Across Washington and here in King County, we’re seeing the devastating impacts of a changing climate on our communities, from wildfires to heat waves, ice storms, and polluted air. In response, we’re helping communities become more resilient by supporting affordable housing that withstands extreme weather events and environmental challenges.  

The Southard in Tukwila is only the second permanently affordable homeownership development of its size built with features that significantly reduce utility costs and climate impacts. Managed by Homestead Community Land Trust, The Southard received funding from King County’s Climate Equity Fund and opened in June 2024.

“For us, creating affordable housing for everyone means that we’re not only providing homes to people who have been pushed out. We’re also mending the ties within and between communities that were severed by displacement and healing our environment through sustainable design and community planning that center the health of residents and our surrounding ecosystems,” said Sunaree Marshall, King County Housing and Community Development Division Director. “Lack of planning and funding for affordable housing and commercial space, paired with escalating real estate prices leads to displaced families and communities. When people are displaced, they typically move to less climate resilient locations – further from transit, community services, and cultural institutions.”  

Climate Equity Housing Strategies 

Climate equity means making sure we’re protecting King County communities who are most vulnerable to the climate crisis and its impacts. It’s also part of King County’s Strategic Climate Action Plan (SCAP) – a roadmap that integrates climate resilience and environmental sustainability into all of our services, operations, and work. 

Equitable Development Initiative

In 2024, King County adopted the implementation plan for an Equitable Development Initiative (EDI) that includes funding to build community-driven affordable housing and other community-centered capital projects that address residential and cultural displacement. The King County EDI was created in response to community feedback around increasing displacement risks. During the 2020 SCAP process, community leaders named residential, commercial, and cultural displacement as one of their top climate issues. 

Affordable Housing and Transit Oriented Development 

Expanding affordability around the County’s transit hubs and stations makes it easier for low-income households to get around and reduces greenhouse gas emissions. Transit Oriented Development (TOD) accomplishes this by building affordable housing and mixed-use developments within a 10-minute walk to public transit and neighborhood amenities, such as grocery stores, hospitals, restaurants, and parks.  

Since 2016, King County’s Housing and Community Development Division (HCD) has administered $232 million in TOD housing capital funds, funding more than 5,500 affordable homes. Recent TOD investments include the Northgate Affordable Housing project, a 235-unit mixed-use affordable housing project led by Community Roots Housing and BRIDGE Housing that serves households earning 60%of the area median income or below. This project includes an early learning center, a commercial space, a new comfort station for Metro operators, and is being constructed on a former King County Metro parking lot.   

Climate Equity Fund 

In 2021, the Executive’s Climate Equity Capital Fund, a one-time investment, allowed the King County Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) to provide loans for affordable housing developers to install building systems that achieve net zero emissions and building systems that are green energy designed. Net zero is when an equal amount of carbon dioxide is removed from the atmosphere as is released into it. Green energy design refers to the creation of buildings that are energy-efficient, environmentally responsible and resourceful, and designed for long-term occupancy and usage. 

By the end of 2024, nine affordable housing developments and community facilities across King County were awarded Climate Equity funding. Recipients include Iva Place in Kirkland, a young adult affordable housing community managed by Friends of Youth; The Southard in Tukwila, an environmentally sustainable neighborhood and homeownership community developed by Homestead Community Land Trust; and the White Center HUB (Hope, Unity, and Belonging), an equitable, community-driven affordable housing development led by the White Center Community Development Association. 

“Our vision for equitable development is grounded in the principles of community stewardship of land which transforms land into a shared resource that generates community prosperity. Land is a resource to be shared and cared for, used to heal and transform the legacies and ongoing impacts of colonization, genocide, and racism,” said Aaron Garcia, Executive Director of the White Center Community Development Association.