>>> THANKS TO THE MEMBERS OF
HE PRESS, SEATTLE CHANNEL FOR
STREAMING THIS.
THIS IS A MONUMENTAL DAY TO BE
HERE WITH COMMUNITY, WITH THE
ORGANIZATIONS, WITH THE
INDIVIDUALS TO FOUGHT TO PASS
JUMP START.
WE ARE CELEBRATING THOSE
DOLLARS GOING INTO COMMUNITY
AND BUILDING HOMES.
BUILDING UNITS.
BUILDING A SENSE OF JOY AND
PRIDE AND RESPECT FOR PEOPLE TO
CALL HOME.
YOU ALL MADE THIS POSSIBLE AND
IT IS MY PRIVILEGE TO WORK WITH
YOU TO MAKE JUMP START A
REALITY IN SEATTLE.
HERE WE ARE MAKING SURE THAT
THE FIRST ROUND OF FUNDING GETS
THE DUE DILIGENCE IT NEEDS TO
HIGHLIGHT IN COMMUNITY THE HARD
WORK THAT HAS GONE INTO MAKING
THESE PROJECTS COME INTO
ACTION.
THE OFFICE OF HOUSING HAS BEEN
WORKING WITH THE ORGANIZATIONS
BEHIND US TO MAKE SURE THAT
THEIR VISION OF WHAT A HOUSE
SHOULD BE, WHAT A HOME AND
COMMUNITY SHOULD BE GET THE
FUNDING THAT IS NEEDED.
AND IS SUPPORT AND TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE TO BRING THESE HOMES
ONLINE.
WE HAVE SO MUCH TO CELEBRATE
TODAY.
WE ARE CELEBRATING JUMP START
FUNDING GOING OUT INTO
COMMUNITY.
BUT WE ARE ALSO CELEBRATING AND
SHOWING THE VALUE, THE WORTH,
THE IMPORTANCE OF THESE
INVESTMENTS INVESTMENTS IN
CREATING HOUSING UNITS GET A
LOT OF ATTENTION.
WE HAVE A WHOLE FACTION THAT
TALKS ABOUT THE NUMBER OF UNITS
CREATED.
WHAT IS HARD TO QUANTIFY IS
EACH ONE OF THESE HOUSING UNITS
IS A HOME THAT CREATES
STABILITY, OPPORTUNITY, WEALTH,
AND UNIT.
NEARLY 20 PROJECTS ARE COMING
ONLINE.
WHEN I SAY NEARLY 20 HOUSING
EFFORTS ARE COMING ONLINE,
THESE ARE FAMILY SIZED HOUSING
UTES THAT ARE CREATING
OPPORTUNITY FOR INDIVIDUALS TO
HAVE TO SEND THEIR KIDS.
WE ARE TALKING CULTURALLY
INFORMED HOUSING.
HOUSING BUILT THROUGH THE
COMMUNITY LENS.
ESPECIALLY THE COMMUNITY LENS
THAT HAS BEEN MOST
DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED BY
DISPLACEMENT.
WE ARE ROOTING THESE HOMES
WITHIN THE COMMUNITY THAT HAD
THE VISION ORIGINALLY.
I'M TALKING ABOUT PROJECTS LIKE
THE SKIP TO NORTH LOT.
THAT WILL CREATE AN ALL
INCLUSIVE CARE HOME FOR THE
ELDERLY.
COUPLED WITH CHILD CARE.
RUN BY EL CENTRO.
YOUTH CARE, COMMUNITY ROOTS
HOUSING COMING TOGETHER NOT
JUST TO CREATE HOUSING BUT
HOUSING PAIRED WITH EDUCATIONAL
AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
FOR YOUNG PEOPLE WHO HAVE
EXPERIENCED HOMELESSNESS.
I'M TALKING ABOUT PLACES LIKE
NEW HOPE FAMILY HOUSING.
IN THE CENTRAL DISTRICT THAT
THAT WILL PROVIDE HOUSING TO
FOLKS EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS.
TO PRIORITIZE HOUSEHOLD AND
HOUSING FOR THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN
DISPLACED IN THE CENTRAL
DISTRICT AND ARE ABLE TO RETURN
HOME SO THAT WE CAN DIRECTLY
COMBAT DISPLACEMENT.
AT A TIME WHEN THE LACK OF
AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS DRIVING
UP THE COST, AND PUSHING
COMMUNITIES OUT OF THE CITY,
AND OFTEN INTO THE STREET,
THESE PROJECTS, THESE HOUSING
INVESTMENTS, CREATE STABILITY.
AND SANCTUARY.
