July 14, 2010 North King County Affordable Housing Update
Thanks to those who participated in the July North King Housing/Homeless meeting. The meeting notes and action items are attached. Notes Housing Work Group 7-14.docx
Next meeting: August 11, 2010 11:30 – 1pm Lake Forest Park City Hall
Karen Williams Suburban Outreach Director
Housing Development Consortium
1402 Third Avenue, Suite 709
Seattle, WA 98101
206.682.9541
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Early Learning: Victories Despite Budget Deficit
Despite a dismal state budget, advocates for early learning reported progress at a June 9th Meeting of the North Urban Human Services Alliance (NUHSA). A panel consisting of Representative Ruth Kagi, Chair House Early Learning and Children’s Committee, Laurie Lippold, Public Policy Director, Children’s Home Society and Jane Hinton, Director of Family Development for the Center for Human Services and a member of FACES – North (Families and Children Early Support) gave attendees an overview of early learning progress at the state level and how state funding is impacting programs in North King County.
Representative Kagi described the recent legislative session as “incredibly challenging” but she was pleased about the results for ECEAP (similar to Headstart but state funded) and the Working Connections Child Care Program, providing low income working families access to subsidized child care. Working Connections fared better than ECEAP, but both remain funded. Representative Kagi described current funding for the Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP) as a floor with the goal to fully fund the program by 2018.
Panelist Laurie Lippold, Children’s Home Society of Washington, directed North King County advocates to the state-wide Early Learning Action Alliance. This group provides a centralized voice advancing issues affecting children birth to five and would welcome our local experience and voice. Laurie also reported on passage of HB 2867 authorizing creation of a state-wide plan for birth to three learning.
Jane Hinton, Center for Human Services and a member of FACES, reported on the state of early learning in North King County. She noted that 329 eligible children were not served by Head Start because of budget limitations. As Rep. Kagi noted ECEAP is not fully funded. With only 743 slots outside Seattle none are available in North King County. In North King 50% of children attend formal day care. One of FACES’ goals is to improve the quality of these services, by providing training in early childhood education for providers. Hinton also described efforts to better serve the other 50% of children. She highlighted Play ‘n Learn Groups offered at natural places parents and caregivers go such as libraries, recreation centers, family support centers. Overall close to one in three entering kindergartners lack some critical social emotion or academic skill that would fully prepared them for school. The gap is even greater for low income and English language learners in terms of school readiness. Children from these families perform lower than others on all measures except physical readiness. The academic divide between too many at-risk students and other students remains a persistent challenge, one that NUHSA is committed to reducing in partnership with FACES and the two school districts in North King County.
The North Urban Human Services Alliance works to build the community’s capacity to respond to human service needs in North King County. If you would like to learn more about what we do or to become involved, visit us at www.nuhsa.org.
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NEWS RELEASE
King County Housing Authority
600 Andover Park West, Tukwila, WA 98188
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information contact:
Rhonda Rosenberg, Director of Communications, (206) 574-1185
May 27, 2010 10-05
KING COUNTY HOUSING AUTHORITY PURCHASES WESTMINSTER MANOR APARTMENTS IN SHORELINE
Housing Authority preserves 60 units in building whose HUD contract was set to expire in 2013
As part of an ongoing effort to preserve affordable housing in King County, the King County Housing Authority, working in partnership with the city of Shoreline, has purchased the Westminster Manor Apartments, an apartment complex that houses low-income seniors and people with disabilities. A portion of the apartments at the property, located at 14701 Dayton Ave. N. in Shoreline, are currently subsidized by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development. The housing authority plans to protect the HUD Section 8 subsidy in those units. The remaining units, which are rent restricted, will remain affordable to tenants earning 50 percent of the median income ($22,500 for a one-person household) or less.
“Preserving the affordably priced housing we have today is among the City’s top three affordable housing strategies,” said Mayor Keith McGlashan. “I am delighted that the city of Shoreline was able to be a partner in this effort.”
Westminster Manor, which is comprised of 60 units, was listed for sale on the open market and most likely would have been sold to private investors for conversion to market-rate apartments when the 40-year HUD regulatory agreement expired in 2013. Without the HUD restrictive covenants, rents could then be raised to market rate, currently estimated at $725 per month. In the 24 units with “project-based” Section 8 rental assistance, residents pay about 30 percent of their income in rent, or approximately
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Westminster Manor-1
$223 per month. Rents for the 36 non-subsidized apartments average $416 per month.
The average income of residents at Westminster Manor is $10,388, which makes it difficult, if not impossible, for them to afford market-based rents.
“Westminster Manor was in danger of being sold to a profit-motivated investor who would not have preserved the Section 8 contract with HUD,” said Stephen Norman, executive director of the King County Housing Authority. “The Authority is pleased to be able to ensure that this community’s seniors, many of whom have lived at Westminster Manor for years, will be protected from unaffordable rents and possible homelessness.”
The Authority acquired the property for $2.75 million. KCHA assumed the existing mortgage of $166,000 and used a line of credit to finance the difference.
Because the complex is in good condition, KCHA plans to make only minor improvements such as installing low-flow toilets, completing elevator repairs, and adding accessibility-related enhancements.
Westminster Manor is the 31st property acquired by the Housing Authority as part of its long-term strategy to preserve existing affordable housing in King County.
KCHA administers a range of quality affordable rental and homeownership programs in the Puget Sound region. The Authority serves about 18,000 families and elderly and disabled households on a daily basis.
