ARCH Announces a total of $36 Million in Affordable Housing Funding for East King County

ARCH: A Regional Coalition for Housing, and its member cities announced that a total of $36 million is available for affordable housing funding in East King County, including $3.5 million in pooled funds for projects across the region, $2.5 million for projects in Issaquah, and $30 million for projects in Bellevue. These funds come from a variety of local sources but demonstrate a collective commitment to addressing the affordable housing shortage in our region.

A total of 14 partner cities in East King County have committed $3.5 million towards the 2025 ARCH Housing Trust Fund this year, demonstrating the strength of regional collaboration. Following ARCH’s Strategic Plan to Build More Affordable Housing Faster, the ARCH Executive Board adopted key priorities for the Trust Fund that include Timely Delivery of Housing and Maximizing Unit Creation with ARCH Investment.

Since its founding in 1993, ARCH members have invested over $120 million through the Housing Trust Fund, helping to create and preserve thousands of affordable homes across the region. The Trust Fund is focused on investing in housing affordable to people earning up to 50% of the area median income, and meeting a range of long-term objectives including serving diverse populations, creating affordable housing across the region, and other objectives. These local investments are all the more critical in light of potential federal funding cuts that could deeply impact communities across the nation.

In addition to the Housing Trust Fund, ARCH also supports the Cities of Bellevue and Issaquah with the application processes for additional affordable housing funds, including their 0.1% sales tax funds for affordable housing authorized by HB 1590. This year, Bellevue’s Housing Stability Program has approximately $20 million, and its Affordable Housing Fund (AHF) will make up to $10 million available. Both of these Bellevue-based funds will create or preserve affordable housing within Bellevue. Issaquah’s Inclusive Housing Investment Pool (IHIP) has $2.5 million available for affordable housing projects in Issaquah.  

For full application details about ARCH’s Housing Trust Fund, Bellevue’s Housing Stability Fund/Affordable Housing Fund, and Issaquah’s Inclusive Housing Investment Pool, please visit ARCH’s Investment Programs.

Thank you to the following cities for contributing to this year’s Housing Trust Fund: Bellevue, Bothell, Clyde Hill, Hunts Point, Issaquah, Kenmore, Kirkland, Medina, Mercer Island, Newcastle, Redmond, Sammamish, Woodinville and Yarrow Point.