Re: “Seattle voters OK almost $1B housing levy” [Nov. 7, Local News]:
I commend Seattle residents for passing the housing levy to deal with town’s inexpensive housing challenges. As a Bellevue resident and govt director of the nonprofit Think about Housing, I mirror on the essential want for inexpensive houses in numerous municipalities throughout the area. Whereas usually ignored, the Eastside additionally faces a quickly escalating housing disaster. Which means hourly wage staff in well being care, nonprofit, hospitality or baby care sectors can not afford a house within the communities the place they work.
Seattle’s housing levy will allocate $122 million to fund operations and wage boosts for social staff. I applaud Seattle for recognizing the significance of honest compensation for these on the entrance strains of our area’s defining problem.
Having devoted my profession to housing and the nonprofit sector, I’m lucky to stay, work and lift my household on the Eastside. Nevertheless, lots of my colleagues can not. The levy funding will probably have cascading impacts on neighboring communities. I fear how Seattle’s wage hike will problem workforce retention for different social service nonprofits throughout the area. With wages rising in Seattle, how will different municipalities retain their human companies workforce?
Yi Zhao, Bellevue