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NUHSA Activity Reports
NUHSA is granted 501 C 3 status
Good News! The application to the IRS for tax exempt status has been approved effective June 8, 2009, the date NUHSA was incorporated under Washington State law as a non-profit corporation. This will require NUHSA to fill out a form 990 annually. The designation of 501 C 3 means that all private gifts to NUHSA are tax deductible. NUHSA is classified as a public charity under this ruling.
The process of becoming tax exempt would have cost several thousand dollars, however, Kris Yoshizawa and Lisa Schaures from Perkins Coie, donated their time pro-bono under an arrangement with Washington Attorneys Assisting Community Organizations. Karen Sluiter, former NUHSA VP, referred us to this group.
Thanks to Diane Kolb and other board members who helped complete the application for tax exempt status
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April 21st North King County Affordable Housing Stakeholder Forum
When over 220 children are homeless in the Shoreline and Northshore School Districts, and a minimum wage worker needs to work 95 hours a week to afford an average two-bedroom apartment; it is clear housing affordability is affecting our entire community. The good news is that while the need is great; there are many ways cities and nonprofits can partner to ensure each family has an affordable place to call home.
These are key take away messages from the April 21st Housing Forum attended by more than 70 people representing the faith community, King County government, local city planners and elected officials, non-profit developers and advocates. There is no one solution to solve the problem of housing affordability and there are multiple strategies from very complex and expensive new construction, to less complex and costly approaches such as rent subsidies.
Presenters offered a range of innovative ways that affordability can be maintained in the community with existing resources and enhanced partnerships. Congregations and nonprofits showcased projects that transformed underutilized land held by a church into affordable housing. Another example, the Landlord Liaison Program, partners with private landlords to give case-by-case exemptions to tenant screening criteria with a guarantee of a 24-hour hotline and financial insurances. This program has proven really successful for both parties, offering candidates to fill landlords’ vacancies and providing a leasing opportunity for a tenant who may have a prior credit or eviction history that would otherwise screen them out of the rental market.
The event was hosted by the North Urban Human Services Alliance (NUHSA), the Housing Development Constortium (HDC) and A Regional Coalition for Housing (ARCH). The case studies iterated the importance of partnerships, and each of the sponsoring organizations will continue the work of identifying and fostering these opportunities.
All speakers stressed that regardless of scope partnerships are essential to success. One of the roles NUHSA will play is to help identify and foster partnerships.
If you missed the forum, you can attend a follow-up strategy session where opportunities and actions will be prioritized. The meeting is open to all and will be held at Shoreline City Hall May 12th 8:30 – 10am rm 302.
For further information contact Karen Williams. Karen@housingconsortium.org
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“To Serve and Protect: Law Enforcement and Human Service Agencies Working Together” Notes Compiled from Table Discussions at the June 4th, 2009 Forum
Opening Address by King County Sheriff’s Deputy Chief Fabienne Brooks, retired
Currently the Director of Law Enforcement Programs for the National Coalition-Building Institute, Brooks stressed the importance for human-service providers and law enforcement to understand the differences and the similarities the two groups share by speaking from the heart, and sharing stories. Use these three building blocks for collaboration:
- •· Respect/Trust
- •· Focused Listening as basis of good communication
- •· Implementing the Plan of Action
Mental Health Issues Discussion Group
- •· Resources difficult to find for 18-50 year olds
- •· Resources difficult to find for the assessment of sexually aggressive youth
- •· Sex Offender Treatment Provider Coalition of police prosecutors and service providers are trying to improve treatment access for sexually aggressive youth.
- •· Resources difficult to find for adults without immediate family
- •· Human Service Providers often ask police to conduct welfare checks on mental health clients.
- •· Problems not knowing where to send people, what programs are available
- •· PTSD Veterans often turn to drugs and quickly become homeless, often disowned by family.
- •· Family burn-out, police are often the last contact for PTSD victims
- •· Mental health responses for law enforcement can be scaryundefinedsituation can accelerate
- •· Should not be the job of law enforcement to get resources
Drug and Alcohol Issues Discussion Group
- •· School Resource Officers (SRO’s) develop relationships with kids to create more positive interactions with law enforcement, focus on self respect
- •· Healthy Youth Survey good opportunity to reach families
- •· Group in Northshore working to improve communication between school district and the law
- •· School district policies differ on requirements for students to return to school after drug use
- •· Everyone agreed that outreach to parents is critical and parent involvement should be improved to prevent drug and alcohol abuse among youth
Youth Issues Discussion Group
- Helpful Hints for Law Enforcement when Responding to Schools for Juvenile Problems compiled by Officer Tara Williams
- Schools/home based providers can develop tip sheets for addressing each student’s special needs and include the following:
- •o Ask school staff if child is special education student, if is what specific disabilities does the child have
- •o Ask school staff if child is on any medication
- •o Ask school staff if anyone at the school has a good rapport with the child
- •o Find out if there are any “triggers” that might set the child off-sensory issues
- •o Find out if there is anything that might comfort the child
- •· Police should ask if this information is available
- •· Call the parents for additional information
- •· Use the information you gather to try and calm the situation rather than escalate it
- •· Schools and youth serving agencies that work with schools should work to develop relationship with School Resource Officers (SRO)
- •· The officers who respond to an emergency at your school will not come in with the same perspective or understanding of the school as an SRO. Be prepared to meet them at the door and if possible, brief them as they enter the building
- •· Even if you know your SRO and/or other officers well, do not assume that the police who respond to an emergency call from the school, and even the SRO, will have the knowledge and/or understanding of a school or agency’s protocols