The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation is spending $1 million to preserve affordable rental housing in Washington.
The two groups will develop a guide for nonprofit owners of apartments and affordable housing funders detailing best practices in assessing the performance and needs of their properties.
They will target in-depth portfolio evaluation services and technical assistance to 10 to 15 nonprofit owners, including six in Seattle. This initial group will be a demonstration project to help determine how best to provide similar services and assistance to other affordable housing providers.
The Housing Trust Fund also will ensure implementation this year of a Web-based system for affordable housing projects to report required information to the state. Seattle also will use funds to support the recently established Housing Development Consortium of Seattle-King County, through which nonprofit owners discuss property management challenges and solutions.
The $1 million is part of $32.5 million in grants and low-cost loans to 12 cities and states for preserve more than 70,000 affordable rental homes nationwide.