AT A TIME WHEN THE LAYERED
STRESSORS OF COVID ARE CREATING
CRISES THAT NEGATIVELY IMPACT
NOT JUST OUR PHYSICAL HEALTH
BUT OUR MENTAL HEALTH, THESE
PROJECTS PROVIDE HEALTH AND
HEALING.
AT A TIME WHEN THE ECONOMIC
IMPACT OF COVID IS COMPOUNDING
DISPARITIES, THESE HOUSING
EFFORTS CREATE ECONOMIC
OPPORTUNITY WHEN THE FOUNDATION
OF THEM INVEST IN AFFORDABLE
HOUSING UNITS ABOVE SMALL
BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES.
CHILD CARE.
COMMUNITY CENTERS.
THAT IS WHY WE ARE SANDING HERE
TODAY BECAUSE THIS IS THE
VISION OF WHAT JUMP START
WANTED TO FUND.
COMMUNITY CENTER, SMALL
BUSINESS OWNERS, BIPOC SMALL
BUSINESS OWNERS.
CHILD CARE PROVIDERS.
NEXT TO SOCIAL SERVICES
PROVIDED YEAR ROUND.
AND HOUSING.
NEAR TRANSIT AND GROCERY
STORES.
THIS IS THE VISION AND I WANT
TO THANK MIGUEL AND ESTELLA AND
THE WHOLE TEAM AT EL CENTRO FOR
HOUSING US TODAY.
AND FOR ALL OF THE WORK THIS
ORGANIZATION HAS BEEN ABLE TO
FIGHT FOR.
BUT NO ORGANIZATION SHOULD HAVE
TO FIGHT FOR SEVEN PLUS YEARS
TO BUILD THE VISION THAT THE
COMMUNITY NEEDS.
THESE ORGANIZATIONS BEHIND US
HAVE FOUGHT FOR YEARS TO MAKE
SURE THAT THEIR VISION COULD
COME ONLINE.
AND WITH THE LEADERSHIP AT THE
OFFICE OF HOUSING, WE ARE
CHANGING POLICIES TO MAKE IT
EASIER TO FUND HOUSING LIKE
THIS AND MAKE IT POSSIBLE TO
BUILD IT FAST.
AND GUESS WHAT?
WE CAN DO THIS IN PERPETUITY
FOR THE LIFETIME OF JUMP START.
THOSE FOLKS WHO WERE OPPOSING
JUMP START FINALLY DROPPED
THEIR CHALLENGE AND WE CONTINUE
TO SEE JUMP START BE THE LAW OF
THE LAND IN SEATTLE FOR YEARS
TO COME.
WE HAVE ALREADY WON TWICE IN
THE COURTS AND WE CONTINUE TO
WIN IN THE COURT OF PUBLIC
OPINION BECAUSE TWO-THIRDS OF
SEATTLEITES SUPPORT JUMP START.
AND WE ARE HERE TO SHOW EXACTLY
WHAT THOSE JUMP START FUNDINGS
GO INTO.
SO I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR
BEING HERE SO WE CAN HIGHLIGHT
THE IMPORTANT WORK AND IT IS MY
EXTREME PLEASURE TO TURN IT
OVER TO THE LEADER AT THE
OFFICE OF HOUSING WHO CAME FROM
COMMUNITY.
HE KNOWS THE VALUE AND THE
IMPORTANCE OF MAKING SURE THESE
DOLLARS GET OUT NOT ONLY THIS
YEAR, BUT EVERY SINGLE YEAR.
SO WE CAN BUILD MORE PROJECTS
LIKE THIS.
GIVE IT UP FOR DIRECTOR MICHAEL
WINKLER CHIN AT THE OFFICE OF
HOUSING.
>> HI EVERYONE.
THANK YOU FOR THOSE WORDS.
I HAVE NOTHING REALLY LEFT TO
SAY I THINK.
AND IT IS HOT.
SO, YOU REALLY DON'T WANT TO
HEAR FROM ME.
YOU WANT TO HEAR FROM PEOPLE
ABOUT THEIR PROJECTS.
I'M A LITTLE OVERCOME WITH
EMOTION WHICH IS HARD FOR ME
BECAUSE I'M EMOTIONALLY FLAT IN
GENERAL.
AS PEOPLE WHO KNOW ME WILL SAY.
BECAUSE WE ARE AT THIS POINT,
AND WE HAVE THIS LIST.
AND THE LIST IS THIS WITH ALL
THESE DIFFERENT THINGS.
AND AS COUNCILMEMBER MENTIONED,
WHEN THE COUNCILMEMBER
MENTIONED THE PROJECTS AND I
KNOW THAT ONE.
I KNOW THAT ONE.
I KNOW THIS ONE.
BECAUSE, I HAVE BEEN DOING THIS
A LONG TIME.
AND IT IS SO GREAT TO HAVE
THIS.
