1) Make strategic investments in the production and preservation of long-term affordable housing in areas where residents are at high risk of displacement. (ongoing)_2) City Staff will work with the Seattle Housing Authority to examine the feasibility of conducting an assessment of whether RCW 35.21.830 is a barrier to affirmatively promote fair housing in Seattle, in preparing for the next Fair Housing Assessment Plan (2017) 3) Provide financing to rehab and preserve affordable rents in existing housing. (starting in 2017)_4) Advocate for state authority for a Preservation Tax Exemption to incentivize landlords to preserve affordable rents in existing housing. (starting in 2016)_5) Scale MHA requirements to geographic areas of the city based on market conditions such that those areas with strong markets in which amount of redevelopment may be greater will yield larger contributions to affordable housing. (2017)_6) Partner with Sound Transit and other public agencies to dedicate land and other resources toward affordable housing development in areas near major transit investments. (ongoing)

Discussion: The displacement of long-time residents from Seattle, particularly from communities of color, has been identified clearly and consistently by community members as an urgent crisis demanding action. In response to this reality, the City is taking a number of steps to combat and mitigate such displacement. The preservation and production of affordable housing is perhaps the most direct tool for combating the displacement of low-income residents from historic communities of color, particularly those that are likely to experience increased demand due to their proximity to transportation, employment and other amenities. While market rate housing is subject to dramatic price fluctuations (including owner-occupied housing where long-time property owners may be subject to dramatic property tax increases from rising land values), affordable housing provides a stable safety net by restricting rent increases, and limiting occupancy to those who need an affordable home. The City is utilizing a range of approaches to pursue this goal. First, the City is making strategic investments in the production and preservation of long-term affordable housing in areas where residents are at high risk of displacements. In addition, the City is intends to create a new loan program to provide low-cost rehab financing to owners in exchange for preserving affordable rents for 10 to 15 years. Third, the City is advocating for state authority to adopt a Preservation Tax Exemption that would encourage private owners to preserve affordable rents for a minimum of 15 years. The City is also structuring its proposed MHA program to scale requirements based on market conditions, with the intention of yielding more affordable housing where more development occurs. Finally, the City is taking advantage of opportunities to dedicate publicly owned property to affordable housing, particularly where major investments in public infrastructure such as transit are likely to increase property values and lead to more displacement.

1) Adopt zoning legislation that promotes development of more diverse housing types within urban villages, including increasing multifamily zoning to provide more affordable housing development opportunities. 2) Promote affirmative marketing of affordable housing units in the Multifamily Tax Exemption and incentive zoning/MHA programs. (2017-18) 3) Pursue development of affordable housing on surplus public property in key locations such as the former Fort Lawton Army base. 4) Seattle Housing Authority will undertake additional efforts to better enable families with children to access rental units in high opportunity areas through a range of services and financial assistance to reduce barriers to leasing in targeted neighborhoods (2017-2019) 5) SHA will continue the redevelopment of Yesler Terrace, a Choice Neighborhoods Initiative (ongoing)_6) Consider and study MHA alternatives that increase affordable housing in areas with high access to opportunity and low risk of displacement.

Increasing access to historically exclusive neighborhoods is fundamental to reversing patterns of segregation and disparities in access to opportunity. These patterns are reinforced by a number of complex, interrelated factors including: the employment of marketing and screening practices that narrow housing access to select groups; the continuation of land use and zoning restrictions that preclude new and diverse types of housing in historically exclusive neighborhoods; a tight housing market that leaves those with fewer resources less able to compete; and the continuation of outright housing discrimination. Many of the neighborhoods in Seattle that were historically subject to racial covenants have failed to see significant changes in their racial makeup, even as Seattle has diversified, in part because of the limitations on the types of housing that may be built in such neighborhoods, in part because even the new housing that is produced is not affordable, and in part because even affordable units are not necessarily affirmatively marketed. Seattle is employing a range of strategies to increase access to historically exclusive areas that afford high opportunity to its residents, including: adopting zoning changes that will allow more diverse housing types and more multifamily housing; promoting affirmative marketing in affordable housing programs that are used by for-profit property owners; pursuing development opportunities on publicly owned land in strategic locations; and utilizing project-basing to create opportunities in areas less accessible to tenant-based voucher holders. SHA will participate in the national pilot _Creating Moves to Opportunity that will increase the ability of families with children to reside in high opportunity neighborhoods. The pilot will include support strategies intended to increase a household’s buying power. Additionally, HUD Fair Market Rents (FMR) have made it difficult for voucher holders to access units in such opportunity areas. In 2016, SHA increased the Voucher Payments. SHA increased the Voucher Payment Standard for Tenant-Based Vouchers in the Private Rental Market. This was done to increase the ability of voucher holders to compete in the private sector rental market. SHA will continue to evaluate the effectiveness of this adjustment in 2017. Moreover, the Yesler Terrace redevelopment continues to support programs offering educational, economic, and health care supports to those residents. Such efforts support access to opportunity not only for those residents, but the neighborhood as a whole.

