Workforce Housing: $800,000 to construct infrastructure for 42 affordable workforce homes in Sequim.
Sen. Cantwell has made housing for Washington state’s families and workers a major priority. She has long advocated for the need to increase the availability of affordable housing and is the leading Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) advocate in the Senate. A one-page background document about Sen. Cantwell’s work to include an expansion to the LIHTC program in the bipartisan tax package is available HERE.
The affordable housing projects highlight a total of $138,581,258 in funding supported by Sen. Cantwell statewide. A full list of the projects – including for Kent’s Indian American Community Center, the University of Washington’s Nanofabrication Facility (WNF), and for foraging habitat for Southern Resident Orca Whales — is available HERE.
Author: Lynnwood Times Staff
