Since the start of the year, five new affordable housing developments and one shelter have opened or begun construction. Vashon Island and three cities – Bellevue, Federal Way, and Seattle – all celebrated the start or opening of 841 new affordable homes, and the reopening of 25 shelter beds for adults in King County. Seniors, veterans, and people living with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families are among the expected residents across all locations. 

King County’s Housing Finance Program (HFP) provided financial support for the new homes. Managed by the Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) through the Housing and Community Development (HCD) division, HFP invests in affordable housing that meet the diverse needs of communities, and has developments that include permanent supportive housing, rental housing for multigenerational families, homeownership developments, and environmentally sustainable homes.  HCD’s Housing Stability Section (HSS) supported the shelter’s reopening. 

“The progress we’ve made is a testament to our continued commitment to expanding King County’s affordable housing options,” said Sunaree Marshall, HCD Division Director. “Affordable housing provides stability, opportunity, and community. Even in the face of rising housing costs and inflation, King County will continue to invest in affordable homes for people and families at all income levels and support the availability of shelter beds. Thank you to all our housing and service partners who work with us to increase affordable housing for everyone.” 

The following projects broke ground or opened their doors: 

Vashon Island

Vashon Island Center Homes welcomed residents in January. The 40 new rentals in this community are home to seniors, people who have experienced homelessness, and adults with developmental disabilities. With funding from King County DCHS’ Veterans, Seniors, and Human Services Levy (VSHSL), 20 of the 40 units are for veterans or their immediate family members.  

Managed and operated by Vashon HouseHold, Vashon Island Center Homes provides every resident with the privacy of their own bedroom, bath and a kitchenette. Community pavilions and a p-patch – complete with a garden shed and deer fence – are some of the built-in amenities designed to cultivate community connection among residents. A social worker is also on-site for residents, as well as direct access to support services made possible through HSS. 

“Vashon Island Center Homes represents a vital step in addressing the very, very urgent need for affordable housing, not just on Vashon but across the county,” said Christy Clement, Vashon HouseHold board member. “A need, of course, that has been growing more critical every year that goes by.” 

Bellevue

Spring District, one of Bellevue’s largest affordable housing developments, broke ground in February. The Transit Oriented Development (TOD) is located on land provided by Sound Transit and is within walking distance of a new light rail station. Led by BRIDGE Housing, the project will provide 234 affordable apartments with two mid-rise buildings, including 40 units reserved for residents with developmental disabilities and onsite supportive services. Planned amenities include a community room with a kitchen, a fenced courtyard, and resident services provided by Wellspring Family Services. The project is expected to be completed within the next two years. 

“The demand for affordable housing continues to grow, and we are meeting this challenge through creative solutions and essential partnerships,” said Bellevue Mayor Lynne Robinson. 

Federal Way

Redondo Heights Apartments opened in February, bringing 334 new affordable homes to Federal Way. Led by Multi-Service Center (MSC) and developer Shelter Resources, Redondo Heights residents will have easy access to the Redondo Park and Ride, a rapid ride line, and soon, a light rail station. Onsite services such as community resource navigation and an onsite food bank will be available to building residents and the larger North Federal Way community. Redondo Heights will also feature amenities such as a garden space, community room, and playground. 

“MSC is excited to be bringing more affordable workforce housing to South King County. Not surprisingly our recent Community Needs Assessment identified affordable housing as a top need in the community,” says Amanda Santo, MSC Chief Operations Officer. “This project will help meet some of that need, while also providing additional support for residents who need it.” 

Seattle

The Constellation Center and Apartments broke ground in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Seattle. This center combines affordable housing with a youth center that offers financial empowerment programs, career planning, and other wraparound services tailored for young people.  

Led by Community Roots Housing and YouthCare, the Constellation Center and Apartments development will provide 84 new affordable homes and much needed sanctuary and stability for young people overcoming homelessness. The late Representative Frank Chopp, who passed away only days before the groundbreaking ceremony in March, championed this project. Because of Representative Chopp’s leadership, King County initiated the first TOD bond to help fund the Constellation Center and Apartments in 2016. Representative Chopp also played a key role in amending state law to ensure that King County was also able to invest in the youth services portion of the project. The project is expected to open in 2027. 

“At its core, this project is a civic endeavor that meets urgent, city-wide needs to support our low-income and unhoused neighbors. We’re not just building apartments; we’re building a model for effective interventions and community empowerment,” said Chris Persons, CEO of Community Roots Housing. 

Construction has begun at Bryant Manor South, a new affordable housing development in Seattle’s Central District that will add 149 affordable homes to the neighborhood. The historic Bryant Manor is being transformed into a modern, community-rooted housing complex.  

Led by the First A.M.E. Housing Association, Bryant Manor South follows the opening of Bryant Manor North in September 2024, which brought 101 units of affordable housing to the same site. Together, these developments are a part of the association’s ongoing effort to preserve housing access for longtime residents of a neighborhood that has undergone dramatic demographic shifts. Bryant Manor South is scheduled for completion in December 2026. 

“Located in a community where the African American population has shifted from 75% to 25%, housing aimed at increasing African American residency is critical,” said Earl Richardson, Executive Director of FAME Housing Association. 

Eagle Village, one of the few shelter programs in King County designed to offer culturally relevant programming and services for American Indian and Alaska Native community members, reopened in March at a new location. Originally a pilot project that launched in October 2019 in Seattle’s Sodo neighborhood, Eagle Village provides shelter for 25 adults, providing culturally rooted services with shelter and a pathway to permanent housing in a community-centered environment. Chief Seattle Club operates Eagle Village and is the onsite and housing services provider.  

This reopening was made possible in part by investments from King County and a land contribution from Sound Transit. Eagle Village also receives operations and services funding from DCHS, administered through the King County Regional Homelessness Authority (KCRHA). 

“Eagle Village isn’t just a place of refuge—it’s a space of cultural healing, dignity, and reconnection, where ancestral strength meets community which has been unjustly denied for too long,” said Derrick Belgarde, Chief Seattle Club Executive Director.