1) Continue effective implementation of the Seattle Housing Levy to ensure its continued success (2017-2023). 2) Pilot City bond financing for affordable housing (2017). 3) Implement assessment of City-owned property for affordable housing opportunities (ongoing). 4) Advocate for state authority to enact a REET for affordable housing (starting in 2016) 5) Advocate for greater federal investment in affordable housing (ongoing).

Discussion: Investment in affordable housing is an essential mechanism for ensuring equitable access to housing for a range of protected classes. As state and federal resources have declined in recent years, the pace of affordable housing production has not kept up with demand. The result has been longer waitlists for affordable housing that leave lower-income residents with extremely limited housing choices, further exacerbating fair housing issues, such as the disproportionality of households of color who pay more than half of their incomes toward housing. To combat this reality, Seattle is taking steps to increase and diversify local funding streams for affordable housing, and advocate for more resources at the state and federal levels. Seattle is already a national leader in dedicating local resources to affordable housing, with a 30+ year track record of approving local levies to invest in affordable housing; now advancing even more ambitious plans for investment. Most recently, Seattle residents voted to double the size of the local Housing Levy to $290 million over 7 years. The Seattle City Council followed this with a measure to utilize $29 million in the City's bonding capacity to create more affordable housing. The City is also assessing its real estate inventory for affordable housing development opportunities, as well as working with other public agencies to identify suitable opportunities on publicly owned sites. At the State level, Seattle is actively advocating for authority to raise new revenues for affordable housing through a dedicated Real Estate Excise Tax (REET). Finally, both the City and Seattle Housing Authority continue to be actively engaged in advocating for the restoration of federal investment in affordable housing.

1) Adopt zoning legislation to implement Mandatory Housing Affordability in all areas of the City: a) U District - early 2017; b) Downtown/South Lake Union - mid-2017; c) Central Area/Chinatown International District - mid-2017; c) Uptown - late 2017; d) Citywide - early 2018.

1) Establishment of Equitable Development Initiative fund Q2 2017 and ongoing support of development projects. 2) Implementation of neighborhood transformation at Yesler Terrace, a Choice Neighborhoods Initiative through the development of a comprehensive neighborhood strategy to revitalize public and/or assisted housing units, while simultaneously directing the transformation of the surrounding neighborhood and positive outcomes for families (ongoing)

Seattle is currently involved in two major initiatives to attract equitable investment and development to low income communities. These initiatives are aimed at creating the capital infrastructure that preserves and provides key amenities and services such as culture and arts, employment opportunities, health services as well as educational and workforce development. These strategies will strengthen communities and their residents by preventing displacement and removing barriers to mobility and promoting shared prosperity. The first initiative is the establishment of an Equitable Development Initiative (EDI) Fund, initially to be seeded with $16 million from the sale of City property. The EDI Fund criteria are intended to provide an objective basis for evaluating and funding projects. The criteria categories acknowledge that some communities are ready and able to undertake significant fund-raising, development projects or create community-serving programs. Other communities face greater challenges to move from need to an operational development project or program. The EDI Fund therefore acknowledges a range of community needs, whether the need is to bring together leaders to clarify goals or to break ground on a major development project. The fund, leveraged by non-city funds and investment, was established to provide resources to communities that are at risk of displacement and have low access to opportunity as Seattle grows. In particular, the Fund is intended to stabilize and anchor communities through programs and developments that will serve a diversity of needs in a sustained manner including projects that: 1) Advance economic mobility and opportunity, 2) Prevent residential, commercial and cultural displacement, 3) Build on local cultural assets, 4) Promote transportation and connectivity, 5) Develop healthy and safe neighborhoods for everyone, and 6) Provide equitable access to all neighborhoods.

