Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Housing Homeownership topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Healthy Smart Homes outlines state Covenant Homeownership down-payment program for SeaTac residents
Summary
Tracy Brown of Healthy Smart Homes presented the Washington State Covenant Homeownership Program to the SeaTac City Council, explaining eligibility, program mechanics (a 20% soft-second down-payment assistance), partnering agencies and outreach plans. Councilmembers expressed support and asked staff to link resources from the city website.
Tracy Brown, board chair and founder of Healthy Smart Homes, told the SeaTac City Council on Jan. 13 that the Washington State Covenant Homeownership Program provides up to a 20% down-payment assistance soft second loan (zero interest, payable on sale or refinance) to eligible homebuyers who meet race-conscious eligibility created by state law passed in 2023.
Brown, who said Healthy Smart Homes received a Washington State Housing Finance Commission contract for statewide outreach and housing-counselor referrals, described the program as a ‘‘pathway to homeownership’’ for applicants who meet income and ancestry-based eligibility tied to a state study of historical racial covenants. She said the program pairs applicants with HUD-certified housing counselors through partners including the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle and that counseling and a first-time homebuyer certificate are required before applying for the down-payment assistance.
The program matters locally because rising home prices in SeaTac and King County make standard down payments difficult for many renters. Brown said the assistance is a ‘‘soft second’’ loan that can be layered with other local nonprofit grants and that it can apply on or off sovereign land and for active and retired military members. She provided area median income figures cited for eligibility: King County $147,400 and Pierce County $112,300, and said applicants who have not owned a primary residence in three years may still qualify as first-time buyers.
Councilmembers thanked Brown for the presentation and asked staff to post program links on the city website, invite Healthy Smart Homes back for a community forum, and coordinate with Human Services to host in-person workshops. Several councilmembers described the program as a potential tool to move local renters toward ownership.
Brown left brochures and a sign-up sheet for residents interested in first-time homebuyer classes and counseling; she said the Urban League will receive referrals and that outreach is ongoing.
Next steps noted during the meeting included the city connecting Healthy Smart Homes with SeaTac Human Services staff and scheduling community forums where residents can receive housing-counseling sign-ups and first-time homebuyer certification information.
