Position 8 Citywide Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda rejoiced that her bill establishing the JumpStart Housing Community Self-Determination Fund passed with a 7-0 vote.
It supports organizations creating housing to address eviction, undo the long-lasting damages of discriminatory financing practices, and promote equitable development.
It is financed by proceeds from the JumpStart progressive payroll tax.
This fund will aid in enhancing housing stability in communities where housing insecurity and homelessness are disproportionately prevalent, eviction rates are higher, and homeownership and household wealth are disproportionately lower—disparities that have been made worse by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Communities most affected by eviction and historically discriminatory laws should have priority in acquiring community ownership and choosing how to shelter their neighbors.
Smaller community-based organizations now have easier access to money to buy land or construct affordable housing because of policy constraints that previously existed.
The JumpStart Housing Community Self-Determination Fund will assist organizations in acquiring land, building housing, coupling housing with necessary services, creating educational programs, small business opportunities, community and cultural space, and building organizational capacity — so that communities can be the designers and owners of their own futures, according to Mosqueda.
With the help of the Community Self-Determination Fund, community-based organizations (CBOs) with a history of being shut out of the affordable housing market would face fewer obstacles to entry.
Additionally, it aims to encourage more initiatives that are driven by the communities serving those affected by discrimination and displacement. Africatown Community Land Trust, Chief Seattle Club, Filipino Community of Seattle, El Centro de la Raza, Mt. Zion, Seattle Chinatown International District Public Development Authority (SCIDpda), and Interim CDA are a few examples of potential partner organizations for this new fund and its accompanying programs.
Total funding for this anti-displacement work will be around $24 million per year, or roughly 13 percent of the JumpStart revenue that is presently allocated to housing and services.
Currently, a temporary source of funding is used to support these kinds of acquisition and preservation loans. These loans will now have a new, permanent source thanks to the JumpStart’s revenue.
The legislation establishes predevelopment costs, training funds, and a program for community-based organizations to strengthen their capability.
Organizations that successfully complete this program will be qualified to apply for JumpStart acquisition and preservation loans, which will be awarded in a competitive process and subject to stringent scrutiny.
They will also be qualified for additional support to develop their infrastructure and organizational capacity.
Office of Housing Director Maiko Winkler-Chin stated, “The Office of Housing (OH) looks forward to continuing and growing its assistance for organizations that are historically and culturally entrenched in communities most affected by discriminatory housing policies and relocation.
“The JumpStart Community Self-Determination Fund will support affordable housing construction spearheaded by these community-driven organizations and assist OH enhance its capacity-building efforts.
In order to better serve their communities, community-based groups have hoped for this program, and I am aware that Ohio would not be able to implement it without the revenue supplied by the payroll expense tax.
In order to make this program a potent vehicle for community development that generates affordable housing and offers several community benefits, we are looking forward to working with community partners and Council.
According to Estela Ortega, executive director of El Centro de la Raza, “El Centro de la Raza’s model of affordable housing is really about building community and ensuring affordable housing is paired with other elements that support community—childcare, small business space, community and cultural space—so that not only those who live and work there, but the entire neighborhood and city see it as an asset.”
The JumpStart Community Self-Determination Fund will be a tremendous asset to help smaller organizations develop their capabilities and acquire land to build affordable housing that benefits and improves communities.
“The Filipino Community of Seattle is ready to build family-sized affordable housing for working families in the community,” said Velma Veloria, a worker with the Filipino Community Center and a former representative for WA State’s 11th LD.
“After opening the multigenerational Filipino Community Village, a senior housing community paired with STEAM education space for youth.
“We had a landowner who was prepared to sell his property and gave the Filipino Community of Seattle first refusal to buy it. However, restrictions in current funds were a roadblock—because we did not have the necessary funds to buy the site.
We will be able to purchase the site, have time to develop a plan for affordable housing there, and increase our organizational capacity for upcoming projects to benefit the community with the help of the JumpStart Community Self-Determination Fund.
According to Jamie Lee of the Seattle Chinatown International District Preservation and Development Authority, “as a community development organization in the Chinatown-International District, SCIDpda emphasizes not only developing housing but also commercial space that can attract businesses that reflect the community—we not only consider the housing but also how the people who live and work there are going to experience a project” (SCIDpda). “SCIDpda has tried to buy land in the Chinatown-International District over the years, but it has unable to find the necessary cash.
the neighborhood, where many properties are being swiftly purchased, we expect that this JumpStart financing will help remove obstacles and enable us to continue developing affordable housing and small business space. Community control of land begins with providing acquisition financing.
Council has now approved the law, which will now be sent to the mayor for approval. It will become effective if signed 30 days after that.