SO THE JUMP START FUNDS
ACTUALLY ALLOW THE OFFICE OF
HOUSING TO WORK BETTER WITH
COMMUNITY.
WITH DIFFERENT WAYS THROUGH THE
HOUSING LEVY FUNDS.
THAT IS NOT EVER TO DIMINISH
WHAT THE HOUSING LEVY DOES.
THAT IS FOUNDATIONAL.
BUT JUMP START ADDS A DIFFERENT
FLAVOR TO THE WORK WE CAN DO IN
WORKING WITH COMMUNITY.
WE CANNOT LOSE ANY GROUND IN
WORKING WITH OUR UNHOUSED
NEIGHBORS AND DISPLACEMENT AND
OUR COMMUNITIES.
AND WHAT THE JUMP START FUNDS
HAVE DONE IS ALLOWED, I GUESS I
GET TO SEE MYSELF IN THE
PROJECTS IN A VERY DIFFERENT
WAY WHICH I WAS UNABLE TO SEE
FOR MOST OF MY CAREER.
SO WITH THAT, I WANT TO THANK
YOU, I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU
FOR PUSHING US TO DO MORE AND
DO BETTER AND I STILL HAVE MY
OLD CELL PHONE NUMBER AND I
KNOW YOU GUYS KNOW IT.
I HAVE MY NEW CELL PHONE
NUMBER.
YOU CAN USE THAT.
SO APPRECIATIVE OF THE
COUNCILMEMBER AND HER OFFICE.
FOR THE SELF-DETERMINATION
FUND.
I USED TO CALL IT THE BAD
MARRIAGE FUND.
I WOULD SAY THE FORCED MARRIAGE
FUND.
WHERE BIPOC ORGANIZATIONS WERE
FORCED TO PARTNER WITH PEOPLE
IN THESE FORCED ARRANGEMENTS.
THIS FUNDING JUST ALLOWS FOR
JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE
FLEXIBILITY.
AND AS WE ENVISION WHAT HOUSING
IN OUR COMMUNITIES LOOK LIKE
FOR US.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> AND PLEASE WELCOME UP TO THE
STAGE, FORMER REPRESENTATIVE
VELMA VALORIA WITH THE FILIPINO
COMMUNITY CENTER.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA.
THANK YOU MICHAEL FROM THE
OFFICE OF HOUSING.
WE ARE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT
THIS PROJECT.
AS A COMMUNITY BASED
ORGANIZATION STEPPING UP TO
BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT
MEETS THE NEEDS OF OUR
COMMUNITY.
OBTAINING THE FUNDS NECESSARY
TO BUY THE LAND TO BUILD HAS
BEEN A CHALLENGE.
JUMP START WILL ENABLE THE
FILIPINO COMMUNITY OF SEATTLE
TO SEIZE AN OPPORTUNITY TO
PURCHASE PROPERTY.
TO BUILD FAMILY SITES,
AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR WORKING
FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
WE ARE THRILLED TO BE ONE OF
THE FIRST ORGANIZATIONS
PARTICIPATING IN THE JUMP START
COMMUNITY SELF-DETERMINATION
FUND.
AND, WE ARE EXCITED THAT WE CAN
MOVE FORWARD TO SECURE THE LAND
AND BUILD HOUSING THAT WILL
HELP ROOT THE FILIPINO
COMMUNITY IN PLACE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA.
AND THANK YOU EVERYBODY FOR
YOUR SUPPORT.
>> AND IT IS MY PLEASURE TO
INTRODUCE TO THE STAGE OUR
HOST.
MIGUEL MAYESTES FROM EL CENTRO.
>> THANK YOU.
ON BEHALF AFTER EVERYONE FOR
THE CENTER FOR PEOPLE WITH ALL
RACES, WE WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME
YOU.
OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ESTELLA
ORTEGA COULD NOT BE WITH US SO
SHE SENDS HER GREETINGS.
I WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA.
PLAZA ROBERTO IS A COMMUNITY
INSPIRED MIXED USE TRANSIT
ORIENTED AFFORDABLE HOUSING
DEVELOPMENT.
THAT IS EL CENTRO DE LA RAZA'S
MODEL.
THIS IS ABOUT MAKING SURE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS PAIRED
WITH OTHER ELEMENTS THAT
SUPPORT COMMUNITY.
CHILD CARE.
SMALL BUSINESS SPACE.
COMMUNITY AND CULTURAL SPACE.
SO THAT NOT JUST THOSE WHO LIVE
AND WORK HERE, BUT THE ENTIRE
NEIGHBORHOOD AND CITY SEE IT AS
AN ASSET.
THE JUMP START PROGRESSIVE
REVENUE SOURCES ARE SO VALUABLE
TO CONTINUE TO BUILD ASSETS AND
COMMUNITY THROUGH AFFORDABLE
HOUSING.
