We envision a city where all workers can afford to live close to their work.
A major challenge to creating communities where all people can thrive – no matter the barriers they face – lies in the complexity of urban regions. Where you live relative to good jobs, education and culturally relevant services - as well as you ability to receive them - greatly influence your opportunities. As our region grows, we have the opportunity to prioritize these links so that they work for everyone, including people most marginalized in the economy and vulnerable to homelessness.
We are working with leaders across the region to stop the displacement of low-income communities and communities of color out of our urban core.
Puget Sound Sage advocates for affordable housing as a central component of community-based development that is based on community needs, assets and inspiration. While displacement is fundamentally about housing, it is also about how communities cohere together. Traditional planning efforts fail to acknowledge the role of anchoring communities of color, immigrants, and refugees around culturally relevant businesses, community centers, faith institutions and service providers.
Our equitable development program advances policies that support compact, high-density development and affordable housing along transit corridors to prevent displacement, which is core to healthy, climate-resilient communities.
Current Programs
Thriving in Place
A colaition group researching, advocating, and organizing around Equitable Development Initiatives in Seattle and King County. BIPOC communities are seeding equitable development projects in urban communities and rural communities. They are seeding housing, cultural, community centers, agricultural and conservation projects.
Land for Justice
We must incentivize community controlled, equitable development around transit.
Affordable Housing
In the face of unbearable housing costs and gentrification, we work with leaders across the region to stop displacement of our urban core.
Transit Equity
Advocating for transportation spending, planning and decision-making that directly benefits low-income communities and communities of color.
Program Successes
Community Real Estate Stewardship Learning Circle
A pilot learning circle, designed to support and train grassroots organizations led by and for low-income communities and communities of color in pursuing community driven development, land stewardship, and strategies for long-term affordability.
Dearborn Community Benefits Agreement
The community benefits agreement represents a groundbreaking model for making developers accountable to community stakeholders.
Seattle Industrial Lands Victory
The ordinance represents one of the most significant industrial land preservation policies in the United States and saved hundreds of high-quality jobs from leaving the city.