An affordable housing project for seniors in central Vancouver just got a $2.11 million boost from the Washington State Department of Commerce.
Twenty projects statewide were granted a total of $33.5 million in funding for the construction of 1,257 units of affordable housing. The funds for the grants came from the 2015-2017 state budget and the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Vancouver’s 49-unit Isabella Court II was the only senior-based housing project awarded funding this round.
Subsidized housing for low-income seniors is a lower priority population for the state, behind homeless families, people with mental health issues, homeless youth, people with disabilities and seasonal farm workers. And, the state is oversubscribed in terms of how many senior-based housing projects have received funding this biennium. The legislative goal for 2015-2017 was 200 units, but 361 units got funded.
“Which shows there is quite some need for those units out there,” said Corina Grigoras, managing director of the Housing Finance Unit at the state Department of Commerce.
While the number of projects for seniors that applied and got funding exceeded the legislative goal, there weren’t enough applications for projects serving other targeted populations. The number of units for homeless youth, for instance, met 43 percent of its goal, and projects targeting homeless families with children met 52 percent of its goal.
Isabella Court II is the second phase of a housing project at 3020 N.E. 62nd Ave. being built by Portland-based nonprofit Reach Community Development. Ben Sturtz, housing project manager at Reach, said it’s difficult to get funding for a project catered to a population that’s not a high priority for the state.
“It does cause some rethinking,” he said.
Without state funding, projects can linger for years waiting for priorities to change and for the odds of getting funding to improve.
What Reach did to move forward with Isabella Court II is set aside some units for seniors with disabilities. Serving people with disabilities made it a more attractive, higher-priority project.
Although seniors may not be a top priority for the state, Sturtz said Reach is “recognizing the growing needs for seniors.” He said Reach attends Advocacy Day in Olympia to talk with legislators about housing. While policymakers may be aware of the growing senior population, they may not be aware that seniors are often cost-burdened by housing.
In 2015, there were an estimated 93,373 people age 60 and older in Clark County representing 20 percent of the total population, according to U.S. Census estimates. By contrast, in 2010, there were an estimated 73,887 people age 60 and older comprising 17 percent of the population.
About 23 percent of seniors rent their home, and most seniors who rent are cost-burdened by their housing, the Census says. That means they spend more than 30 percent of their income on rent.
Those age 62 and older who are trying to get subsidized housing through agencies such as the Vancouver Housing Authority face long wait lists — if they’re able to get on a list at all.
There is still room, however, at the first phase of Isabella Court that opened last month. The complex is set aside for low-income seniors who are age 62 and older. People can learn more about applying and qualifying for housing at www.reachcdc.org/properties/property-listings/isabella-court or by calling 360-305-3480.
Like the first Isabella Court, Isabella Court II will be a four-story building comprising 46 one-bedroom apartments and three two-bedroom apartments. Forty-nine parking spaces will be offered. A courtyard will join the two spaces. Construction can start after the financing is in place.
Applying for tax credits is the final step for Reach to fund Isabella Court II, which is estimated to cost $13.2 million. The nonprofit plans to submit its application next month, but likely won’t know until April whether it will receive the tax credits, Sturtz said.
