FAQ

The number of homes of all types has not kept up with the great need for housing in our region. In all, Washington may need up to ~2.5M new homes by 2050 to fill the current shortage of housing, meet new demand from current residents, newcomers and future generations, and replace old homes.

Who is the Coalition for More Housing Choices?

The Coalition for More Housing Choices represents a broad spectrum of Puget Sound regional leaders, civic organizations, businesses, labor and nonprofits. Our members include:

Where does the Coalition support more housing?

The Coalition for More Housing Choices supports increasing the amount of housing choices and options in the urban centers of the Puget Sound region. We also strive to build new homes in communities across our region that not only support the local neighborhood, but also meet the planning goals of the Growth Management Act. This statewide law was adopted in 1990 to protect our most pristine areas and open spaces while requiring fast-growing counties and cities to develop a comprehensive plan to manage their growth. The law calls on cities and counties to plan for new housing, transportation, and business centers for development. In order to preserve our great open places in Washington, the Growth Management Act guides new housing development toward job centers, transportation, and where people already live, especially in cities.

When was the Coalition established?

Following conversations with regional leaders already engaged in confronting the housing crisis, a growing consensus emerged among policy experts and civic leaders in the summer of 2019 to form a regional coalition in the Puget Sound.

Why was the Coalition organized?

The Puget Sound region needs a clear plan for building more housing so that more people can purchase or rent a home that fits their needs. The rising cost of living—especially increases in rent and home prices—is making it increasingly harder to imagine an affordable and economically viable future for our children and our grandchildren. We are committed to collaborating on a vision informed directly by local experience of those who live and work in the Puget Sound region that meets the demands of the crisis upon us.

How will the Coalition advocate for more housing?

The Coalition for More Housing Choices is dedicated to providing robust policy research to help inform decisions made by policymakers, sharing best practices with local, county, and state officials, and collaborating with everyone engaged in the effort to create more housing options. Our advocacy will rely on our five principles and be focused on implementing solutions that fit the lives of current residents while building enough housing supply to make our region more affordable for current residents and future generations.

Some examples include:

In 2021, convened a network of associations and organizations in support of the effort to create a 7-Point Plan for Increasing Black Homeownership in the Puget Sound region. Today, the Black Home Initiative is working to implement this plan, and the Coalition is proud to be a Community Partner in this work.
Developed local housing snapshots to help increase transparency and illuminate challenges and opportunities to consider in the work to create more housing. (see Bellevue Reporter and Puget Sound Business Journal stories on the snapshots).
Regularly host Housing Roundtables on relevant topics, such as permit timelines, accessory dwelling units, condo liability reform, and more.
Advocate for more action on housing through op-eds. See example of a piece published in The Seattle Times in 2021.
Led by steering committee member Donald I. King, FAIA, the Coalition added its voice to those asking the City of Seattle reconsider its approach for helping religious organizations build more housing. The City responded to the advocacy with an amended ordinance.