What is the Seattle Housing Authority?

The Seattle Housing Authority is a public corporation that provides affordable housing to more than 25,500 people who earn less than 80 percent of Seattle's median income. Many of our residents are elderly or disabled; approximately 8,000 are children.

SHA's mission is to enhance the Seattle community by creating and sustaining decent, safe and affordable living environments that foster stability and self-sufficiency for people with low incomes.

SHA is governed by a seven-member Board of Commissioners appointed by the Mayor of Seattle.

What kind of housing programs does SHA offer?

SHA owns and operates about 5,200 conventional public housing units that are subsidized by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, nearly 1,000 additional units for seniors and people with disabilities as part of the Seattle Senior Housing Program and about 800 other locally-funded housing units. 

SHA also administers the federal Housing Choice Voucher program, which used to be known as "Section 8." The Housing Choice Voucher program makes it possible for residents with low incomes to live in rental housing anywhere in the city. SHA acts as an agent for HUD in this program, making subsidy payments to the private landlords of Housing Choice Voucher holders. SHA, on behalf of HUD, administers up to 8,300 Housing Choice Vouchers.

For more details about SHA's housing programs click here.

What is SHA's performance quality as a housing authority?

It takes more than a physical structure to help people make a home. SHA brings together housing, people and services that assist residents in building their neighborhoods and communities. SHA is consistently recognized by HUD as a "high performing" housing authority. Earning this designation confirms SHA's commitment to serving as responsible stewards of public resources while providing decent, safe and affordable housing to those in need. 

HUD's confidence in SHA has allowed the agency to participate in the "Moving To new Ways" demonstration program. This seven-year program allows SHA to test innovative methods to improve housing delivery to better meet local needs.