Seattle’s affordable housing industry is in crisis. City faces tough choices

Late last year, one of Seattle’s most vaunted affordable housing providers put six buildings up for sale.

A few months later, another nonprofit listed four of its eight.

Then, another developer gave up its stake in all three of its affordable properties in Seattle. 

While one-off sales happen from time to time, 13 buildings with more than 1,100 units where low-income people live is an unusual amount and a symptom of something bigger: The affordable housing sector is at a breaking point.

Chris VanArsdale