Homestead Community Land Trust News

Homestead Creating Sustainability in 2009

By Sheldon Cooper, Executive Director

2008 was a fabulous year for Homestead. We added 17 homes during the year, ending 2008 with 38 homes in our portfolio. We moved into a great affordable office in the El Centro de La Raza building and, thanks to conservative budgeting and our thrifty nature, we also significantly grew our cash reserves.

I’m proud to say that Homestead entered 2009 in strong financial shape. This is especially important given the deepening economic recession we find ourselves in today. Foundations that Homestead relied upon in the past for operating support are cutting back on their giving. Times are uncertain and money is tight.

Homestead has been slowly reducing its reliance on operating support grants over the past several years, and will continue this trend well into the future, even after the recession is over. For Homestead to be a strong, stable organization that actively stewards the affordability of its homes for 100 years or more, we need reliable long-term income sources. Earned income from lease and development fees, and direct support from our membership, are the tried and true sources that Homestead will rely upon more heavily this year and in years to come.

While the current economic recession is difficult, it also creates an opportunity to bring more homes into the land trust at more affordable prices. Today we are busier than ever, assisting our applicants to purchase homes and exploring new opportunities to bring more homes into the land trust. We are hopeful that 2009 will be our biggest year yet.

Realizing our goal to significantly expand our portfolio of permanently affordable homes over the next few years, within today’s context of a global recession, will certainly be challenging. I have no doubt that Homestead will succeed through the creativity and generosity of our community, by making every dollar count, and seizing the opportunities this time of change offers.

“This is Mine!” Coming Full Circle, Coming Home

By Rebecca Lane, Development and Communications Director

David Evans has come full circle. From the brownstone in Boston in which he spent his childhood, to the beautiful new condo in a heritage building in Madison Park, David feels like he’s come home.

When David moved to Seattle, the meteoric rise of housing prices was just beginning its most recent round. While dreaming of a place to call his own, with maybe a yard for a dog, David looked and looked and looked…and then knew he had to stop looking. Despite a stable job as a full time professional chef at an upscale and well known establishment, everything was out of reach.  Recalling his childhood home, David reflected upon the similarities between Boston and Seattle. The feel of this city, the topography, its streets and neighborhood names all reminded him of home. Finding his home in Seattle had become a dream deferred.

The evening of November 19, 2008 changed everything for David. At a Homestead Advantage program information session, he decided to apply that night.  Having done his research into affordable housing programs, David knew he was a fit for Homestead, and community land trust ownership.  He qualified, and met with Tonya Hennen, his real estate agent (he calls her a Real Estate Goddess!).

Less than six months later, David has moved into his beautiful condo, with a view of the Cascades and Lake Washington. His home is the second place he saw, on the first day of shopping for a home he knew he could finally afford thanks to the Advantage program. The building is like his childhood home. The neighborhood is walkable, and he can ride his bike or take public transit to work - no long car commute. This means David will be able to stay in his enviable job for years to come, pay a mortgage at a reasonable rate, and remain protected from the vagaries of a fluctuating market.

David loves to cook classic French and Italian cuisines. Hazelnut soufflés were his most recent innovation.  He is twenty years into his profession, and is still young. Now that he’s moved in to his own home, he can follow other dreams - he’s learning to play electric guitar. He is enthusiastic about being a Homestead owner, and a part of a community of homeowners. He looks around every morning and realizes that “this is mine!” Welcome to the community David!

Homestead Welcomes New Staff

Rebecca Lane is Homestead’s new Development and Communications Director. Rebecca has a passion for creating affordable housing, and served on the founding board of the Lopez Community Land trust, with whom she also built a home. She brings ten years of nonprofit fundraising experience, and is delighted to be at Homestead!

Simon Adriane Ellis joins Homestead as the Office Administrator. Simon comes to Homestead from the fundraising consulting field, where he provided administrative and research support for nonprofit clients. Prior to his work in development Simon was in the legal field, focusing on work geared toward social, racial, and economic justice. Homestead has long held a very special place in Simon’s heart, as he is a community organizer and the best friend and roommate of a Homestead homeowner.

Thank you NWOC!

In December 2008, the Northwest Outdoor Center (NWOC) once again organized and ran its Kayak Christmas Caroling benefit fundraiser on Lake Union, raising about $1,100 for Homestead. NWOC spreads the joys of kayaking by offering classes, trips, rentals, and gear, and has been putting on this unique Seattle event for over two decades. In the summers, NWOC also sponsors a Lake Union cleanup by kayak.

NWOC owners Herbie and John Meyer still work in their store and teach classes. As the warm weather returns, treat yourself to an afternoon on the lake by kayak. It is a fun way to keep cool and support a small business that supports Homestead.  