1) Seattle Public Schools. In the 2016-17 school year, the Seattle Public Schools continues its commitment to eliminating opportunity gaps across the district.2) City Families and Education Levy allocations for 2017-18 are focused on supporting schools and students living in and near the R/ECAPS as identified in the AFH.

Seattle Public Schools In the 2016-17 school year, the Seattle Public Schools continues its commitment to eliminating opportunity gaps across the district. Seattle Public Schools is leading the way to prepare students for college, career and life. Despite making promising progress continues to have unacceptable achievement gaps between white students and students of color. The good news is that since 2011, the number of gap eliminating schools has increased. There are now eight schools that are rapidly increasing achievement for students we have not historically served well using the Eliminating Opportunity Gaps principles. These schools focus on: data driven decisions; matching the right support and interventions to student need; teachers collaborating to innovate and problem solve; supporting leadership from strong instruction-focused principals; and partners working with staff to provide whole child supports, and teachers’ unwavering belief in their students is reflected in the school culture, the rigor in the classroom and students’ sense of belonging. (see Seattle Public Schools Eliminating Opportunity Gaps). In November 2011, Seattle voters approved the $231 million levy renewal (the 2011 Families and Education Levy) for the period of 2012-2018. The Families and Education Levy invests in early learning, elementary, middle school, high school, and health programs to achieve three goals: 1) Improve children's readiness for school; 2) Enhance students' academic achievement and reduce the academic achievement gap; and 3) Decrease students' dropout rate and increase graduation from high school and prepare students for college and/or careers after high school.

1) SHA will leverage its partnership with Seattle Public Schools (SPS) to improve the educational outcomes of the students both organizations serve (2017)_2) SHA will evaluate and possibly continue or expand its Home from School pilot, supporting homeless families with students in target school(s) to access affordable housing that enables school, student, and family stability. (2017)_3) SHA is will promote access of its residents to higher education scholarship program and federal financial aid (ongoing, augmented services in 2017-18)_4) SHA will expand engagement opportunities for youth in its large family communities (ongoing, augmented services in 2017)_5) SHA will continue its partnership with Seattle University to provide a number of academic supports to families and their students in the Choice Neighborhoods zone. (2017 to 2019)_6) SHA will promote digital access and training for all SHA tenants including the continuation of free internet services for families (ongoing).

As seen from the AFFH data analysis, publicly supported housing residents are on average located in neighborhoods with marginally lower quality schools. SHA realizes the unique challenges faced by low-income residents in connecting to education and then excelling. Research has shown that low-income students perform worse academically than their wealthier peers. In 2011, the National Center for Education Statistics found that the reading and math scores for 4th and 8th grade students receiving Free or Reduced Lunch were nine to 12% lower on average than those not in the program. SHA is in a unique position to assist these children as it houses 12% (over 6,000) of all Seattle Public School (SPS) students. With support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, SHA and Seattle Public Schools formed a strategic partnership to improve the educational attainment of the youth both organizations serve. SHA and SPS have committed to employing new approaches guided by the following strategies: 1. Create a data-driven service delivery model that informs how SHA and Seattle Public Schools allocate resources to improve education outcomes for our shared students; 2. Develop dual-generation supports to improve education and skills attainment for youth and adults; and_3. Act as allies in bold policy and systems change in order to advance the well-being of shared students and families. In addition, SHA will undertake the Home from School pilot program at Bailey Gatzert elementary school in the Yesler neighborhood of Seattle. This will assist homeless families to secure housing and keep their children enrolled at Bailey Gatzert. SHA will secure housing within the school’s catchment area for these families, providing them with a stable environment, supportive services. Households participating will also receive a number of support services. SHA supports the academic achievement of its residents in other ways as well. Residents are encouraged to apply for a number of college scholarships including the Dream Big and Washington Stat including the Dream Big and Washington State College Bound scholarships. SHA will expand support for families with older youth in 2017 through a Youth Navigator position that will focus in Rainier Vista around the issue of disengagement. This navigator will offer one-on-one support to youth and work to build relationships between parents and their child’s school.

At Yesler Terrace, SHA partners with Seattle University and other educational partners to provide youth tutoring; parent-child home visits; college preparation and academic services for middle and high school students; summer academic enrichment programs; and help for families and students in development of educational plans for their future goals. SHA will work with the City of Seattle, local partners, and HUD to promote digital access and training for all SHA tenants.

