Coalition Advocacy in Action

Seattle City Council Restores Needed Flexibility for Churches to Provide Affordable Housing on their Property

On Monday, Sept. 27, the Seattle City Council passed a Coalition for More Housing Choices-supported ordinance, C.B. 120257, making it easier for more churches and religious organizations to build much needed affordable housing. This measure modified an ordinance that the Council adopted last June allowing for affordable housing development to exceed zoning restrictions on properties owned or controlled by religious organizations. The Council had previously restricted the program beyond state requirements, setting an affordability threshold of 60% area median income (AMI) for religious organizations to provide housing choices on their property.

Coalition Steering Committee members wrote a letter expressing concern that this would make the new program impossible for most religious organizations to pursue and would lead to fewer, not more, housing options in Seattle. The Coalition joined other stakeholders in requesting a return to the 80% AMI threshold, which is the level that was supported by lawmakers in the state legislation that enabled the local ordinance, SHB 1377.  The ordinance adopted last week restores the 80% AMI requirement, giving churches flexibility to build affordable housing on their property.

Thank you to Steering Committee member Donald I. King, FAIA and the Nehemiah Initiative Seattle for their leadership and advocacy on this issue.