Dear HDC Members, I want to provide an update on the proposed MHA Accelerator. Over the past several months, HDC has played a leading role in shaping this proposal. We invested significant time working alongside the Mayor's Office, Seattle Housing Roundtable, affordable housing providers, and market-rate developers to negotiate a framework that sought to advance housing production while protecting one of Seattle's most important affordable housing tools. As the proposal progressed, many of you reached out with thoughtful feedback, not only about the policy itself, but also about the process and the need for broader member engagement. I heard those concerns clearly. As a membership organization, our effectiveness depends not only on the strength of our advocacy, but also on the confidence our members have in how we engage, listen, and represent the collective voice of this association. After careful consideration, I informed the Mayor's Office that HDC was withdrawing its support for advancing the proposal at this time. Following that decision, the Mayor's Office chose not to move the legislation forward on a summer, pre-budget timeline and instead will convene a stakeholder workgroup to continue refining the proposal and related policy considerations. I believe this creates an important opportunity; not simply to revisit the policy, but to strengthen how we work together. It gives us the time and space to engage more broadly across our membership, incorporate the perspectives of our diverse constituencies, and emerge with a stronger proposal and an even stronger coalition. HDC has always been at its best when we harness the collective expertise of our members, and I intend for this next phase to reflect that. Our priorities remain unchanged: - Protect MHA as one of Seattle's most effective affordable housing tools.
- Ensure the program remains economically feasible so housing continues to get built.
- Preserve affordable housing investments by pairing any near-term policy changes with a durable commitment to keep affordable housing resources whole.
I encourage every member to participate in this next chapter of the conversation. We will convene an HDC member meeting on Tuesday, July 7, from 12:00–1:30 p.m. to provide an update on where things stand, discuss the workgroup process, and hear your perspectives. I hope you'll join us. Your voice will help shape HDC's engagement and strengthen the collective impact of our advocacy. Thank you for your continued partnership and commitment to advancing affordable housing. Sincerely, Patience Malaba
Executive Director (Pronouns, She/Her)
Housing Development Consortium of Seattle-King County
1326 5th Avenue, Suite 230
Seattle, WA 98101
Cell: (206) 450-0955
Office: (206) 682-9541
www.housingconsortium.org | 