Everett Housing Directive
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The UrbanistEverett Housing Directive
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The UrbanistCITY OF EVERETT
Office of the Mayor
Mayoral directive 2020-03: Affordable housing for all
Housing and affordability are key to a thriving, healthy community. Over the past 10 years,
Everett—along with the rest of the Puget Sound region—has faced a shortage of housing at all
price points and particularly for lower-income residents. This is contributing to a crisis that is
most visible in the increase of the homeless population around our city and county. The
economic and public health impacts of COVID-19 are worsening the situation.
Since 2018, we have made meaningful progress in our efforts to encourage building capacity.
We have implemented actions such as adopting the Metro Everett Plan that increases
residential densities in the downtown core and adjacent areas, expanded the Multi-Family Tax
Exemption to other areas of the city, adopted reduced residential parking standards and
adopted a special connection charge exemption for affordable housing.
These efforts, however, are not keeping pace with the growing need. Everett’s population has
been growing by an average of 1,000 residents a year since 2010. Today we have about 112,000
residents and expect a population growth of 55,000 by 2035. What’s more, local incomes are
increasingly out of step with the cost of housing. In 2019, the median house purchase price in
Everett was $389,000. Rental prices increased by 53 percent between 2010 to 2018. The
median household income in Everett is only $55,000. Owning a home in Everett is out of reach
for too many of our residents and even renting a home is challenging. Many households are
one paycheck away from housing instability. Communities of color and low-income populations
are especially impacted.
Homelessness remains a challenge in our community as well and the current public health
pandemic is exacerbating conditions. Programs and services that support those experiencing
homelessness have been reduced and public buildings have been closed. There is a great need
for expanded shelter capacity and additional supportive housing.
Addressing housing and homelessness is a challenge that extends beyond city limits. Regional
partnerships and collaboration are essential to finding enduring solutions. We will continue to
work with Snohomish County, regional nonprofit organizations and the private sector to
advance plans and bring more resources to our community to create a supportive housing
production climate.
Mayoral directive 2020-03
Issued November 17, 2020
Although the City does not build housing, there are opportunities at the local level to encourage
an increase in housing and shelter for all community members.
• We must complete our work in developing a citywide housing action plan to align our
policies, regulations and funding affecting housing.
• We must continue to improve Everett’s property development process and permitting
requirements to eliminate barriers to more streamlined development of new housing.
• We can incentivize housing construction by offering initiatives such as the Washington
State’s Multifamily Property Tax program, promoting Everett’s two federally-recognized
Opportunity Zones, and helping affordable housing providers tap into the tax credit and
grant programs available to them.
• We must redouble our efforts to address homelessness and support housing stability
and in particular, to eliminate student homelessness. Roughly 1,200 Everett school
children are living without safe, stable housing. Children cannot succeed without a roof
over their head and a safe place to call home.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Cassie Franklin, Mayor of Everett, hereby direct City of Everett staff to
pursue the following three initiatives:
Initiative 1: implement the Rethink Housing engagement process and develop a citywide
housing action plan by June 30, 2021.
a. Utilize advisory members from existing boards and commissions to help develop
strategies that promote and plan for housing opportunities for all.
b. Engage and educate key stakeholders through a series of virtual forums and
online meetings. Stakeholders should include, but are not limited to, Everett
residents, industry professionals, housing providers and community partners. It
is especially important to engage communities of color and underserved
populations.
c. Complete the housing action plan. This plan should include a framework of
actions, policies, regulatory improvements and implementation measures
identifying engaged stakeholder roles and responsibilities driven by the
spectrum of governmental and economic influences that address housing for all.
The plan should also address displacement and equitable housing policies and
actions.
d. Monitor progress of expected housing production progress.
Initiative 2: improve procedures and permitting requirements to ensure Everett is a
friendly, attractive place for investors to develop housing.
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Mayoral directive 2020-03
Issued November 17, 2020
a. Under the leadership of the City’s new planning director, begin preparations for
planning of transit-oriented development and light rail development that
addresses increased density, mixed income housing and mixed building use.
b. Recruit and encourage a range of market-rate and affordable housing developers
with an expanding offering of incentives, development-friendly housing policies,
and placemaking efforts that enhance return on investment
Initiative 3: aggressively address homelessness and support housing stability in 2021.
a. In January 2021, re-launch the City’s Homeless Student Task Force. This task
force paused its work this past spring due to COVID-19, but will be reactivated to
resume work developing recommendations on practical approaches for solving
student homelessness.
b. Pilot a year-round shelter program using Pallet shelters, funded through the
Washington State Department of Commerce Shelter Grant program.
c. Administer the next round of CARES 3.0 Community Development Block Grant
funds for rental assistance and housing stability.
d. Staff the Community Outreach and Enforcement Team with a total of three
social workers to help meet the growing needs of homeless residents, providing
more coverage and support for our police teams and people experiencing
trauma.
Progress on these initiatives, as well as metrics that will be used to gauge impact and success,
will be delivered to me twice per year.
Dated this __17___ day of _November_2020
Cassie Franklin
Mayor, City of Everett
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Mayoral directive 2020-03
Issued November 17, 2020
