HomeMy WebLinkAbout1440RESOLUTION NO. I Lf Lf D
A RESOLUTION of the City Council of the
City of Kent, Washington, expressing support
for the South King County Housing Forum's
Housing Workshop of August 23, 1995.
WHEREAS, the City of Kent's Housing Element of its
Comprehensive Plan directs the City to actively participate in
regional responses to affordable housing development needs and
issues, including the participation in and promotion of the
development of countywide resources, funding, and programs to
assist low-and moderate-income households in obtaining
affordable housing, and to work in cooperation with other
jurisdictions to ensure an equitable and rational distribution of
affordable housing to all income groups throughout the county;
and
WHEREAS, the City of Kent has an established and
recognized housing need which is, in part, revealed by the fact
that 90 percent of Kent's low-income households have housing
costs that are unaffordable, thereby putting those households at
risk of homelessness or of not meeting their other basic needs,
and by the fact that to be able to afford to purchase a home in
Kent a household has to earn more than the County's median
income, and that low-income households make up 20 percent of
Kent's households and at least half of Kent's households earn
less than the County's median income; and
WHEREAS, affordable housing is essential to healthy
families and communities, to thriving schools, economic growth,
in maintaining a stable community, and attracting new businesses
to the area; and
WHEREAS, the Growth Management Act creates a strong new
local government requirement for the "provision of affordable
housing for all economic segments of the community", and that the
Countywide planning policies and Kent's comprehensive plan
further require that at least 17 percent of Kent's housing shall
be affordable to those making 50 to 80 percent of median income
(otherwise known as moderate-income) and 20 percent of Kent's
housing shall be affordable to those making less than 50 percent
of King County's median income (otherwise known as low-income),
and that a regional housing entity can be a good method in
helping to meet these housing targets and requirements; and
WHEREAS, the South King County Housing Forum is a grass
roots organization whose membership includes church and civic
groups, banks, staff from local jurisdictions, social service
agencies, nonprofit developers, rental property owners, and
others with an interest in housing issues; and where the Forum's
mission is to build an inclusive, committed and cohesive alliance
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among communities in South King County which works to create
affordable and appropriate housing opportunities for everyone;
and
WHEREAS, the South King County Housing Forum held a
Community Housing Conference on October 1, 1994, of which the
City of Kent was one of the many sponsors, and at which there was
an unanimous motion by the many conference participates to
initiate a conversation with South King County cities to work
toward a regional housing organization for housing education,
networking, and action; and
WHEREAS, the City Council at its April 2, 1995 meeting
authorized the City of Kent to participate with other South King
County cities in exploring a regional mechanism to address South
County Housing needs and issues, in recognition of both the
efficiency and cost-effectiveness of addressing housing needs on
a regional level; and
WHEREAS, a regional housing entity which focuses on
South County housing issues would provide each South County
jurisdiction with a stronger influence in countywide discussions
regarding housing, in accessing housing funding and resources,
and would provide a stronger voice regarding the fair share
distribution of housing throughout the County and South County;
and
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WHEREAS, the South King County Housing Forum will hold
a Housing Workshop on August 23, 1995 at Federal Way's Visitation
Center from 5:00 to 8:00pm to discuss with South County elected
officials and others their interest in uniting the efforts of the
South King County cities regarding affordable housing by creating
a regional housing entity; NOW, THEREFORE,
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF KENT, WASHINGTON DOES
HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. The City supports the South King County
Housing Forum's Housing Workshop of August 23, 1995 at Federal
Way's Visitation Center from 5:00 to 8:00pm. Furthermore, the
City encourages all South King County elected officials to attend
and participate in the Workshop.
Passed at a regular meeting of the City Council of the
City of Kent, Washington this ;;4f' day of ~ , 1995.
~ Concurred in by
c;Lil-day of ~~·
the Mayor of the City of Kent, this
1 1995.
ATTEST:
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APPROVED AS TO FORM:
I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy
of Resolution No. /YYD , passed by the City Council of the
1 .4-t. a.J&.A .. ~ City of Kent, Washington, the _-day of ~ , 1995.
housing.res
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