YouthCare’s Board of Directors recently voted to support the Seattle Housing Levy. The levy would renew and expand the existing property tax levy that funds construction and maintenance of affordable housing—including several YouthCare projects over the years.

The August 2 primary election is fast-approaching and YouthCare requests your support for affordable housing. At the end of your ballot in Seattle is Proposition 1, which will renew and expand the expiring Seattle Housing Levy. YouthCare has enthusiastically endorsed this important affordable housing measure, and we encourage you to vote YES when you mail in your ballot by August 2!

Seattle’s Housing Levy has a 35-year track record of success. It’s helped to produce and preserve of over 12,500 affordable rental homes for hospital workers, pre-school teachers, people working in retail and restaurants, and seniors and other people on fixed incomes, as well as supportive housing for people who are homeless.

This new levy will produce or preserve at least 2,150 units of affordable housing, and these homes are maintained affordable for at least 50 years after production—ensuring our neighborhoods are affordable to all people who make our communities strong.

YouthCare is grateful for past levy support for projects benefiting homeless young people. University Commons at Marion West, YouthCare’s new project with LIHI received levy funds, Isis at Ravenna House gets a long-term levy-funded operating subsidy, and Pathways and Passages, our housing programs at Sand Point undergoing renovations, are receiving levy funds.

Since 2002, Seattle’s Housing Levy has also provided emergency rental assistance to 6,500 families, with additional services to help these families regain stability and avoid homelessness. It’s critical that we prevent homelessness before it starts, and this new levy will provide emergency rental assistance for thousands of more households.

Ballots will be arriving in your mailbox shortly. When you get yours, remember to go to the end of the ballot and vote YES for Proposition 1, Seattle’s Housing Levy! And be sure to mail in or drop off your ballot by August 2, so Seattle can take a major step forward in addressing our housing affordability crisis by providing affordable homes for thousands of our fellow Seattleites!

To get more involved in the campaign for the Housing Levy, visit their website.