2009 MTW Report
The Board of Commissioners approved Seattle Housing Authority's 2008 Moving To new Ways Annual Report in March 2010. It summarizes the year's activities and accomplishments.
The full report and its appendices (PDF, 3.03 MB , download Adobe Reader) are also available.
People served
- Seattle Housing Authority housed 13,700 households through Housing Choice Vouchers, public housing, and the Seattle Senior Housing Program. The number of people served by the agency increased by 260 from 2008.
- About 87 percent of residents have annual incomes well below 30 percent of the area median income. The average income for Seattle Housing Authority residents increased from about $12,350 to $12,680. This is an average among Housing Choice Voucher Program participants, and residents of public housing and the Seattle Senior Housing Program.
- 6,100 households were on one or more waiting lists for housing assistance at the end of the year, excluding HOPE VI communities. Public housing waiting lists grew by about 45 percent, while the Housing Choice Voucher Program waiting list declined due to being closed to new applicants for the year. Seattle Senior Housing Program waiting lists remained stable.
Community revitalization
- Rainier Vista: Phase II-Tamarack infrastructure was completed and work on 83 rental units started; Phase III infrastructure work started, along with planning and design for 118 rental units; American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds include $14.4 million from SHA’s formula allocation and a $10 million competitive award.
- Lake City Village: SHA received $8 million in competitive American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) "Green Communities" funds toward the project; nearly completed design; general contractor hired.
- Yesler Terrace: Developed a site concept framework and development alternatives to be used to begin both the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) processes.
- Public housing high-rises: Completed the third and final phase of homeWorks, the 22 building renovation program, ahead of schedule; began a homeWorks-like renovation at Bell Tower including $3.5 million in formula ARRA funds; began preparing for Denny Terrace revitalization, including $10 million in competitive ARRA funds.
- SSHP: Began water intrusion repairs at Schwabacher House; received $850,000 in ARRA CDBG funds from the City for work at Willis House and Reunion House which is planned for 2010.
- South Shore Court (formerly The Douglas): Renovation of 44 units in three buildings was completed, creating energy-efficient affordable units out of previously dilapidated housing.
- Special Portfolio: continued water-intrusion work at Wedgewood Estates; completed water intrusion work at Longfellow Creek Apartments.
Housing resources
- Scattered Sites: Sold 19 units, bringing total sales to 191; the remaining 75 replacement units were identified and will come on line by 2011.
- High Point: 65 units affordable at the public housing level and 51 workforce housing units came on line, completing SHA’s rental housing in this community.
- Accessible housing: 18 public housing units were retrofit to meet Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards (UFAS); 23 new UFAS units were constructed at High Point.
- New Special Purpose Vouchers: 131
- HOPE VI off-site replacement housing: 25 off-site replacement units came on line; 114 project-based replacement housing vouchers were awarded.
Performance indicators
- The agency completed 100 percent of planned unit inspections in public housing and the Housing Choice Voucher Program met or exceeded all its performance goals for property inspections.
- The Job Connection, Seattle Housing Authority's employment services group, made 160 job placements, 61 percent of which were full-time and 72 percent of which included benefits. The average hourly wage at placement was just under $13.00.
- Average vacancy rates: public housing - 2.1 percent; Seattle Senior Housing Program – 0.5 percent.
- Housing Choice Voucher Program utilization increased from 8,075 at the beginning of the year to 8,645 at year end.
Other activities of note
- Jefferson Terrace: Decided to move forward with partnership with Public Health–Seattle and King County to locate a medical respite care facility on one floor at Jefferson Terrace; vacated the floor and began necessary capital work being funded by Public Health.
- Direct deposit: Successfully piloted direct deposit for HCV landlords.
- The mental health crisis intervention program and high rise case management program prevented at least 95 percent of evictions of residents referred to them by property management staff.
- SHA and our service partners received five grants totaling more than $425,000 for services.
