This article originally appeared in The News Tribune.
Pierce County has announced $17 million in affordable-housing investments made possible by revenue from the Maureen Howard Affordable Housing Sales Tax.
In 2023, the Pierce County Council approved the sales tax that collected one-tenth of 1% of sales to leverage additional revenue for affordable-housing investments. The tax was named after Maureen Howard, a prominent advocate for the homeless in Tacoma who died in January 2023.
Pierce County Executive Ryan Mello said even though the $17 million investment covers a diverse range of projects across a broad scope, many more affordable-housing units will need to be built in the coming decades.
A county report stated that on average, the county would need to produce over 2,300 units per year of housing affordable at or below 50% of area median income (AMI) through the year 2044. According to Pierce County, the region’s area median income is around $98,200 per household.
The round of investments announced by the county March 4 will account for more than 350 affordable-housing units.
Habitat For Humanity will receive $1.1 million for the purchase and rehabilitation of 20 single-family homes owned by Pierce County Housing Authority.
Homeownership Center of Tacoma will receive $139,132 for construction of two new single-family homes on two parcels.
Mercy Housing Northwest will receive more than $3.6 million for development of 80 units of affordable housing near the planned Bus Rapid Transit corridor for households earning less than 60% of AMI, with 20% of units set aside for families with a disability.
Pierce County Housing Authority will receive $892,857 for the acquisition of an affordable-housing building in Parkland with 56 units.
Urban Black Community Development will receive $1 million for acquisition and rehabilitation of three historic buildings in downtown Tacoma to preserve 78 affordable-housing units, primarily studios and one-bedrooms for 50% or below AMI.
Bridge Meadows will receive $5.5 million for development of 60 new affordable-housing units serving households earning less than 60% of AMI, including 44 units for seniors and 16 town homes for families with children who have experienced the foster-care system.
Beacon Development Group and Greater Christ Temple Church are to receive more than $4.6 million for development of 65 new affordable-housing units for seniors earning less than 50% of AMI, with 13 units to be set aside for permanent supportive housing to assist those experiencing homelessness.
Greater Lakes Mental Healthcare will receive $33,000 for operation and support of the Cedars apartment complex, which consists of 15 studio apartments for single adults with a mental illness and earning less than 30% AMI.
AHAT Homecare will receive $116,000 for operation and support of two adult family homes for low-income individuals living with HIV and AIDS.
A longer version of this article originally appeared in The News Tribune on March 17, 2025. Cameron Sheppard is a WSU Murrow News Fellow at The News Tribune.