1) Provide funding for weatherization and repair of homes occupied by low-income residents. (ongoing)_2) Providing funding to low-income homeowners at risk of losing their homes due to foreclosure. (starting in 2017)_3) SHA will provide resources for Eviction Prevention interventions for tenants (ongoing)_4) As part of the Positive Aging Initiative, work with the King County Assessor, identify low-income seniors to increase the number of households enrolled in either the Utility Discount Program, senior homeowner property tax exemption or deferral program_5) As part of the Positive Aging Initiative, create a cross-referral relationship between the tax exemption/deferral and utility discount programs to expedite senior and other low-income homeowner enrollment to these programs_6) Develop an Age-Friendly Seattle 2018-2021 Work Plan, which will continue implementation of 2017 Age-Friendly Seattle.

Discussion: Low-income renters and homeowners are often the most vulnerable to losing their housing, whether due to changes in housing costs such as unexpected home repairs, or changes in income such as the loss of employment from a medical condition. Stabilizing low-income households through such crises helps to prevent displacement, reduce homelessness, and create financial strength and stability for low-income people. Seattle/King County Positive Aging Initiative: Age-Friendly Seattle provides a community environment that optimizes opportunities for health, participation, and security to ensure quality of life and dignity for people of all ages and abilities. Age-Friendly Seattle accomplishes this by recognizing the wide range of older people’s capacities and resources; anticipating and responding to aging-related needs and preferences; respecting older people’s decisions and lifestyle choices, protecting those who are most vulnerable; and promoting older people’s inclusion in, and contribution to, all areas of community life. Older adults, whether domestic or foreign-born, in the U.S. face unique challenges impacting their health and wellbeing that need to be addressed by policymakers. It is estimated that at least one in eight U.S. adults aged 65 and older are foreign born, a share that is expected to continue to grow. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) indicates that disparities in income level, poverty, access to medical care and other factors impacting quality of life persist among many older adults, increasingly adults of color.

1) Provide funding for weatherization and repair of homes occupied by low-income residents (ongoing)_2) SHA will expand partnerships to provide on-site nursing in more LIPH buildings and offer the Community Health Worker program in the Yesler Terrace community. SHA redevelopments have on-site health care partners available to the community (ongoing)_3) SHA is engaged in a study funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to evaluate the impact of redevelopment strategies on resident health and well-being at Yesler Terrace and will be responsive to learnings from the evaluation (conducted through 2018)_4) Selected units at Yesler Terrace (Hoi Mai Gardens) will feature Breathe Easy units, which have been demonstrated to decrease factors associated with childhood asthma. (2017)_5) SHA is engaged in a data sharing arrangement with Seattle-King County Public Health that will enable a deeper understanding of health services, risk factors, and outcomes for those receiving a housing subsidy in order to inform future housing and service strategies. (2017)

Seattle and its partners are committed to recognizing the important connections between housing and health outcomes. The City of Seattle will continue to provide funding for weatherization and repair of homes occupied by low-income residents, including in multifamily and single-family housing. These measures have the combined impact of improving environmental quality and increasing financial stability for low-income residents. Seattle Housing Authority has a number of strategies underway to improve the environmental and health outcomes for low-income residents. As mentioned above, SHA will expand its partnership with NeighborCare Health to offer on-site nursing and health promotion services in LIPH buildings. Neighborcare Health also operates the Community Health Workers program for the Yesler Terrace community which employs residents to assist their peers in locating necessary health resources. SHA’s redevelopment communities also have on-site healthcare partners to promote healthy lifestyles among residents including Neighborcare Health and Providence Health & Services. The Seattle Housing Authority is also engaging in a collaborative study between Public Health-Seattle & King County (PHSKC), and Neighborcare Health funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. This will evaluate the impact of redevelopment strategies on resident health and well-being. The study will examine multiple sources of data, link housing and healthcare data, and collect qualitative data on residents’ experiences. In terms of environmental health, Hoa Mai Gardens will open in 2017 and will feature Breathe Easy units. These units are constructed in ways that help further decrease the risk factors associated with asthma among low-income children. In addition, SHA is engaged in a data sharing arrangement with Seattle-King County Public Health that will allow SHA to better understand the health needs of its resident population.