ARCH Mission

ARCH’s mission is to preserve and increase housing for low and moderate income households in East King County by:

  • Coordinating public resources and attracting greater private investment into affordable housing;

  • Sharing technical resources and staff between jurisdictions to create a sound base of housing policies and programs;

  • Effectively stewarding affordable housing created through local policies and investment;

  • Providing one clear point of contact for affordable housing development;

  • Directly engaging the community with information and expertise; and

  • Advancing policies that will help create more affordable housing faster.

“One thing that excites me about ARCH is that it’s a great example of a successful partnership between the cities and King County to address a common issue and find successful solutions.”
— Former Bellevue Mayor Connie Marshall

ARCH Strategic Plan

The ARCH Strategic Plan is a long-term framework intended to align and guide ARCH and its membership in advancing key strategies aimed at building more affordable housing faster. The plan was adopted in 2024 following a strategic planning process conducted by the ARCH Executive Board.

ARCH Work Program

ARCH carries out its mission through an annual Work Program that is adopted by member Councils each year, covering the following program areas.

  • Affordable Housing Investment

  • Housing Policy and Planning

  • Housing Program Implementation

  • Outreach and Engagement

  • Administrative Procedures

Affordable Housing Investment

  • Award loans and grants to developments that provide below-market rate housing, and make other local contributions to housing such as land and fee waivers (For more information, see ARCH Housing Trust Fund)

  • Establish goals for member investments in affordable housing.

  • Coordinate local resources with other public and private funds

  • Prepare and monitor contracts so affordability is maintained and, if applicable, loan payments are made

  • Support special projects of high priority to ARCH members, including transit-oriented development sites, and construction of emergency shelters.

Housing Policy and Planning

  • Assist in development of local plans, policies, strategies and regulations, including:

    • Housing Elements

    • Housing Strategies

    • Regulations to permit diverse housing types

    • Design of density bonuses and other land use and tax incentives for developments that include below-market rate housing

  • Coordinate inter-jurisdictional planning between ARCH members

  • Identify and advance shared legislative priorities

  • Represent East King County communities in regional and countywide planning efforts

Housing Program Implementation

  • Administer city incentive and inclusionary programs, working with developers to ensure the creation of below-market rate housing in market rate developments

  • Monitor property compliance with ongoing rent and income restrictions, and provide technical assistance to property managers working with the ARCH Rental Program

  • Steward long-term affordability of below market ownership homes in the ARCH Homeownership Program

  • Collect data and evaluate housing program performance

Outreach and Engagement

  • Market available housing to the community

  • Engage the broader community on local housing issues

  • Generate educational information for the public through publications, the ARCH website, ARCH housing tours and other outreach events

  • Make community awards to publicly recognize individuals, projects and programs that result in outstanding housing efforts

Administrative Procedures

  • Staff the ARCH Executive Board and ARCH Community Advisory Board.