THIS FUNDING IS SUPPORTING THE
NEXT AFFORDABLE DEVELOPMENT IN
COLUMBIA CITY.
THIS IS DESIGNED TO SUPPORT
FAMILIES WHERE MORE THAN HALF
OF THE 87 APARTMENTS WILL BE
TWO AND THREE BEDROOMS.
IT WILL BE THE LARGEST
DEVELOPMENT OF THIS TYPE DESIGN
TODAY SUPPORT FAMILIES.
IT WILL PROVIDE AFFORDABLE.
GREAT AMENITIES LIKE ACCESS TO
LIGHT RAIL.
A CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER NOT
ONLY FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES
WHO LIVE THERE, BUT FAMILIES
THROUGHOUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND
THE CITY.
IT WILL ADORN BEAUTIFUL ART
LIKE THIS DEVELOPMENT THAT
REFLECTS THE DIVERSITY OF OUR
LATINO COMMUNITY THROUGH AFRO
LATINO, INDIGENOUS, AND MESTISO
ART.
WHEN THIS PROGRESSIVE REVENUE
WAS BEING CHAMPIONED, THIS WAS
THE VISION WE HAD.
DIRECT SUPPORT FOR COMMUNITY
BASED ORGANIZATIONS LIKE EL
CENTRO TO DO THIS TYPE OF
HOUSING AND COMMUNITY BUILDING.
WE ARE EXCITED FOR THE FUTURE
AND WHAT JUMP START FUND
WILLING PROVIDE TO OUR CITIES
AND OUR COMMUNITIES.
THIS IS AN INCREDIBLE ASSET AND
SUPPORTS SMALLER ORGANIZATIONS
IN BUILDING CAPACITY AND
CREATING AFFORDABLE HOUSING
THAT ARE TRULY LONG TERM ASSETS
THAT WILL SERVE AND STRENGTHEN
COMMUNITIES.
THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, MIGUEL.
AND, WE ARE GOING TO TURN IT
OVER TO JAMES LEVEL FROM THE
CHIEF SEATTLE CLUB.
WELCOME, JAMES.
>> BONJOUR.
I'M AN ENROLLED MEMBER OF THE
CHIPPEWA INDIANS FROM NORTH
DAKOTA.
AND WITH THE CHIEF SEATTLE
CLUB.
WE CARRY THE NAME OF A LEADER,
CHIEF SEATTLE, WHO WAS ON THE
TREATY OF POINT ELLIOT WHICH
GOVERNS THE WORK WE DO AS A
COMMUNITY, CITY WIDE TODAY.
I'M HERE REPRESENTING OUR
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.
AND AS A NATIVE PERSON BORN AND
RAISED IN SEATTLE I'M SO
HONORED TO BE HERE TODAY.
TO SPEAK ABOUT THE POWERFUL
HEALING THAT JUMP START HAS
MADE POSSIBLE FOR OUR
COMMUNITY.
FOR YEARS, EVERYONE HAS TRIED
TO DISCERN THE PRECISE CAUSE OF
HOMELESSNESS.
WE HAVE MEASURED EVERYTHING.
TAKING THE TEMPERATURE TO SEE
WHERE EVERYTHING STANDS.
NOW, WE ARE PUTTING AWAY THE
THERMOMETER, CRANKING UP THE
THERMOSTAT.
WE ARE CREATING LASTING CHANGE.
NATIVE PEOPLE EXPERIENCE
HOMELESSNESS, ESPECIALLY
CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS, AT HIGHER
RATES THAN ANY OTHER COMMUNITY.
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA SPOKE
ABOUT DISPLACEMENT.
THIS SHOULD COME AS NO SURPRISE
IN SEATTLE WHERE OUR CITY'S
FOUNDERS MADE IT ILLEGAL FOR
NATIVE TO LIVE WITHIN CITY
LIMITS 150 YEARS AGO.
WE HAVE MADE FUNDING POSSIBLE
FOR CHIEF SEATTLE CLUB TO
ENSURE THAT NATIVE PEOPLE HAVE
A SUPPORTIVE PLACE TO LIVE.
SACRED MEDICINE HOUSE POSSIBLE.
WE HAVE BROKE GROUND EARLIER
THIS WEEK ON THAT LANDMARK UP
ON LAKE CITY WAY.
BUT BUILDING A CULTURALLY
RESPONSIVE DEVELOPMENT FROM THE
GROUND UPTAKES TIME AND SACRED
MEDICINE HOUSE WILL NOT OPEN
UNTIL NEXT YEARMENT SO WHAT DO
WE DO IN THE MEANTIME?
