Washington RealEstateRama

Vancouver, WA - December 8, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Board of County Commissioners approved a balanced budget for 2012 following a public hearing Tuesday night, as required by law. In a unanimous vote, the commissioners adopted recommendations from Budget Director Jim Dickman calling for county programs to continue at reduced levels established during the recession in 2009.

Seattle, WA - November 21, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The City of Seattle is sending letters to the owners of 8,000 buildings this week informing them of its new building energy-efficiency program. The program aims to help building owners and managers reduce their energy costs through benchmarking – or measuring and rating a building’s energy performance. By benchmarking, owners get insight into how their building uses – and wastes – energy and can begin identifying opportunities to improve energy efficiency and increase savings.

SEATTLE, WA - November 14, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Mayor Mike McGinn today announced more than $27 million in capital funding for the construction of seven new apartment buildings that will serve homeless individuals, low-income families and seniors. The investment, primarily Seattle Housing Levy funds, will help create 476 new permanent apartments, including some set-aside to serve veterans.

Washington, D.C. - August 12, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Patty Murray and Illinois Senator Dick Durbin sent a joint letter to Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Eric Shinseki expressing their concern about the placement of homeless female veterans in unsecure housing in Chicago, which jeopardized their safety.

OLYMPIA, WA - July 19, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Washington State Foreclosure Fairness Act Mediation Program begins Friday, July 22. The program, a result of bipartisan legislation (SSHB1362, Chapter 58, Laws of 2011 (PDF)*) during the 2011 session, makes Washington the third non-judicial foreclosure process state in the country with a program designed to help homeowners find a resolution to foreclosure proceedings with their lender or servicer.

Olympia, WA - July 18, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Washington State Foreclosure Fairness Act Mediation Program begins Friday, July 22. The program, a result of bipartisan legislation (SSHB1362, Chapter 58, Laws of 2011) during the 2011 session, makes Washington the third non-judicial foreclosure process state in the country with a program designed to help homeowners find a resolution to foreclosure proceedings with their lender or servicer.

Seattle, WA - July 15, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) Seattle Voices with Eric Liu Low Income Housing Institute’s Sharon Lee Premieres Tues., July 19, 7 p.m. Sharon Lee is the Executive Director of the Low Income Housing Institute (LIHI), a non-profit organization based in Seattle. LIHI develops and operates housing for low-income and homeless people, and also provides a range of support services to assist tenants in maintaining stable housing and increasing self-sufficiency. Lee oversees a staff of 100 engaged in housing development, management, advocacy and support services.

Washington, D.C. - July 14, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chairman of the Senate Housing Appropriations Subcommittee and the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, announced that a total of 175 housing vouchers worth $1,072,950 will be allocated to public housing authorities in Washington state to help local veterans secure stable housing. The vouchers are part of the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing Program (HUD-VASH program)

Seattle, WA - July 6, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Join the Seattle City Council's Housing, Human Services, Health, and Culture Committee on Thursday, July 7 for a walking tour of the "Nickelsville" homeless person's encampment. This tour will continue the work surrounding Resolution 31292 and homeless individuals not currently served within the existing system of shelters.

SEATTLE, WA - June 30, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Seattle City Councilmember Bruce Harrell, Chair of the Energy, Technology and Civil Rights Committee, invites members of the public to participate in a lunchtime discussion on credit and foreclosure scams, computer scams and viruses, and how to protect your computer and family.

SEATTLE, WA - June 23, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Seattle City Councilmember Bruce Harrell, Chair of the Energy, Technology and Civil Rights Committee, invites members of the public to participate in a lunchtime discussion on credit and foreclosure scams, computer scams and viruses, and how to protect your computer and family

Olympia, WA - June 17, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Washington State Department of Commerce today announced that King, Pierce, Snohomish and Spokane Counties will receive a total of more than $4.8 million in grants to help purchase and redevelop foreclosed and abandoned homes, putting them back into productive use.

Washington, D.C. - June 9, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) applauded an announcement made by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) Eric K. Shinseki that a supportive housing project for homeless veterans and their families will be developed in Spokane and Vancouver. Through the Building Utilization Review and Repurposing (BURR) initiative, the VA was able to identify unused and underused buildings at VA properties in Spokane and Vancouver that will be developed into new housing opportunities for veterans returning home from Iraq and Afghanistan and homeless veterans and their families.

Seattle, WA - May 12, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn and City Councilmembers Nick Licata and Mike O'Brien today announced two new steps in the City's efforts to better support those living without permanent shelter in Seattle:

SEATTLE, WA - May 12, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- City Council's Committee on the Built Environment today reviews a report on backyard cottage development in Seattle over the past 18 months. In November 2009, Council adopted legislation allowing construction of backyard cottages on eligible lots in single-family zones throughout the City. Fifty-seven units have been permitted since.

Seattle, WA - May 11, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The City of Seattle sent letters to more than 800 large commercial property owners and managers today informing them about a new citywide program designed to help owners and managers assess and improve building energy efficiency and spur the market for building energy retrofits.

Seattle, WA - May 10, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- One year has passed since the City Council adopted legislation to allow backyard cottages in all single family zones. Join Councilmembers, architects, and backyard cottage owners as they discuss and review how many cottages have been built, what they look like, their scale, and where they're appearing.

May 9, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- How are neighborhoods responding to an influx of low-income and homeless housing? On Friday, May 6, 7 p.m., Cable 21, City Inside/Out with C.R. Douglas examines what is happening as services and housing for the poor spread out from downtown. We discuss the issues with representatives of a business association, property owners and housing and human-services providers.

SEATTLE, WA - May 4, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Seattle City Light is expanding an energy use tracking service that helped about 18,000 customers save $477,000 on their energy bills last year.

SEATTLE, WA - April 28, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan today awarded $2,199,963 to 11 new homeless programs in Washington state.