House Our Neighbors
Submits 29,552 signatures to put
Social Housing Initiative 135 on ballot
House Our Neighbors team submitting boxes of signed petitions to the City Clerk
At a virtual press conference on June 22nd, House Our Neighbors announced that they had submitted 29,552 signatures to the Seattle City Clerk, more than the 26,442 needed to get on the ballot. House Our Neighbors co-chair Tye Reed said that they had vetted the signatures very carefully and expected this number to be sufficient to pass the City's validation of the signatures, but if it is not, the campaign will have 20 additional days to gather more.

Watch full press conference. (LIHI Executive Director Sharon Lee speaks starting at 7:25)

I-135 would establish a public developer that would create, own and maintain public housing in Seattle. In part the initiative reads, “Social housing is publicly owned, publicly financed, mixed-income housing, removed from market forces and speculation, and built with the express aim of housing people equitably and affordably. Under public control and oversight, social housing is sustainable and remains affordable in perpetuity.” Read full text of initiative.

LIHI recently endorsed the initiative. Executive Director Sharon Lee said, “There are simply not enough tax credits or subsidies to meet the enormous demand for more affordable housing. We need a new approach. Cities across the world have successfully used the Social Housing model to reduce displacement and housing speculation; Seattle should join their ranks. Economic evictions have become routine in Seattle and without a correction the housing market will only deliver more of the same; I-135 could fundamentally change that dynamic.”
Painting Sale Benefitting Tiny Houses
Continues at Downtown Cafe Umbria
Artist Kathryn D. Kennedy, whose work is on display through July 29th at Cafe Umbria (622 Olive Way, Seattle) is donating proceeds from her show to LIHI's Tiny House Village Program.

Artist Statement:

"I’ve always cherished a sense of community in the places I live. Having recently moved from Capitol Hill to Pike Place Market, I’ve never felt that more profoundly. The homeless community, my new Neighbors, need support from their community, our community, more than ever.

I have never sought to sell my paintings, but in thinking about the tremendous need to provide support for our homeless Neighbors, I have decided to sell them and donate all proceeds to LIHI Tiny Home projects. The Tiny House Village project represents incredible creativity and tenacity. And I am proud to play a small part in it.

My paintings try to challenge the viewer to create a story as to what the figures are doing or discussing. Every viewer will have their own interpretation. Additional work can be viewed on my web site."

A donation for a painting of $2250 will pay for half of the cost of building a Tiny Home. 

Where: Cafe Umbira, 622 Olive Way, Seattle
When: through July 29th
Housing for All!
Sharon Lee
Executive Director