WE PRACTICE SELF-DETERMINATION
WITH THE HELP OF THE OFFICE OF
HOUSING AND ACQUIRE THE GOLD
FINCH BUILDING IN FREMONT WHICH
WILL HOUSE MORE THAN 60 OF OUR
ELDERS.
THEY SAID WHO DO WE NEED TO
HOUSE?
WE SAID OUR ELDERS NEED
HOUSING.
THAT IS WHO WE WILL HOUSE AT
GOLD FINCH.
JUMP START IS NOT JUST A TAX OR
A PROGRAM BUT A LEAP FORWARD
FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
IT IS PROGRESS WHERE IT IS
NEEDED THE MOST.
IT IS HOUSING FOR OUR ELDERS.
SUPPORTIVE SERVICES FOR OUR
COMMUNITY AND HEALING FOR OUR
PEOPLE.
WE ARE PROUD TO PARTNER WITH
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA AND THE
CITY COUNCIL.
OUR OTHER CITY LEADERS AND OUR
WHOLE COMMUNITY TO MAKE LASTING
CHANGE THROUGH JUMP START.
THANK YOU TO EL CENTRO FOR
HOSTING US HERE TODAY.
>> WOW, THANK YOU JAMES.
THANK YOU FOR THOSE POWERFUL
WORDS.
AND THANKS TO THE ENTIRE
COALITION.
OVER 100 ORGANIZATIONS WHO
FOUGHT FOR JUMP START.
SMALL BUSINESSES, LARGE.
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS.
HOUSING PROVIDERS WHO YOU SEE
HERE TODAY.
LABOR UNIONS.
FOLKS CALLING FOR A GREATER
SENSE OF COMMUNITY.
THAT IS WHAT WE HAVE FOUGHT
FOR.
THIS WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE
WITHOUT THE INCREDIBLE WORK OF
ERIN HOUSE WHO HELPED MOVE JUMP
START THROUGH THE PROCESS.
AND IT WOULDN'T BE POSSIBLE
WITHOUT THE LEADERSHIP AND
PARTNERSHIP WITH THE STATE
LEGISLATIVE MEMBERS AND
CHAMPIONS LIKE NICOLE MACKRY, A
CHAMPION FOR HOUSING AND
PROGRESSIVE REVENUE.
PUSHING FOR SOMETHING AT THE
STATE LEVEL TO MIRROR THE TYPE
OF INVESTMENTS THAT ARE NEEDED
IN HOUSING AND PROGRESSIVE
INVESTMENTS AND WE KNOW WE WILL
CONTINUE TO FIGHT WITH HER FOR
PROGRESSIVE REVENUE AND MORE
HOUSING.
PLEASE GIVE IT UP FOR
REPRESENTATIVE NICOLE MACKRY.
>> WELL IT IS QUITE AN HONOR TO
BE HERE AND COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA, I'M DEEPLY GRATEFUL
TO YOU AND YOUR ENTIRE TEAM.
AS YOU MENTIONED, THIS WORK
BUILDS UPON WORK THAT WE KNOW
WORKS.
WE HAVE KNOWN FOR A LONG TIME
WORKS.
AND WE HAD INVESTED SIGNIFICANT
EFFORT AT THE STATE LEGISLATIVE
LEVEL AND THE ONLY WAY WE SERVE
OUR COMMUNITIES WELL IS WHEN WE
HAVE STRONG PARTNERSHIPS
BETWEEN OUR COMMUNITIES AND ALL
LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT.
SO IT WAS AN HONOR TO BE ABLE
TO WORK ON JUMP START.
PASS THE BATON TO TERESA
MOSQUEDA AND THE ENTIRE TEAM
AND COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA'S
OFFICE AT A TIME EARLY IN THE
PANDEMIC WHEN WE KNEW WE
COULDN'T SLOW DOWN.
ON OUR INVESTMENT AND COMMUNITY
AND OUR CARE FOR COMMUNITY.
I AM VERY EMOTIONAL HEARING
THESE UPDATES FROM FOLKS WHO
ARE ON THE FRONT LINES WHO ARE
DOWNING THIS WORK.
NOT ONLY FOR HOUSING THAT WILL
SERVE OUR COMMUNITY.
OUR ELDERS, OUR YOUNG PEOPLE,
OUR PEOPLE LIVING WITH
DISABILITIES IN WAYS THAT WE
HAVE ENVISIONED FOR SO LONG.
BUT REALLY BY EMPOWERING
COMMUNITY DRIVEN DEVELOPMENT.
SO IT IS AN HONOR TO BE HERE
AND I'LL SAY, LOOK AT THIS LIST
OF OVER 20 PROJECTS AND I HAVE
BEEN WORK AT THE STATE
LEGISLATURE IN DIFFERENT WAYS
TO HELP MOVE THEM ALONG.
