Affordable housing projects in WA get a boost

OLYMPIA, Wash.-The Washington State Department of Commerce has announced $97M in grants and loans for affordable housing projects across the state. Among them are multi-family rental projects in Pasco, Walla Walla, Sunnyside, Mattawa and Yakima.

“Washington’s affordable housing crisis has deepened with the economic blows of the pandemic,” said Gov. Jay Inslee. “These important investments, serving thousands of Washingtonians, represent tremendous collaboration between our state’s Housing Trust Fund, other federal, state and local agencies, along with private business and charitable organizations, to bring every available resource to bear in addressing this growing need throughout our state.”

“Equity in community development is one of our top priorities,” said Commerce Director Lisa Brown. “The pandemic is being experienced very differently throughout our state, with more families struggling to find and keep affordable housing, many for the first time.”

$85M comes from the state's Housing Trust Fund, with the remaining provided by the U-S Department of Housing and Urban Development.