More than 40 people spoke and showed strong support of the 2016 Seattle Housing Levy proposal at a public hearing at City Hall on Monday.
Since 1981, four housing levies have been passed to fund affordable housing, assist first time homeowners and provide emergency rental assistance in Seattle. The current levy expires this year and the Mayor has proposed renewing and increasing the tax levy for the next seven years to support affordable housing options in Seattle.
“This housing levy has been indispensible in agreeing to maintaining stable housing for homeless shelters to first time ownership to low income families in our city,” Pamela Banks, President and CEO of Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle, said at the hearing. “The need has never been greater.”
The 2016 proposal is double the previous levy. It is proposed to collect $290 million in property taxes beginning in 2017 through 2023. The proposal aims to produce and preserve affordable apartments, prevent homelessness for 4,500 families and assist 280 homeowners and buyers. Monday’s meeting was one of nine scheduled for discussion of the levy, but the only meeting at which public testimony is allowed.
“The Seattle Housing Levy is one of the few resources that the city has to serve low-income tenants. There’s a fair amount of resources for people who are working and have a stable income,” said Jon Grant, former director of Tenants Union. “The housing levy helps support folks who are exiting homelessness, who are living doubled up, or who are on the verge of being homeless.”
The levy has gained support from community members and city officials due to the rising number of homeless in Seattle over the last few years.
Sarah Sausner, board member at Homestead Community Land Trust, struggled with home instability for 15 years and says the Seattle Housing Levy has made it possible for her to own a home.
“I can’t describe the relief that I felt after so many years of housing instability,” Sausner said. “Owning my own home affordably has made it possible to form lasting relationships with neighbors and to build a savings account among other things.”
Speakers ranged from city employees, to church groups, to those who have struggled with homelessness. There was also multiple housing groups represented including Downtown Emergency Service Center, Seattle for Everyone, and Real Change, among others.
“The planning commission strongly supports the renewal and expansion of the housing levy to allow all $290 million to build affordable housing for low income families, to preserve the affordable housing we have and to provide more from falling into homelessness,” said Yolanda Ho, Seattle planning commissioner, on behalf of the Seattle planning commission.
The Select Committee on the Seattle Housing Levy is made up of all nine members of the City Council who will decide whether to send the levy to Seattle voters on the August general ballot. They will decide in early May whether to pass it on to the ballot.
The next Select Committee meeting will be April 15 at 9:30 a.m. at City Hall.
Originally published in The Seattle Weekly