AND THE FACT THEY ARE COMING TO
FRUITION BECAUSE OF THESE
AMAZING INVESTMENTS FROM THE
JUMP START PROGRAM IS JUST
REALLY HEARTENING.
WE KNOW WE HAVE TO KEEP RUNNING
REALLY QUICKLY TO PROVIDE NOT
ONLY THE HOUSING, BUT THE
CONNECTION TO COMMUNITY, THE
COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT THAT SO
MANY FOLKS IN THIS CITY NEED.
AND SO, IT HAS BEEN MY GREAT
PRIVILEGE TO BE ABLE TO PARTNER
WITH THE COUNCILMEMBER AND THE
CITY OF SEATTLE ON JUMP START
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO GOING TO
MANY MORE CELEBRATIONS AND
OPENINGS IN THE COMING MONTHS.
>> YEAH.
>>> SO WE WILL WRAP IT UP AND
TAKE QUESTIONS FROM FOLKS.
EARLIER TODAY, I HAD A CHANCE
TO TALK WITH THE SEATTLE TIMES
IF THEY WERE WATCHING AND THE
QUESTION IS HOW DO YOU FEEL.
I THINK THEY SUMMARIZED IT VERY
WELL.
VERY EMOTIONAL.
PART OF THE ANSWER I GAVE WAS
BREATHLESS.
AND WE ARE ON THE CUSP OF
ACTUALLY SEEING THIS HARD WORK
COME INTO ACTION.
WE HAVE BEEN HOLDING OUR BREATH
AND WAITING FOR THIS MOMENT FOR
SO LONG.
AS THE REPRESENTATIVE NOTED, WE
HAVE BEEN RUNNING HARD SINCE
THE BEGINNING OF COVID KNOWING
THAT INVESTMENTS IN HOUSING IS
ACTUALLY WHAT CREATES HEALTHIER
COMMUNITIES.
THAT IS WHY WE ARE BREATHLESS.
THIS IS A HUGE MOMENT TODAY.
AND WE WILL HAVE MORE
OPPORTUNITIES TO CELEBRATE IN
THE NEAR FUTURE.
BECAUSE WE WILL NEVER
RELINQUISH OUR INVESTMENTS THAT
JUMP START OUTLINED AND
CODIFIED INTO STATUTE.
WE WILL ALWAYS CONTINUE TO
PROTECT THESE INVESTMENTS AND
SHOW TO OUR COMMUNITY, THE
VALUE, THE IMPORTANCE, AND THE
WORTH OF THIS HARD WORK COMING
INTO ACTION AND NOT CREATING
JUST UNITS BUT MORE HOMES.
THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR ALL THE
HARD WORK YOU HAVE DONE.
I HOPE YOU GET A CHANCE TO ASK
QUESTIONS AND HEAR FROM THE
PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T GET A CHANCE
TO SPEAK.
THANKS TO THE OFFICE OF
HOUSING.
HAPPY TO TAKE.SOME QUESTIONS.
>> ANY QUESTIONS?
>> THANKS FOR COMING.
YEAH.
>> THE JUMP START FUNDING
SUPPORTS COMMUNITY DRIVEN
DEVELOPMENT IN A WAY THAT THE
HOUSING THAT NEVER DID.
CAN YOU EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT
MORE ON HOW?
>> GO FOR IT.
PLEASE.
>> I THOUGHT I HEARD SOMEONE IN
THE BACK SAY BE HONEST AND
THAT'S KIND OF HARD.
SO, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT JUMP
START ALLOWED US TO DO IS TO
DEVELOP THE JUMP START
COMMUNITY SELF-DETERMINATION
FUND.
WHICH THEN HELPS ORGANIZATIONS
THAT WANT TO PROVIDE HOUSING
FOR THEIR COMMUNITIES.
IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.
A PATH TO BEING ABLE TO DO
THAT.
IT PROVIDES RESOURCES.
IT PROVIDES LOAN FUNDS.
IT ACTUALLY ALSO HELPS FUND
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.
BECAUSE, WHEN YOU BUILD
SOMETHING LIKE THIS, THIS IS
NOT SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE
ENTERED INTO VERY LIGHTLY ON A
WHIM, ALL THAT.
YOU HAVE TO FIGURE OUT JUST
FINANCIALLY, WHAT YOU ARE
COMMITTING YOURSELF TO.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF PEOPLE
REALIZE THIS.
COMMITMENT.
THAT IS WHY I CALL IT THE
FORCED MARRIAGE, THE BAD
MARRIAGE FUND.
WHEN YOU ENTER INTO THESE
ARRANGEMENTS, THE TRADITIONAL
WAY IS THAT ORGANIZATIONS SUCH
AS THE SD AND APDA HAVE NOT
BEEN ABLE TO ACCESS THE
FUNDING.
