Kilmer, Housing Advocates Celebrate New HUD Award in Capital and Rent Subsidy for New Senior Housing Project in Tacoma
Tacoma, WA – Today, Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-06) and housing advocates in Tacoma celebrated the awarding of over $2.5 million to Mercy Housing Northwest by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for 60 units of new subsidized, affordable housing for seniors in Tacoma. In August, Rep. Kilmer wrote to HUD Secretary Ben Carson in support of Mercy Housing Northwest’s application to secure funds in order to build the MLK Senior Housing development in the Hilltop neighborhood of Tacoma. The development will provide over 60 one-bedroom homes for seniors and include critical community and resident services.
“Communities in our region and across the state are facing an unprecedented shortage of affordable housing. As a consequence, people are feeling squeezed financially. This is impacting the ability of people – young and old – to be able to live with dignity. But we’re working to change that,” said Rep. Kilmer. “Part of that effort is working to ensure the federal government is a strong partner to local communities seeking to grow the inventory of affordable homes to help address this crisis. I was proud to join the Tacoma Housing Authority in supporting Mercy Housing Northwest’s effort to secure funds for their new senior housing development in the Hilltop. I’m grateful that this project is taking steps forward to provide more seniors in our region with affordable housing options.”
“Tacoma Housing Authority congratulates Mercy Housing on its Section 202 award from HUD to build new senior housing on the Hilltop. We also thank Representative Kilmer for his critical help. We are very pleased to support this project. It will be yet another high-quality investment in the Hilltop,” said Michael Mirra, Executive Director of Tacoma Housing Authority. “This project will not only further spur the Hilltop’s growing prosperity. It will also help to make that a prosperity that is shared and equitable. Doing that is hard work. Tacoma is lucky to have partners like Mercy Housing to do this work with such high quality and such values of social justice. We are also lucky with our Congressional delegation. Representative Kilmer and his colleagues know Tacoma well. They know the importance of this work. And they know how to provide such critical and effective support. We are grateful to all of them.”
“We are looking forward to bringing more affordable homes, particularly for seniors to age in place in their community,” said Bill Rumpf, Mercy Housing Northwest president. “We have a long history of providing housing in the Hilltop neighborhood, and we’re excited to continue our commitment to equitable development by locating the project near the light rail expansion.”
The award was among 18 nationwide to receive more than $51 million in housing assistance to non-profit organizations across the country to finance some 1,097 elderly housing units – including 575 receiving HUD project-based rental assistance – and to facilitate supportive services delivery under HUD’s Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Very Low-Income Elderly competitive grant program.