NOFA will support the production, preservation, and stabilization of affordable housing across Seattle
Today, Mayor Bruce Harrell announced a historic $170 million investment to create, preserve, and stabilize affordable rental housing throughout Seattle. This is the largest single-year funding commitment to affordable housing in the City’s history and advances efforts to make Seattle more affordable and accessible for all.
“An affordable home provides stability, security, and the foundation to grow and thrive,” said Mayor Harrell. “This investment will create additional affordable homes and maintain existing ones, with a focus on providing housing for families with very low incomes and for people exiting shelter into permanent housing. This is part of the more than $1 billion we’ve committed to affordable housing, and it embodies our focus on tackling housing affordability with urgency and action.”
The NOFA will invest in Seattle’s affordable housing across three key areas: production, preservation, and — for the first time — stabilization. Production funding creates new, long-term affordable homes. Preservation funding keeps existing properties well-maintained and accessible, and stabilization funding helps financially challenged properties continue serving their communities. Stabilization funding awarded through the NOFA will build on the nearly $142 million the City has invested in affordable housing stabilization since 2023.
“This significant investment meets the moment for Seattle and demonstrates the City’s commitment to both creating new affordable homes and preserving the ones we already have,” said Patience Malaba, executive director of the Housing Development Consortium of Seattle-King County. “By addressing the full spectrum of housing needs — from new development to long-term stability, this funding advances inclusive, sustainable communities that will serve Seattle residents for generations. The Housing Development Consortium applauds this bold step and looks forward to continuing our partnership with Mayor Bruce Harrell to expand access to affordable housing.”
Investment priorities
Each year, the City’s Office of Housing evaluates available data, community input, and market conditions to set funding priorities for NOFA applications. This year, priorities focus on affordable housing for formally homeless individuals and households with incomes at or below 30% of the area median income (AMI), with an emphasis on housing intended for families. These types of homes are less available in the market and often require public funding to meet the demand.
To help ensure projects that receive NOFA funding are viable, can get to market quickly, and meet Seattle’s housing needs, they must meet certain criteria outlined in the published NOFA. These criteria cover factors such as who the housing will serve, location, project readiness, and funding sources.
“Seattle needs more housing in every district. And it needs to be affordable,” said Councilmember Debora Juarez (District 5). “This funding allows the city to invest and align resources to meet the city’s growing needs of creating new rental units, preserving existing units, and promoting access to affordable housing.”
Policies championed by this administration, including design review reforms, will help bring these affordable homes, and all housing, to Seattle residents more quickly.
Affordable housing developers can apply for NOFA funding through noon Pacific time on September 18. For more information, visit the Office of Housing funding opportunities webpage.