BECAUSE AT A CERTAIN POINT, YOU
HAVE TO WORK WITH A BANK.
AND YEAH, YOU ARE NICE, BUT
THAT'S NOT THE DEAL FOR YOU.
SO THESE FUNDS WILL HELP
ADDRESS SOME OF THOSE ISSUES.
DOES THAT HELP ANSWER YOUR
QUESTION?
>> GOT IT.
>> AND IF ANYBODY HAS ANY OTHER
EXAMPLES YOU WOULD LIKE TO
GIVE, FEEL FREE TO STEP UP.
I KNOW YOU HAVE AN EXAMPLE OF A
SITUATION.
BUT, I WOULD ALSO SAY THIS.
YOU KNOW.
WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PULL
THE BEST POLICIES FROM JUMP
START.
AND INTEGRATE THEM INTO THE
HOUSING LEVY.
NEXT YEAR, WE WILL BE ASKING
VOTERS TO VOTE YES ON THE
HOUSING LEVY IN NOVEMBER OF
2023.
AND THERE'S SOME REALLY
INCREDIBLE POLICIES WE HAVE
BEEN ABLE TO WORK ON IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH OFFICE OF
HOUSING THAT CAME FROM THE
COMMUNITY WHO HAD THE
EXPERIENCE OF TRYING TO GET
ACCESS TO FUNDING AND WANTING
TO ADDRESS BARRIERS.
WE HAVE PASSED THOSE POLICIES
INTO CITY STATUTE AND WE CAN
BUILD MORE OPPORTUNITIES.
THIS IS REALLY A POSITIVE SORT
OF IMPACT ON THE REST OF OUR
HOUSING POLICIES AS WELL.
THAT WE WILL BE LOOKING TO
BUILD INTO THE HOUSING LEVY
NEXT YEAR.
>> I JUST WANTED TO ADD TO WHAT
MICHAEL WAS SAYING REGARDING
THE QUESTION.
THE FILIPINO COMMUNITY HAD THE
OPPORTUNITY OF BEING GIVEN THE
RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL FOR A
PIECE OF LAND.
THE FILIPINO COMMUNITY DIDN'T
HAVE THE MONEY.
WE APPLIED THE STATE OFFICE OF
HOUSING.
AND WITHOUT CRITICISM OF THE
OFFICE OF HOUSING, THERE WERE
BARRIERS.
CHALLENGES THAT WE CAME UP
AGAINST.
ONE OF THEM WAS THAT WE NEEDED
TO HAVE ALREADY A THREE
PROJECTS.
THE FILIPINO COMMUNITY ONLY HAD
ONE.
SO, IT MEANT WE COULD NOT
ACCESS THE FUNDING.
JUMP START WOULD ALLOW US TO DO
THAT.
DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION?
GREAT.
THANK YOU.
>> IS THERE ANY OTHER EXAMPLE?
OKAY.
I'M NOT SEEING FOLKS JUMP UP.
IS THERE ANY OTHER QUESTION?
>> I KNOW THIS IS BUG PROGRESS,
THE HOUSING CRISIS IS PRETTY
HUGE.
WHAT SORT OF NEXT STEPS ARE TO
KEEP BUILDING ON THIS?
>> WHEN I THINK ABOUT HOW DO WE
HELP FIX THE HOUSING CRISIS.
IT IS A HOUSING CRISIS THAT
IMPACTS NOT JUST LOW INCOME
PEOPLE.
I HAD THE INTERESTING DAY TODAY
OF BEING AT THIS.
BEING AT THE OPENING OF NORTH
STAR AND GO TO WILLOW CROSSING.
DOWN IN THE RAINIER VALLEY.
DEVELOPED BY A FOR PROFIT
DEVELOPER.
WHEN I DRIVE AROUND THE CITY, I
THINK ABOUT MY OWN FAMILY AND
WHO CAN AFFORD TO LIVE HERE.
WE WILL BE LOOKING AT THE
MULTIFAMILY TAX EXEMPTION.
WE HAVE TO LOOK AT ALL THE
TOOLS AND THINK ABOUT ALL THE
RESOURCES THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO
US.
WHETHER AT THE FEDERAL, THE
STATE, AND THE COUNTY.
HOW DO WE COME TOGETHER AND
WORK?
I DON'T THINK ANYBODY IS
AGAINST HOUSING PEOPLE.
SO HOW DO WE WORK TOGETHER ON
THAT AND WHAT ARE THE BARRIERS?
AM I GOING TO SCREW UP, YES, I
WILL.
THAT IS HOW I LEARN.
RIGHT?
I ABSOLUTELY WILL.
