About ARCH

ARCH: A Regional Coalition for Housing is a partnership of King County and East King County Cities working to preserve and increase housing for low and moderate income households in the region.

Our coalition has helped to create over 10,000 affordable homes in communities of opportunity.

ARCH supports its members to develop housing policies, strategies and regulations; efficiently administer housing programs; coordinate city investments in affordable housing; and assist people looking for affordable rental and ownership housing.

ARCH’s members include: Beaux Arts Village, Bellevue, Bothell, Clyde Hill, Hunts Point, Issaquah, Kenmore, King County, Kirkland, Medina, Mercer Island, Newcastle, Redmond, Sammamish, Woodinville and Yarrow Point.

Mission

To preserve and increase housing for low- and moderate- income households in East King County.

Vision

East King County is a thriving, inclusive community where the housing needs of people of all income levels are met.

Values

  • Effective Collaboration

  • Trusted Partnerships

  • Inclusive and Equitable Access

  • Sustainable Results

Creation of ARCH

A Regional Coalition for Housing (ARCH) was created in 1992 through an interlocal agreement between the cities of Bellevue, Redmond, Kirkland and King County, following a study undertaken by a Citizen's Affordable Housing Task Force in Bellevue, which found that:

  • There is a growing need for affordable housing in Eastside King County;

  • There are many gaps in the current delivery system;

  • Local government support is critical to increasing the affordable housing supply;

  • Increased local government support complements the efforts of private sector housing developers; and

  • Local governments that work together can be more effective.

Many additional cities followed to form the coalition of fifteen cities that comprise ARCH today. Read ARCH’s current Amended and Restated Interlocal Agreement.

View the ARCH brochure in other languages: English简体中文‍ ‍繁體中文‍ ‍日語‍ ‍한국어‍ ‍Русский‍ ‍español‍ ‍Tiếng Việt, Fulani, Wolof.

ARCH operates across east King County

 

Our Coalition

ARCH is a collaborative undertaking made up of the fifteen East King County cities and King County. The coalition operates through the ARCH Executive Board, ARCH Council of Elected Officials (pilot), Eastside Investment Committee, member City Councils, and ARCH and City staff. See a full list of the ARCH board members here.

  • The ARCH Executive Board consists of the chief executive (City Manager or Elected Mayor) from member jurisdictions, or their appointed proxies.

    The Executive Board oversees the day-to-day administration of ARCH, and performs the following key tasks:

    • Recommends ARCH’s annual work program and budget

    • Appoints members to the Citizen Advisory Board

    • Advances Housing Trust Fund recommendations to members Councils for approval

    • Makes recommendations on local policy and planning to member Councils

  • Member Councils also play a key role in advancing the mission of ARCH. Councils are responsible for taking action to:

    • Adopt the ARCH Interlocal Agreement and any amendments

    • Adopt plans, policies, land use and development regulations that affect affordable housing

    • Approve ARCH’s annual work program and budgets

    • Allocate funding to the Housing Trust Fund, and approve funding for specific projects based on recommendations from the Executive Board

  • The ARCH Council of Elected Officials (pilot) brings together elected leaders from ARCH’s coalition. Together, they build shared understanding, strengthen relationships, and support coordinated action to create and preserve affordable housing in East King County.

  • The ARCH Eastside Investment Committee (EIC) consists of six to eight housing professionals that help advise the Executive Board on funding recommendations. EIC members provide expertise in areas such affordable housing finance, development, operations, and human services.

  • ARCH staff carry out the adopted Work Program approved by members each year. ARCH staff act as the housing staff for member cities, working in coordination with other city planning and human services staff on housing strategies, policies and planning efforts.

 

ARCH Awards

ARCH member jurisdictions are honored that our cooperative approach has received the following awards: 

Housing Development Consortium Municipal Champion Award 2018

Governor Awards Woodinville's Greenbrier Heights for Smart Community 

The Harvard & Fannie Mae Foundation Innovations in American Government Award

HUD Secretary's Opportunity and Empowerment Award  

Vision 2020 Award 

1993 Honor Award