Dear friends,
Now more than ever, reading the news can be overwhelming and distressing. But I am writing today to invite you to be part of something aspirational.
In the November 7th election, Seattle voters have the opportunity to pass a transformational housing levy. This measure is a renewal of the existing levy, which will otherwise expire at the end of the year, ending a critical funding source in our city.
The 2023 levy is the result of deep collaboration between service providers, elected officials, housing experts, and people with lived experience of housing insecurity. It will generate $970 million over the next seven years in order to:
- Produce and preserve 3,500 new affordable homes for low-income households and reinvest in existing affordable housing.
- Stabilize 4,500 individuals and families at risk of eviction and homelessness through rent assistance and case management.
- Help 1,150 formerly homeless residents and people with service needs to live in stable, supportive homes, through operations funding for permanent supportive housing.
- Create and maintain 360 affordable homeownership opportunities targeted to marginalized communities.
Since 1986 the levy has been Seattle’s foundational tool for affordable housing and has created or preserved over 12,000 affordable homes which house 16,000 neighbors today.
This is a time for us all to recommit to the things that matter: providing safe, stable places to live for our community’s most vulnerable. When your ballot arrives this week, please vote YES on the Seattle Housing Levy.
Take good care,
Jessie Friedmann
Director of Public Policy & External Affairs
PS: You can track your ballot here.
