Why Workforce Housing Matters

The City of Seattle began a new 4-part speaker series, Housing our Future this Thursday, February 15, 2007. This series focuses on the increasing challenge of providing housing for working individuals and families. It was held at Seattle City Hall and there were several hundred who attended.

The speaker series was kicked off with a presentation by Henry Cisneros, chairman of CityView and former HUD Secretary. Cisneros discussed the need to view housing as an essential component of a strong, healthy community. He was able to point to several trends and statistics that show it is increasingly difficult for working families to afford to stay in the city. He gave examples around the country of other areas where this is a problem, and other areas that have come up with some innovative solutions that have made a difference. This was an insightful evening that gave a macro-view of housing concerns and what a vibrant, healthy city needs to insure that the housing component is appropriate and not problematic.