Seattle Housing Levy

What is the Seattle Housing Levy?

Since 1986 the Housing Levy has been the cornerstone of funding for affordable housing in Seattle, creating and preserving over 11,000 affordable rental homes and over 1,000 homeownership opportunities throughout the city. Thanks to investments from the Housing Levy, over 16,000 people currently live in safe, stable homes they can afford. For nearly 45 years, Seattle residents have consistently supported this critical resource, with the most recent Housing Levy in 2023 receiving a voter approval rate of over 69%.

2023 Housing Levy Renewal

With the 2016 Housing Levy set to expire at the end of 2023, Seattle voters approved the renewal of the 2023 Housing Levy on November 7, 2023, providing a seven-year extension. With this passage, the levy will continue to play a vital role in creating affordable housing, keeping low-income families in their homes, and providing urgent help to those who are at risk of, or experiencing homelessness. The levy’s investments will support housing affordability for at least 50 years, providing the city’s residents with generational security and stability.

This levy’s goals and strategies will encourage the development of family-size apartments and for-sale homes, bolstering nonprofit community-based organizations in constructing housing that aligns with the unique needs of their communities, advocating for mixed-use development that encompasses childcare, small business opportunities, and cultural spaces, and enhancing investments in workforce stabilization and resident services.

Furthermore, the 2023 Housing Levy will:

• Create Over 3,100 New Affordable Homes: The levy will support the development of more than 3,100 new affordable housing homes, encompassing both rental and homeownership opportunities, meeting the needs of diverse households and providing a foundation for healthy and resilient communities.
• Stabilize Supportive Housing Workforce: For the first time, Housing Levy investments will stabilize wages for workers providing essential services to our most vulnerable residents. This ensures that the critical supportive service needs of low-income individuals and families are met.
• Prevent Homelessness and Ensure Housing Stability: The levy will provide direct assistance to prevent homelessness through short-term rent assistance and housing stability services, with a commitment to serving over 9,000 low-income individuals and families.

The 2023 Housing Levy was developed following 16 months of stakeholder engagement, public meetings, and coordination between the Mayor’s Office, City Council, and the Office of Housing. To learn more about the 2023 Housing Levy’s programs and goals, please read OH’s blog post. 

2023 Housing Levy activity is overseen by the Housing Levy Oversight Committee. More information, view the Housing Levy Oversight Committee webpage here.

In August 2016, Seattle voters approved a $290 million Housing Levy with ambitious affordable housing goals. Over the seven years of the 2016 Housing Levy,  its goals for rental housing production and preservation, homeownership, and operations and maintenance. The homelessness prevention and housing stability services program nearly met its goal, coming short by just 3%. For a detailed report on 2016 Housing Levy outcomes by the end of 2023, see the 2023 Seattle Housing Levy Report.

Summary of 7-Year 2016 Housing Levy Outcomes (2017-2023)

• Rental Production and Preservation Program, New Production: Exceeded goal of 2,150 units of rental housing produced (133%)

• Rental Production and Preservation Program, Reinvestment: Exceeded goal of 350 units of rental housing preserved (177%)

• Operating and Maintenance Program: Exceeded goal of 510 rental housing units supported with operating and maintenance funds (103%)

• Homelessness Prevention and Housing Stability Service Program: 4,364 of 4,500 individuals and families assisted (97%)

• Homeownership Program: Exceeded goal of 280 low-income homeowners assisted (135%)

For a complete summary, see the 2016 Levy Summary Report.

• The Seattle City Council adopted an Administrative and Financial Plan and Housing Funding Policies to guide the use of Housing Levy funds, as well as other fund sources administered by the Office of Housing. You can find the documents on our Housing Policies page.
• The 2023 Housing Levy: Meeting the Moment
• 2023 Housing Levy Fact Sheet
• Glossary of Key Housing Terms and Concepts
• 2016 Levy Summary Report
• The Office of Housing publishes annual Housing Levy Reports, which describe how levy funds have been used each year. Click here to view all available Housing Levy Reports.