Archives

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.

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 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.

Vancouver, WA - April 26, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- International Code Council recently selected Clark County’s Building Safety program as winner of the group’s 2011 Raising the Profile Award in conjunction with Building Safety Month in May. The national award recognizes efforts to raise public awareness about work to improve public safety in the built environment

April 26, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Doug Lasher, Clark County Treasurer, stated that first-half property taxes are due on Monday, May 2 due to April 30 falling on the weekend. “If you have not received your 2011 first-half tax statement or have lost it, you can visit our web site at www.clark.wa.gov/treasurer or contact the Treasurer’s Office at 397-2252 for a duplicate statement.”

OLYMPIA, WA - April 26, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Washington State Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) is pleased to announce the five-year extension of the Mortgage Fraud Prosecution fund with the Governor’s signature earlier this week of HB1191, signing it into Chapter 129, Laws of 2011 62nd Legislature 2011 Regular Session

Seattle, WA - April 14, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- King County Executive Dow Constantine and Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn today announced a long-term agreement in principle for use of the King County Jail as the primary provider of bed space for the City's misdemeanor inmates over the next two decades."With the County jail next door to the City's courts, it just makes sense for us to provide space for City inmates awaiting trial," said Executive Constantine.

SEATTLE, WA - March 23, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Bellingham Whatcom Housing Authorities, Representative Rick Larsen (WA-2), Beacon Development, Enterprise and residents today celebrated the grand opening of Walton Place Two, the second and final phase of a newly constructed mixed-use workforce housing community in downtown Bellingham. Located at 1511 North State Street, Walton Place Two has 2300 square feet of commercial retail space available on the ground floor and 40 green affordable apartments for larger families and families with special needs on the upper levels.

Washington, D.C. - March 15, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), along with Senators Al Franken (D-MN) and Mark Begich (D-AK), introduced legislation to ensure that schools will continue removing the barriers to education caused by homelessness among children and youth. The Educational Success for Children and Youth Without Homes Act of 2011 will amend the McKinney-Vento Act’s Education for Homeless Children and Youth program to better allow school districts to identify and address the needs of children and youth affected by homelessness and to bolster opportunities that help them succeed in school