Thurston County OKs awarding $950,000 for Tumwater affordable housing project for seniors
The Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved a contract with the Housing Authority of Thurston County last Tuesday for that purpose.
The housing units are part of the Sterling Pines development at 5895 Capital Blvd. SW, formerly known as Tumwater Inn and Suites. About $9.8 million from state and local sources had previously been dedicated to the project, but more funding was needed to pay for higher-than-anticipated rehabilitation costs.
County documents indicate HATC needs to replace drywall and insulation in the walls and ceiling of the complex due to asbestos and methamphetamine contamination.
HATC's director of development and administration Tom Rawson said, 'We're ecstatic!'
HATC Executive Director Craig Chance echoed that sentiment. 'We are very grateful for the support of the Regional Housing Council and the Board of County Commissioners,' Chance said.
Renovations are expected to be completed by late January 2026 and seniors are expected to start moving a month later, Chance said.
Sterling Pines will feature two studio, 13 one-bedroom and 9 two-bedroom units for seniors 62 and older.
Half of the units will be reserved for households that make at or below 30% of area median income (AMI); the other half will be for households at or below 50% area median income. The most recent figures for Thurston County's AMI put it at about $93,000; that means 30% would be about $28,000 per year, and 50% would be about $46,500.
'Sterling Pines will provide affordable, good quality housing for seniors who are struggling with incomes typically limited to a modest Social Security benefit,' Chance said.
Chance said Sterling Pines is being funded without debt and will be backed by the 'strength of the HATC property portfolio, so it will not be reliant on vouchers or other operating subsidies.' HATC leadership felt motivated to take this approach due to low and seemingly disappearing federal funding, he said.
Chance said the U.S. Congress funds the federal housing voucher program at a level that at best serves 25% of income eligible households, and the current budget proposal in Congress includes substantial funding reductions.
'In America, seniors are the fastest growing segment of people entering the nightmares of homelessness, most of them for the first time in their long lives,' Chance said. 'Every week we hear from seniors either in or nearing the crisis.'
Chance said these seniors typically do not have mental or behavioral health issues that drive them to homelessness. He said they simply cannot afford market-rate housing on fixed incomes.
HATC purchased the property in 2023 with the help of a Rapid Capital Housing Acquisitions funding award from the Washington state Department of Commerce.
HATC has spent over $700,000 of its own funds for the project but was still coming up short due to the extreme contamination in the building.
'By removing the contamination, replacing defective building components, and bringing the property up to code, the units will be, in essence, new units,' Chance said.
'Doing it right, as opposed to making shortcuts, is consistent with our goal of making the property a safe, nice place to live and an attractive neighborhood asset for decades. Cutting corners was not an option.'
Without the new funding from the county, HATC would have likely been forced to spend more of its own cash reserves.
'HATC properties are financially self-substantiating; those reserves allow the agency to replace roofs, re-paint buildings, etc., without reliance on grants or other sources,' Chance said. 'Thus, taking a large amount from capital improvement reserves was not a desirable option.'
Such an outcome would have likely caused HATC to cut services, defer spending on other projects or even raise rents at Sterling Pines or other properties. Given HATC's affordability goals, Chance said raising rents was 'not a good option.'
The county is using the Regional Housing Council's Opportunity Fund to provide the $950,000 award.
The council, which makes recommendations to the county commission, created the fund in January 2024 to provide money for projects outside its annual request-for-proposals process.
HATC originally applied for the funding via that RFP process in February, but the RHC's Affordable Housing Advisory Board decided in March that the request could best be met by the Opportunity Fund.
'To receive an award from the Opportunity Fund, the project must be emergent in nature, have been unforeseen at the time of the most recent RFP, and need the funding in order to actualize the project,' said Jen Freiheit, director of Thurston County Public Health and Social Services.
Freiheit said the Opportunity Fund was at about $2.15 million at the start of the year. After this award, the fund will have $1.2 million.
County documents indicate 20% of anticipated annual revenue for affordable housing capital projects is placed in the Opportunity Fund.
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Yahoo
an hour ago
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Taxes on Social Security benefits were not eliminated despite what you've heard
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Contact personal finance columnist Susan Tompor: stompor@ Follow her on X @tompor. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Trump didn't kill taxes on Social Security, despite what you've heard Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Miami Herald
an hour ago
- Miami Herald
What is wage garnishment, and what should you do if you're facing it?
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Newsweek
4 hours ago
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When Are August 2025 Social Security Payments Coming?
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The next installment of Social Security benefits will be paid in August—but when will you get yours? Why It Matters Over 70 million Americans rely on the Social Security Administration (SSA) for monthly retirement benefits and financial assistance for those with disabilities. But because of the sheer volume of recipients, payments aren't issued all at once. When Are Social Security Payments Coming in August 2025? Most recipients, particularly retirees, are paid according to their date of birth. There are some exceptions, including a separate payment date for individuals who started receiving retirement, spousal, or survivor benefits before May 1997, or who also qualify for Supplemental Security Income (SSI). SSI is a federal assistance program offering monthly payments to people with disabilities or blindness, and to adults 65 and older who meet financial criteria. Checks will be issued on the following dates in August: Friday, August 1: SSI payments and retirement benefits for those who have been collecting checks since before May 1997 and retirees who also collect SSI benefits. SSI payments and retirement benefits for those who have been collecting checks since before May 1997 and retirees who also collect SSI benefits. Wednesday, August 13 : Retirement, spousal and survivor benefits for those born between the 1st and 10th of any calendar month : Retirement, spousal and survivor benefits for those born between the 1st and 10th of any calendar month Wednesday, August 20 : Benefits for those born between the 11th and 20th : Benefits for those born between the 11th and 20th Wednesday, August 27 : Benefits for those with birthdays between the 21st and 31st : Benefits for those with birthdays between the 21st and 31st Friday, August 29: SSI payments. This payment would usually come at the first of the month for September. However, due to September 1 falling on Labor Day, a national holiday, the payment will be made slightly earlier. Stock image/file photo: A Social Security card with U.S. Dollars. Stock image/file photo: A Social Security card with U.S. Dollars. GETTY How Much Social Security Can I Get? In May 2025, the SSA reported that the average retirement benefit reached $2,002.39—a milestone as it surpassed $2,000 for the first time. Meanwhile, SSI recipients, totaling 7.4 million people, received an average of $718.30. It's important to note that individual benefit amounts differ. Retirement payments are based on a person's 35 highest-earning years, adjusted to account for inflation, as well as the age at which you begin claiming benefits. In 2025, someone retiring at age 67—the full retirement age—can receive up to a maximum of $4,018 each month. Choosing to retire early at 62 lowers the top rate to $2,831, while waiting until age 70 increases the highest possible benefit to $5,108. There is also a projected boost in Social Security benefits for 2026, with the annual Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) expected to raise benefits by approximately 2.6 percent, according to the most recent June estimate by The Senior Citizens League. The official announcement on how much benefits will rise by for 2026 will be made in October 2025.