SO, WE WILL TRY AND IT IS THOSE
MOMENTS WHERE YOU ARE LIKE WHAT
DID I LEARN FROM THIS PROCESS
AND WHAT DO WE DO?
AND I THINK IT IS SPEAKING WITH
PEOPLE IN COMMUNITY ABOUT WHAT
IT IS THAT THEY NEED.
FOR THEM TO BE HOUSED.
>> I THINK THAT'S A GREAT
EXAMPLE.
I THINK THERE IS THAT
PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN ALL LEVELS
OF GOVERNMENT ARE KEY.
THIS LAST YEAR, THE STATE
LEGISLATURE PUT MORE MONEY
TOWARD INVESTMENTS IN HOUSING
AND HOMELESSNESS SERVICES THAN
WE HAVE EVER SEEN IN THE
HISTORY OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT
WHICH I THINK SETS THE FLOOR
FOR WHERE WE NEED TO GO.
BUT IT IS NOT JUST ABOUT
FUNDING.
IT IS ABOUT CREATING THE POLICY
ENVIRONMENT TO BUILD MORE HOMES
AND COMMUNITIES ACROSS OUR
STATE.
AND, TO NOT, TO MAKE SURE THAT
WE DON'T HAVE COMMUNITIES THAT
ARE DRIVING DISPLACEMENT AND
CONTINUE TO BE EXCLUSIVE.
AND SO, WE WILL CONTINUE TO
FIGHT FOR POLICIES THAT ALLOW
FOR A GREATER DIVERSITY OF
HOUSING TYPES.
THAT BEST INCENTIVIZE THE
PRIVATE MARKET.
MOST OF US WILL LIVE IN PRIVATE
MARKET HOUSING.
SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE
BRING HEALTH BACK TO THE
HOUSING MARKET AND THAT AT THE
SAME TIME, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE ARE INVESTING IN
COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN MOST
MARGINALIZED FROM ACCESS TO
STABLE SECURE HOUSING.
IT WILL TAKE A WHOLE ARRAY.
AND WE KNOW KNOW THE STRATEGIES
THAT WORK.
ABOUT HOW THEY PUT TO USE OVER,
JUST ABOUT 800 VOUCHERS FROM
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
MANY OF US HAVE BEEN FIGHTING
FOR MORE INVESTMENT FROM THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
AND WE KNOW WHEN WE MAKE THOSE
INVESTMENTS, WE ARE ABLE TO PUT
THEM TO GOOD USE IN OUR
COMMUNITIES.
THOSE VOUCHERS ARE MAKING SURE
THAT PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN SO
MARGINALIZED AND HAVE HAD SUCH
CHALLENGES FINDING HOUSING FOR
A VERY LONG TIME ARE LIVING IN
NEIGHBORHOODS ACROSS OUR CITY
AND COUNTY.
IT WILL TAKE ALL OF US FROM THE
CITY AND COUNTY LEVEL.
THE STATE AND FED.
SO, THANK YOU FOR THAT
QUESTION.
>> ANYBODY ELSE?
OKAY.
YEAH.
OKAY.
>> I WILL JUST SUMMARIZE ARE TO
SAY ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING THEY
BOTH JUST SAID.
I THINK OF IT AS THREE PILLARS.
RIGHT?
WE ARE IN DESPERATE NEED OF
ADDITIONAL REVENUE.
NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT.
BEFORE COVID, THEY SAID WE NEED
A BILLION DOLLARS A YEAR IN OUR
REGION.
WE NEED REVENUE AND WE NEED TO
CHANGE POLICIES WITH THE
LEADERSHIP AND THE VISION OF
COMMUNITY TO MAKE IT EASIER TO
BUILD AND ACCESS THOSE FUNDS
AND THE THIRD PILLAR AS THEY
HAVE NOTED IS CHANGING THE
POLICIES SO WE CAN MAKE IT
POSSIBLE TO BUILD IN MORE
PLACES.
REEVALUATING OUR ZONING
POLICIES.
LOOKING AT THE ROOTS THAT HAVE
EXCLUDED COMMUNITIES FROM
BUILDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND
TAKING THE ZONING LAWS ON HEAD
ON.
THOSE ARE THE THREE PILLARS I
THINK OF HOW WE WILL CONTINUE
TO FIGHT FOR MORE HOUSING.
ANY LAST QUESTIONS?
OKAY.
I WANT TO JUMP FOR JUMP START
OR SOMETHING CHEESY.
YOU READY TO JUMP FOR JUMP
START?
YAY!
THANK YOU SO MUCH, EVERYBODY,
FOR BEING HERE.
AND THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK
YOU DO TO MAKE OUR COMMUNITY
HOUSE.
YAY!
>> GROUP PHOTO?
>> OKAY, GROUP PHOTO.