About the Seattle Office of Housing

Overview, Mission, Vision, History

The Seattle Office of Housing, an executive office of the Mayor, increases opportunities for families of all incomes to live in our city. For over 30 years, the City has managed investments from the Seattle Housing Levy and incentive programs for developers to fund the preservation and production of affordable apartments and homes in Seattle. To date, nearly 12,000 affordable units have been funded and over 1,500 have been created through incentives. The Office of Housing has also provided home repair and weatherization programs for lower-income resident for over 30 years, helping over 17,000 households remain in their homes.

Programs

• The Rental Housing Program: The Office of Housing supports the preservation and production of affordable rental housing through long-term loans to mission-based multifamily developers in Seattle. There are currently almost 300 buildings that have received funding through OH, which are inspected by the Asset Management team to ensure quality, health, and safety.
• Planning and Policies: The Office of Housing is the lead agency in the City of Seattle for affordable housing, and works with City Council and the Mayor's Office to advise on policies, track housing affordability data, and manage programs such as Incentive Zoning and the Multifamily Tax Exemption Program.
• Home Improvement Programs: The Office of Housing assists first-time home buyers in achieving their dream through our  Homeownership Program and existing income-qualified homeowners improve and maintain their homes through the HomeWise Weatherization Program (single-family and multifamily) and Home Repair Loan Program.

Impact

The Office of Housing has a long history of creating a more equitable and affordable community through affordable housing investments.