King County is making a big move in the affordable housing game, dropping a cool $26 million to crank out nearly a grand of homes for those who need them most. Executive Dow Constantine broke the news today, talking up the plan to give a roof to 939 households over the next half-decade. This cash splash is meant to help folks at the lowest income levels, those teetering on the brink of homelessness, and it's all about putting these homes right where they can hitch a ride on public transit, according to King County.

Here's the drill: King County's Housing Finance Program (HFP) is the big brain behind the operation, managed by the folks at the Department of Community and Human Services. They're not just slinging up any old digs, but they're putting down a mix of permanent supportive housing, apartments for families and veterans, and even throwing some eco-friendly homes into the mix. "Affordable housing plays a vital role in creating vibrant communities that allow everyone the opportunity to thrive," Constantine said, as stated by King County.

The African Community Housing Development (ACHD) is advancing plans for the African Diaspora Cultural Anchor Village in SeaTac, a housing project featuring one- to four-bedroom apartments and a community space. In Bellevue, Holy Cross Lutheran Church is partnering with Habitat for Humanity to develop Orchard Gardens, a 25-townhome project aimed at increasing homeownership opportunities. Meanwhile, Bellwether Housing is moving forward with Prisma in Overlake, a 332-unit apartment complex that will include housing for families and individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities.

Then there's Seattle, where the Chief Seattle Club is flipping a former market-rate building into Sweetgrass Flats, serving up permanent supportive housing mainly for chronically homeless American Indians and Alaska Natives. The Filipino Community of Seattle is also getting a boost, tacking on 56 additional units of affordable family housing next to the Filipino Community Center, as per King County.

Words of thanks are rolling in from the down-home heroes putting these projects into motion. "We are honored to receive this transformative funding award for Sweetgrass Flats which will allow us to provide 84 units of permanent supportive housing for our members," said Derrick Belgarde, Executive Director of Chief Seattle Club. Sharon Lee, Executive Director of LIHI, mentions that their game-changer award for Skyway Family Housing "made it possible for us to leverage state Housing Trust Fund and other financing to construct 54 new energy efficient apartments." Agnes Navarro, Executive Director of the Filipino Community of Seattle, is equally hyped, saying the award will help combat displacement and stack up units for "low to moderate income families."