Moving to Work (MTW) King County Housing Authority

General Information

As of the end of FY 2006, the King County Housing Authority (KCHA) serves 2,785 public housing households in 49 developments and 8,491 Section 8 households. KCHA has increased the number of households served since the start of the MTW program from 10,512 households to 11,276 households. KCHA's MTW program began September 2, 2003, and will terminate on September 30, 2010.

Status

The KCHA signed their MTW agreement in 2003 and began preparations for implementation. They submitted their first Annual Plan for review in 2003. KCHA completed its transition to a decentralized, site-based management model in 2006. In conjunction with changes to the agency's public housing waiting list system, KCHA has implemented modifications to its Local Preferences, including:

1. Expanding the definition of "urgent needs" to households whose income is at or below 30% of Area Median Income, and
2. Establishing a "set-aside" preference to applicants who have graduated from the Sound Families housing program, which is operated in partnership with KCHA, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and local service providers.

Goals

KCHA will use the MTW program to achieve the following objectives:

• Increase housing choices for KCHA clients
• Increase client self-sufficiency leading to more positive transitions out of assisted housing, including homeownership
• Increase operational efficiency and financial stability for KCHA program
• Preserve and increase affordable housing opportunities for the region

Agreement

Support

Seattle Regional Office
Office of Public Housing
909 First Avenue
Suite 360
Seattle, WA 98104-1000

Director: Harlan Stewart
Phone: 206-220-6220
Fax: 206-220-5255
Email: Harlan.Stewart@hud.gov

Contact

King County Housing Authority
600 Andover Park West
Seattle, WA 98188-2583
Web Address: http://www.kcha.org/

MTW Contact Staff
Executive Director: Stephen Norman
Primary Contact: Judi Jones
Phone: 206-574-1152
Fax: 206-574-1104
Email: JudiJ@kcha.org