The Washington State Housing Finance Commission (WSHFC) has awarded low-income housing tax credit (LIHTC) reservations to seven new developments. They will receive more than $54 million in credits over 10 years.
“All these projects are new construction that will bring not only much-needed affordable housing to communities all over the state, but also local jobs,” says Karen Miller, chair of the WSHFC. “As in the past, they also reflect great diversity in location and population served.”
Three projects are in the Yakima Valley, with the others in Kennewick, Vancouver, Tacoma and Bellingham. Many of the new apartments will serve farmworkers, people with disabilities, and the homeless.
This is the third group of projects approved by the Commission from its 2014 LIHTC competition.
The latest funded projects are:
• Lincoln Place (Vancouver Affordable Housing, $3.8 million). This new building of 30 studio apartments offers Housing First for chronically homeless adult as well as supportive services provided by SHARE, near downtown Vancouver;
• Bakerview Family Housing in Bellingham (Catholic Housing Services of Western Washington, $8.7 million). One of the first projects to be funded by the Bellingham Affordable Housing Levy, this 50-unit complex of townhouses targets farmworkers;
• Mason Avenue Apartments in Tacoma (Trillium Housing Services, $13.8 million). A garden-style apartment community for low- and very-low income households, including units set aside for people with disabilities and for large households;
• Volland Street in Kennewick (Kennewick Housing Authority, $4.6 million). A long-planned new development with 31 units of housing for very low-income, formerly homeless and disabled residents, with space for supportive services;
• Granger-Prosser Family Housing (Genesis Housing Services, $13.7 million). Two new developments on either side of the Yakima-Benton county line, each with 51 apartments mostly reserved for farmworkers. The buildings emphasize energy and water efficiency;
• Toppenish Family Housing (Yakima Housing Authority, $4.3 million). Also targeted to farmworkers, these 30 new apartments are located near the area’s agricultural employers; and
• Sunnyside Family Housing (Sunnyside Housing Authority, $5.8 million). The development features new apartments for farmworkers and other households near downtown Sunnyside.
The dollar amount is the estimated tax credit equity over 10 years. For more information, visit WSHFC.
