ARCH Invests $4.6 Million in East King County to Create 500 Units of Affordable Housing

Jan 15

ARCH: A Regional Coalition for Housing announced $4.6 million in investments through its 2025 Housing Trust Fund (HTF) to support seven affordable housing projects in East King County. These investments will help create more than 500 units of affordable housing and catalyze nearly $300 million in development activities across Bellevue, Issaquah, Bothell, Kirkland, and Redmond.

The funded projects will serve a range of community needs, including low-income families, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, individuals & families exiting homelessness, and households seeking affordable homeownership opportunities.

“The entire region is facing a severe housing shortage and Imagine Housing is excited to have ARCH’s investment as we work towards building the inclusive, welcoming community we want with the development of Forest Edge Apartments at St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church. Funding received from ARCH allows us to continue to the development of affordable housing across the region with opportunities for individuals and families to put down roots across the Eastside.” said Yi Zhao, president of Imagine Housing, the largest provider of affordable housing based on the Eastside.

The 2025 ARCH HTF is funded by $4 million from ARCH member contributions, loan repayments, interest earnings, and de-obligations, along with $616,000 from a Community Development Block Grant awarded in partnership with King County. HTF investments are designed to leverage additional funding from other sources, including local governments, traditional bank loans, and Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTCs). In fact, ARCH is able to leverage $15 for every $1 invested in its Housing Trust Fund.

ARCH received $14.8 million in funding requests for the 2025 HTF cycle. Project selections were made with guidance from ARCH’s Community Advisory Board and Executive Board. The seven selected projects demonstrated strong alignment with ARCH’s HTF priorities, including timely delivery of housing, maximizing unit creation with ARCH investment, and advancing objectives related to target populations, geographic equity, preservation, transit-oriented development, racial equity, shelter and supportive housing, and sustainable and environmentally friendly solutions.

“This investment by ARCH in affordable housing will make a lasting difference for families in our region,” said Brett D’Antonio, CEO of Habitat SKKC. “At Orchard Gardens, 25 families will gain the life-changing opportunity of homeownership — giving children continuity in their schools, families the ability to put down roots, and neighbors the chance to build strong, connected communities. These homes will remain permanently affordable for future generations, further amplifying their impact.”

2025 was a record year for the ARCH HTF in terms of the funding request amounts and proposed housing. The 2025 funding requests were 2.5 times the amount of available funding. This is an increase from 2024 in which funding requests were twice the amount of available funding.

Since the Housing Trust Fund was established in 1992, ARCH has invested nearly $125 million in affordable housing developments throughout East King County, helping to create more than 7,000 units of housing.

Congratulations to ARCH’s 2025 Housing Trust Fund funding recipients, listed below.

Location: Thorsk St. and Pop Keeney Way
Applicant: BRIDGE Housing Corp.
Funds Requested: $1,500,000
Recommended ARCH Housing Trust Fund Award: $1,500,000
200 Units (1 bedroom, 2 bedroom, and 3 bedroom)
Serving those earning 30%, 50%, and 60% of the Area Median Income (AMI)
Over 50% of homes are family-sized units with two and three bedrooms developed on surplus City of Bothell property
Location: 991 118th AVE SE, Bellevue
Applicant: Hopelink & SRM Development
Funds Requested: $1,000,000
Recommended Award: $500,000
146 units (1 bedroom, 2 bedroom, and 3 bedroom)
Serving those earning 30%, 40%, 50%, and 60% of the Area Median Income (AMI)
Set-asides for households exiting homelessness with services provided by Hopelink
Location: 2650 148th Ave SE, Bellevue
Applicant: Imagine Housing
Funds Requested: $2,000,000
Recommended Award: $500,000
100 units, Studio to 3-bedrooms
Serving those earning 60% of the Area Median Income (AMI)
Surplus property to be purchased from St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church
Set-asides for households with disabilities
Location: 4315 129th Pl SE, Bellevue
Applicant: Habitat for Humanity
Funds Requested: $1,125,000 ($600,000 awarded in 2022)
Recommended 2025 Award: $1,116,000 ($500,000 HTF and $616,000 from Community Development Block Grants)
25 3-bedroom units
Homeownership for families earning up to 80% of the Area Median Income
Location: 13205 100th Place NE, Kirkland
Applicant: Porchlight (formerly Congregations for the Homeless)
Funds Requested: $462,600
Recommended Award: $462,600 ($212,600 HTF and $250,000 City of Kirkland)
6 bedrooms for those earning 30% & 50% of the Area Median Income (AMI)
Rehab and expansion of Porchlight home for men exiting homelessness
Location: 16601 NE 80th St., Redmond
Applicant: YWCA Seattle-King-Sno
Funds Requested: $ 1,897,052
Recommended Award: $976,700 ($626,700 HTF and $350,000 City of Redmond)
20 2 bedroom & 3 bedroom units for those earning 30% of the Area Median Income (AMI)
Preserves existing housing for families exiting homelessness
Location: 1550 Newport Way NW, Issaquah
Applicant: Life Enrichment Options (LEO)
Funds Requested: $191,500 ($250,000 previously awarded)
Recommended 2025 Award: $191,500
7 units (studio suites) for those earning 30% & 40% of the Area Median Income (AMI)
Condo within King County Housing Authority (KCHA) development to serve people with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities