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	Dec. 17, 2003 $9.9 million awarded for affordable housing King County has awarded $9.9 million in low-income housing grants and loans to fifteen housing projects that will create or preserve 415 affordable housing units, King County Executive Ron Sims announced today. The housing ranges from affordable rental housing for families, individuals and people with special services needs, to transitional housing for homeless families and youth, to home ownership opportunities for first-time buyers. “This is our first opportunity to invest in the partnership with suburban cities and the City of Seattle through the new Regional Affordable Housing Program, and we are excited to announce our first projects supported by this new, dedicated local funding source,” said Executive Sims. “King County must maintain its investment in affordable housing because demand for that housing continues to grow. In fact, requests for assistance exceeded our available funds by over $7 million,” said Sims. The Regional Affordable Housing Program (RAHP) is funded by legislation passed in 2002 that dedicates funds generated by a document recording fee to support low-income housing. “This latest funding round was both our most competitive and most productive to date. These investments will help those with the greatest need for housing regain stability in their lives. Several projects offer extensive supportive services for the residents, including help for people with disabilities to live independently in the community,” said Ava Frisinger, Mayor of Issaquah and chair of the King County Consortium’s Joint Recommendations Committee. The Joint Recommendations Committee, comprised of suburban city and King County representatives, recommended the projects for funding. In addition to the RAHP, the housing development projects are funded by the King County Housing Opportunity Fund (HOF), which is a local fund source using King County Current Expense funds, King County Mental Health Funds, and federal Home Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) and Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds. Eighty-three percent of the housing will serve households below 50 percent of King County median income. A three-person household at 50 percent of median income earns $35,050; a single person at 50 percent of median earns $27,250. The King County Housing Finance Program funded projects include: A Regional Coalition For Housing (ARCH): Provide down payment assistance for up to 40 first-time homebuyers in East King County. Award: $325,000 in federal HOME funds. Contact: Art Sullivan, Executive Director, 425-861-3677. Community Homes: Acquire and rehabilitate a home in Redmond to house five adults with developmental disabilities. Award: $250,000 RAHP and HOF funds. Contact: John P. Therrien, Executive Director, Community Homes, 425-746-3698. Home Sight: Provide purchase assistance loans to a minimum of 27 households in Auburn, Federal Way, Kent and Tukwila. Award: $700,000 in federal HOME funds. Contact: Dorothy Lengyel, Executive Director, 206-760-4246. Inland Empire Residential Resources: Acquisition and rehabilitation of six homes to provide 21 beds for adults with developmental disabilities. Award: $589,590 in RAHP and HOF. Contact: Darryl Reber, Executive Director, 509-789-2245. InterIm Community Development Association: Construction of 50 units of large family housing in Seattle, with five units reserved for homeless families experiencing domestic violence. Award: $1,180,500 in RAHP. Contact: Robert N. Santos, Executive Director, InterIm Community Development Association, 206-624-1802. King County Housing Authority: Preservation of 60 units in Auburn ranging from one to four bedrooms. Award: $750,000 in federal HOME funds. Contact: Stephen J. Norman, Executive Director, King County Housing Authority, 206-574-1108. King County Housing Authority: Preservation of 94 units of senior housing in Kent. Award: $750,000 in federal HOME funds. Contact: Stephen J. Norman, Executive Director, King County Housing Authority, 206-574-1108. National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI)-Eastside: Construction of up to 11 Accessory Dwelling Units in East King County for individuals with special needs. Award: $147,000 in RAHP. Contact: Michael Rynas, Executive Director, NAMI-Eastside, 425-765-0473. Mount Baker Housing Association: Construct 50 units of large family housing in Skyway. Award: $1,100,000 in federal HOME and CDBG funds. Contact: Geoffrey Spelman, Executive Director, Mount Baker Housing Association, 206-725-2039. Multi-Service Center: Acquire and rehabilitate an 86-unit apartment building in Federal Way. Award: $1,225,800 federal HOME and local RAHP funds. Contact: Dini Dulcos, Executive Director, Multi-Service Center, 253-835-8511. Shelter America Group: Construct 50 units of affordable family housing in the Issaquah Highlands Master Plan Development. Award: $1,677,000 federal HOME and local RAHP funds. Contact Sherman B. Kellar, President, Shelter America Group, 206-322-5010. Transitional Resources: Purchase two three-bedroom and two four-bedroom homes in West Seattle to house six to ten individuals with mental illness. Award: $418,260 King County Mental Health Housing Funds. Contact: Perry Wien, Chief Executive Director, Transitional Resources, 206-883-2025. Low Income Housing Institute: Preserve a 65-unit mobile home park in unincorporated King County. Award: $131,000 HOF funds. Contact: Sharon H. Lee, Executive Director, Low Income Housing Institute, 206-443-9935, ext.111. Multi-Service Center: Create 135 units of senior housing in Kent, and provide appropriate services. Award: $104,058 federal HOME funds. Contact: Dini Dulcos, Executive Director, Multi-Service Center, 253-835-8511. Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle: Preserve a home in Seattle to provide seven beds to young adults who have been homeless and are capable of living independently in the community. Award: $134,000 HOF funds. Contact: James Kelly, President and CEO, Harder House, 206-461-3792. Updated: Dec. 17, 2003 Executive's home Executive's news Executive's site map | E-mail the Executive King County | Executive | News | Services | Comments | Search Links to external sites do not constitute endorsements by King County. By visiting this and other King County web pages, you expressly agree to be bound by terms and conditions of the site. The details.