Incentive Zoning to Bring Affordable Homes to Seattle

By Sheldon Cooper, Executive Director

Last December Seattle City Council passed incentive zoning legislation in Seattle. Incentive zoning defines an amount of affordable housing that developers must provide if they are to take advantage of future zoning changes in many areas of the city. Seattle now joins scores of other cities around the country that utilize zoning power to bring developers to the table to address affordable housing needs.

Homestead worked for two years through the Housing Development Consortium to bring incentive zoning to Seattle. When the recession lifts and real estate development picks up again, incentive zoning will help create hundreds of affordable homes for modest income households. These homes will all remain affordable for at least 50 years. Homestead is positioning itself to be the steward of the for-sale homes generated through incentive zoning as a key strategy in its effort to increase access to affordable homeownership in Seattle.

There are many people who worked hard on incentive zoning. Councilmember Sally Clark championed the issue and guided the legislation through her land use committee all year. Without her dedication and hard work, incentive zoning certainly wouldn’t have passed in 2008. Anna Markee of the Housing Development Consortium also deserves credit for leading HDC efforts to keep this issue front and center on councilmember’s minds and effectively pushing to strengthen the original legislation proposed by the Mayor.

It will take the strategic alignment of many public policies to create a housing system that works for everyone. Incentive zoning is one important step forward towards that end.   

Belonging: Building Sustainable Communities in Uncertain Times

By Rebecca Lane, Development and Communications Director

Every one of us belongs to a community of people we depend upon, care for, and trust.

More than just being about housing, Homestead Community Land Trust is the center of many interlocking circles of belonging.

Our now forty-two households include over a hundred people, and are the most obvious ring of belonging. These families have extended family who benefit from their loved ones living in a stable home, one which they can afford.

Our circle of members and donors, who provide vital support, interlocks with our homeowners and their extended communities. You may belong to multiple rings in Homestead’s community of caring and dependable people.

Every era brings its unexpected challenges. Ours now has become apparent - we are called together to sustain each other as the economic landscape shifts and changes.

These rings of community which comprise Homestead are strong because of each of us. Next time you walk through the door to your home, remember the Homestead rings of community to which you belong.

We’re so glad you are a part of this circle!

Sneak Preview!

Coming soon to the Dearborn neighborhood: 15 affordable two-bedroom townhomes!

Homestead is partnering with the Low Income Housing Institute to offer these new homes at below-market price to Homestead homebuyers.

The townhomes will be located on Dearborn Street one block east of Rainier. Unit prices will be in the range of $227,800, and construction of all units should be completed by the end of 2009.

This project is supported by the Housing Trust Fund, City of Seattle, and Federal Home Loan Bank. As with Homestead’s Advantage program, all buyers will be income eligible first-time homeowners

Keep an eye out for more information on this exciting project, or contact Homestead to fill out an interest form!

Find Your Home in White Center

White Center is a culturally diverse neighborhood with a strong history of community-based organizations that work to preserve the character of the neighborhood while encouraging community investment.

Through our partnership with the King County Housing Finance Program, Homestead still has space for five more families in this unique and livable neighborhood.

Find your home in White Center today! Attend the Homestead Advantage orientation at the
Greenbridge Library in White Center (9720 8th Ave SW) or contact us for more information.

White Center is a diverse community tucked between West Seattle to the north and the City of Burien to the south.

Homeowner Anniversaries!

Congrats to the following Homestead homeowners! Some are celebrating their first anniversary as homeowners, others their third or fourth, and one is Homestead’s very first homeowner, celebrating her seventh anniversary! All of them deserve a big thank you for their partnership with Homestead and their commitment to stewarding affordability for future homeowners!

JANUARY
Nurri Omer and Ayalnesh Gesese

FEBRUARY
Ezra Basom
Tina Lathrop     
Chris LaRoche

MARCH
Amy Larson
Michael Smith and Willow Kelly

APRIL
Brian Allen        
Nega Belay and Ariam Abadi
Peter Graff        
Mijo Lee        
Kendra Lyonais and Jay Austin
Susan Moore        
James Nail
Cuong and Loi Nguyen

MAY
Dejene Tesema and Mulunesh  Tenagne

JUNE
Ahmed Mohamed and Safiyo Elmi
Fawn Proctor
Janna Wachter

Many Thanks to our Partners

Thank you to our realtor partners such as Jed Kliman, Tonya Hennen, and April Lane, who help our buyers achieve their dreams of homeownership!

A special thanks also goes to the Northwest Community Land Trust Coalition, the Satterberg Foundation, and King County for their support of capacity-building, planning, and training for Homestead.

Last but not least, thanks to our Board of Delegates for all of their hard work and dedication!