Media Release

The Seattle Housing Authority has been awarded $1,075,200 by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to expand neighborhood choices for more families with young children being served by SHA. SHA has designed a suite of services that increase the ability of these families with vouchers to rent in neighborhoods which have proven to result in improved academic achievement, health, income and other life outcomes for the children in low-income families as they grow into adults. 

“Every parent knows the value of providing a safe and secure place for their child to call home. Stability at home helps promote their future success – in school and onwards,” said HUD Secretary Marcia L. Fudge in making the award.

SHA Executive Director Rod Brandon says the funds will be used to expand beyond a pilot study SHA engaged in to determine the effectiveness of enhanced services on the ability of families to use their Housing Choice Voucher in a wider variety of areas throughout the city. “SHA and its partners launched the Creating Moves to Opportunity project five years ago and it has shown remarkable results in opening up neighborhood choices to families raising children,” Brandon said. “We are seeing that with the right information and support, parents are able to exercise real housing choice and make the best decisions for the success of their family. The exciting thing is that we know from prior research that results in a better chance of families ending intergenerational poverty.”

The Creating Moves to Opportunity pilot was a partnership between the Seattle Housing Authority, King County Housing Authority and a group of leading national social science researchers. The pilot demonstrated that the specific set of enhanced services, referred to as mobility-related services, are effective in removing the barriers that have prevented families with children from using their voucher to rent in neighborhoods with higher opportunity factors.

SHA is one of only seven housing authorities in the country to receive funds from HUD under this Housing Mobility-Related Services award.

“This award affirms the success of our Creating Moves to Opportunity mobility program, and we are thrilled to receive this HUD funding knowing it will enable us to make a life-changing difference for many more families working to create a bright future for their children,” said Alice Kimbowa, SHA Director of Rental Assistance Programs.