The King County Housing Authority is in the beginning stages of launching its racial equity initiative with primary objectives for year one being forming a core team, developing a common language around the work, securing agency wide training and education, and developing methods to raise awareness. This will be a multi-year progressively evolving initiative that will define metrics and annual goals.
The King County (WA) Housing Authority is a national leader in providing innovative and effective housing solutions so that people and communities can prosper. Our vision is that all residents of King County have quality affordable housing. Initiating a Racial Equity Core Team to engage the agency in the effort to advance racial equity, diversity, and inclusion will enable us to serve our community and foster the commitment we have to providing quality affordable housing.
Tonya Harlan, Director of Human Resources and Jill Stanton, Deputy Executive Director of Administration are championing this initiative in partnership with a cross departmental Core Team of staff and leaders. Tonya joined KCHA in 2015 after largely working in the private sector in varying HR leadership roles, and Jill joined KCHA in early 2018 after serving as Deputy Executive Director for Everett Housing Authority.
About KCHA: The King County Housing Authority provides rental housing and rental assistance to more than 19,000 households. We serve low-income people in 33 cities—not including Seattle and Renton—as well as in unincorporated areas of King County. The county, named after Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., is home to more than 1.8 million residents and covers more than 2,000 square miles. KCHA’s service area includes 1.2 million of the county’s residents and the majority of its low-income households.
KCHA owns and manages 4,269 units of federally funded housing for families, the elderly, and people with disabilities. An additional 6,000 units of low- and moderate-income housing are financed through tax credits or tax-exempt bonds. Federally funded Housing Choice Vouchers help more than 10,000 households rent affordable housing on the private market.
Through partnerships with communities and nonprofits, KCHA’s housing and supportive services combine to reach 55,000 people who earn less than the county median income.