FOLLOWUP: Initiative 135 passed. Want to help figure out what happens next?

One month after Seattle Initiative 135 won approval in the February special election – final count was 57 percent yes – the process of turning its provisions into reality has begun. Its provisions stipulate that the Seattle Renters Commission appoint a majority of the board for the new Seattle Social Housing Developer, for starters. So they’re looking for potential board members. Here’s the announcement:

The Seattle Renters’ Commission is seeking community members to serve on the board for the newly established Seattle Social Housing Developer, a Public Development Authority (PDA) responsible for developing, owning, and maintaining social housing in Seattle.

The Seattle Social Housing Developer was established with the passage of Initiative 135, a citizen-initiated measure approved by Seattle voters on February 14, 2023. Under this initiative, social housing will be publicly owned, publicly financed, mixed-income housing, removed from market forces and speculation, and built with the express aim of housing people equitably and affordably.

A new board of directors to oversee the Seattle Social Housing Developer will be formed in the coming weeks. Seven of the 13 board members will be initially appointed by the Seattle Renters’ Commission. Per the terms of the initiative, the board members appointed by the Seattle Renters’ Commission shall include at least one member who has experienced housing insecurity; at least one member who has experienced financial eviction; and at least one member who has been displaced. In addition, they shall represent a range of incomes, including three members living at 0-50% Area Median Income (AMI); two (2) members living at 50-80% AMI; and two members living at 80-100% AMI.

Full details on the roles and responsibilities of the board of directors can be found in the Charter for the Seattle Social Housing Developer PDA. Prospective board members can expect to spend up to 20 hours per month in their role.

Those interested in being considered for the board should complete the online application by Friday, March 31 at 11:59 p.m.

The Seattle Renters’ Commission will review applications on a rolling basis and reach out to applicants who advance in the application process to coordinate next steps.

The charter is also where you’ll find the explanation of the various entities who appoint the other six members.

Jeepney March 14, 2023 (1:41 pm)

Are board members on salary or on a volunteer basis?

WSB March 14, 2023 (2:32 pm)

Article 8, section 2, on page 4 mentions unspecified compensation. I don’t believe it would be “salary,” since they’re not employees.
- Jeepney March 14, 2023 (3:11 pm)
  
  Thank you, I am very interested in what the compensation will be.
  - G-Man March 14, 2023 (5:28 pm)
    
    I think it’s more interesting that single people earning up to $100,125 would be eligible to join social housing under I-135.https://progressivevotersguide.com/washington/2023/school/county/kingInitiative 135 specifies that social housing would be open to people making 0% to 120% of the area median income (AMI), which adjusts based on how many people are in a single household. The AMI for all households in Seattle as of the 2021 census is $105,391, meaning half of the city’s households earn more and half earn less. To give voters an idea of who currently might qualify, Seattle’s Office of Housing states that for 2022 and a family size of one, 30% AMI is about $27,200, and 80% would be roughly $66,750. We estimate single people earning up to $100,125 would be eligible to join social housing under I-135.

Millie March 14, 2023 (8:35 pm)

Usually a volunteer Board of Directors will receive a per diem amount for attemding the monthly meetings, parking reimbursement, meals, and, if necessary, travel reimbursement/per diem for any meetings outside the local area. Although, employees of a Public Development Authority (PDA) are not City employees they will receive salary/benefits. I guess we will all see later what happens.

Neighbor March 14, 2023 (9:55 pm)

How is it possible to develop and own housing outside of the market?

West Seattle Mad Sci Guy March 14, 2023 (10:45 pm)

I could be wrong but my understanding is the cost to the individual living there won’t be “market rate” but a percentage of the persons income. IIRC, 30% of their income. That is what they mean by outside the market. Just because the typical rate for the apartment is X in this area doesn’t mean they pay X. They just pay the % of income.
- WSB March 15, 2023 (12:22 am)
  
  The charter says specifically, “2. To the extent possible, all developments MUST contain housing units that accommodate a mix of household income ranges, including extremely low-income (0-30% Area Median Income (“AMI”)), very low-income (30-50% AMI), low-income (50-80% AMI), and moderate-income (80-120% AMI), and a mix of household sizes.”

1994 March 15, 2023 (10:13 pm)

They better get started with the fund raising to get their wheels going! Wasn’t that part of their incentive to get people to vote yes – that they were going to fund raise to support this thing and not ask for tax funding?

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