HOUSING & FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT
PROGRAMMING & SERVICES
overview
Access to safe, habitable, and affordable housing is more than a basic need -- it is a human right.
The Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle’s Housing & Financial Empowerment department offers a wide range of programs and services designed to address housing needs, financial literacy barriers, and access to basic economic resources in low-income and otherwise vulnerable communities.
Scroll to learn how we can assist you!
Our Housing Team
background
The HUD Housing Counseling Program supports the delivery of a wide variety of housing counseling services to homebuyers, homeowners, low to moderate income renters, and the homeless. ULMS is a HUD-Approved agency, meaning we have been certified as meeting HUD’s extensive review process, including having a history of serving housing needs, approved education content and methods, and meeting all other standards that HUD requires. Housing counselors can become HUD-Certified by successfully passing HUD Counselor Certification tests to ensure the quality of each client’s experience by testing their knowledge and skills.
Because ULMS is HUD-Approved agency in the state of Washington, we can actively provide training to our housing department (and other qualifying local agency staffs) to assist them in preparing for and passing the exam. This includes twice weekly training sessions and one-on-one assistance with all six of the exam modules.
As of October 2022, more than 25 ULMS staff and team members from other local agencies who participated in our training have successfully passed the HUD exam and become HUD Certified Housing Counselors!
homelessness
Young Adult Shelter & Youth Drop-in Center
The Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle now operates a 24-hour Young Adult Shelter that also serves as a Youth Drop-in Center during the day. For more information, please click through the tabs in this section.
The ULMS Young Adult Shelter services young adults (ages 18-24) who are battling chronic homelessness, mental health challenges, substance abuse and employment barriers.
Our goal is to provide those in need with economic security and support in whatever aspect of life they consider to be a challenge.
During the day the space is open to up to 15 participants at a time. This includes access to drop-in services. At night, the space is available to up to 24 young adults in need of a warm place to sleep.
There are several services available to those who choose to utilize the Young Adult Shelter and/or the Drop-in Center. Below is a brief overview of those services.
Drop-in Services:
- Daily hot meals
- Free life skills training
- Job preparation & navigation services
- Personal hygiene supplies
- +more
Shelter Services:
- Case management assistance
- Shower & laundry services
- Personal storage bin & sleeping cot
- Substance abuse evaluations
- Temporary housing referrals
- Cellular devices
- COVID-19 testing
- Healthcare resources
- Employment assistance
- +more!
To be eligible for use of the Young Adult Shelter & Youth Drop-in Center, participants must be:
- Age 18-24
All genders, races, and sexual orientations are welcome. Appointments are not needed for assistance.
The Young Adult Shelter & Youth Drop-in Center has a ZERO tolerance policy for all harmful or inappropriate behaviors and/or activities.
NO DRUGS:
- Marijuana
- Non-prescription opioids/opiates
- Narcotics
- Steroids
- Inhalants
- Drug Paraphernalia (swishers, lighters, pipes, bongs, burned metal spoons, used needles, etc.)
NO ALCOHOL:
- Wine/wine coolers
- Champagne
- Liquor
- Beer
- Lean (and other mixes)
- Alcoholic Paraphernalia (shot glasses, bottles, flasks, etc.)
NO WEAPONS:
- Guns/BB guns
- Knives/Shanks
- Baseball bats
- Mase
- Tasers
- Brass Knuckles
- Fists
NO VIOLENCE:
- Fighting
- Bullying
- Verbal abuse
- Emotional abuse
- Sexual violence
- Property destruction
- Intimidation
Any person who meets the participant age requirement and is interested in utilizing the shelter can call the shelter directly via (206) 639 – 7477.
homeownership
Eviction Prevention & Rental Assistance
ULMS serves as a liaison between United Way King County and the community to prevent eviction and homelessness by providing emergency rental assistance for families that meet UWKC eligibility requirements.
homelessness
Homeless Outreach
Our ULMS homeless outreach team works daily to identify those within the community experiencing homelessness and connect them to resources & programs to begin their journey toward permanent housing.
homeownership
Homebuyer Education Workshops
The WA State Housing Finance Commision requires that all homeownership loan applicants (regardless of the type of loan) complete a five-hour Housing Education Seminar in order to begin the loan process. The ULMS Homebuyer Eudcation Workshop fulfills this requirement.
homeownership
Affordable Housing Projects
The Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle has connected with various local community partners to ensure safe, habitable, and affordable housing are accessible to those we serve. In this section you will find a brief overview of affordable housing projects and partnerships that are coming soon!
The King County Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) has selected the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle as the community operator for the Health Through Housing building on 320th St in Federal Way (former Extended Stay America).
The building was purchased by the county in 2021 and will be used as permanent supportive housing for 100 people who are experiencing homelessness in the community.
Health Through Housing follows the housing-first model, which provides people housing before they seek treatment or employment. One-tenth of one cent of sales taxes in King County are used to fund the Health Through Housing program.
In addition to housing itself, each Health Through Housing location will have wraparound services for the residents, including behavioral and mental health and job resources.
ULMS plans to open the location for full operation in 2023. Learn more about the project here.
In October 2022, local developer SRM and The Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle announced the permanent preservation of 354 units across six apartment buildings for affordable housing. The $97 million dollar deal would not have been possible without project financing support from Amazon’s Housing Equity Fund and the City of Seattle’s Office of Housing, which creates the opportunity for long-term low-and-middle income rents.
Located in Seattle’s popular Eastlake, Lower Queen Anne, Roosevelt and West Seattle neighborhoods, the six properties include small efficiency dwelling units (SEDU) and will serve tenants ranging from 50 percent or below of the Area Median Income (AMI) up to 80 percent of AMI. Affordable rents will be preserved for 99 years with increases not exceeding three percent per year for income-qualified residents.
To learn more about this project, please click here.
homeownership
Black Home Initiative
Black Home Initiative (BHI) is a new a regional effort that seeks to target the racial inequities at the core of the housing ecosystem in an effort to increase homeownership among Black households.