In a move to ease the housing crunch in Pierce County, the South Sound Housing Affordability Partners (SSHA³P) have committed to a substantial investment earmarked for affordable housing developments, pledging up to $966,000 that will help realize the construction of as many as 28 family homes in the Frederickson area, a plot spanning 4.22 acres, previously secured by the Pierce County Community Development Corporation in the prior year, with eligibility requirements set for families earning below 80% of the average median income.
The decision by SSHA³P, which is an amalgam of local governments, including the cities of Auburn, Fife, and Sumner, and abetted by Pierce County support, is a landmark first for the region, representing the commencement of a much-needed collaborative response to the ongoing affordable housing crisis, with construction anticipated for a 2027 start following the impending selection of a housing developer later this year, "For the first time, local governments have pooled their housing resources through SSHA3P to directly impact the development of new, permanently affordable homes," Kevin Ballard, Chair of SSHA³P and a DuPont City Councilmember, told Pierce County's official website.
Responses from local leaders highlight the urgency and necessity of such investments; Auburn Mayor Nancy Backus emphasized the critical nature of the issue, stating, "Affordable housing isn’t just a regional issue – it’s a local concern driven by necessity," and acknowledging the personal impact of rising housing costs that push families out of their own neighborhoods, according to information obtained from Pierce County's official website.
Furthermore, Fife Mayor Kim Roscoe credited the efforts as a demonstration of collaborative planning and commitment essential for combating the housing affordability crisis, noting to Pierce County "This first investment by the SSHA³P Housing Capital Fund is the result of years of collaboration and planning," and delineating the expectation that this initiative is setting the stage for additional ventures that will broadly benefit the constituents of the member cities involved within the alliance.
The formation of SSHA³P (pronounced ‘shape’) includes a partnership that extends across various jurisdictions, encompassing the Cities and Towns of Auburn, DuPont, Edgewood, Fife, Fircrest, Gig Harbor, Lakewood, Milton, Puyallup, Sumner, Steilacoom, Tacoma, and University Place, together with Pierce County and the Puyallup Tribe of Indians, all unified by the common objective to develop, maintain, and make housing accessible and affordable in the community.
