Downtown Action to Save Housing Programs
Long before serving the homeless or challenged members of our community was a requirement for property developers, DASH stepped up and formed working relationships with human service agencies serving the Eastside. We partner with Eastside Domestic Violence Prevention (EDVP), Domestic Abuse Women's Network (DAWN), Hopelink, Friends of Youth, Congregation for the Homeless and Jubliee Reach. Our collaboration with these agencies is a natural fit as their clients transition into new and healthier lives in a safe and supportive living environment at DASH properties. Our $1.1 million award from Washington State's 2060 Rental Buy-Down Program continues to pay rent differentials between what the formerly homeless households can pay and DASH's 50% annual median income rent levels. These funds enable our supportive service providers to offer affordable housing to a broader range of households than would be possible without such financial support. DASH currently provides 33 homes to individuals and families in the 2060 program.
Senior Housing
Independent Senior Housing: Many long time Eastside residents are priced out of their homes by high property taxes and other costs but want to continue to live in the same community. To meet this need, DASH owns and operates three independent living senior properties. All of these properties have recreation rooms and programs designed to foster good health and happiness of the residents and to prevent social isolation. Transportation for shopping and recreation is provided by vans driven by resident managers. Residents are allowed to keep pets. Assisted Senior Housing: Evergreen Court enables longtime Eastside seniors who need assisted care to remain near their family and friends and is the only affordable assisted living facility in the State of Washington. Evergreen offers rental housing and assisted living care for seniors of 62 years of age and older. It includes 84 one and two-bedroom units. Amenities include beautiful gardens, balconies and patios in all units, a community room, dining area, and full meal service. Evergreen Court also has on-site nursing care, a work out facility, van and town car and service and is pet friendly. Medicaid and market rate units are also available at the property. DASH provides a place for Eastside seniors to continue to live in their chosen neighborhoods in safe, secure, affordable housing.
Special Needs Housing
In response to a request from the King County Housing and Community Development, Department of Developmental Disabilities, DASH successfully created a model program for developing units for housing individuals with Developmental Disabilities. We began by renovating the units at our Plum Courts Apartments in Kirkland to make them accessible and functional for residents confined to wheelchairs and their full-time caregiver. All of these units include roll in showers, widened hallways, washers, dryers and special appliances, accessible patios and additional storage space for medical equipment. The addition of French doors and tiling made the apartments brighter and easier to clean. Previously these individuals paid more than 50 percent of their income on rent, had no protection against large rent increases or condo conversions. They lived in conventional apartments with minor modifications making it more difficult for them to move about and do everyday tasks. DASH has provided a safe, accessible, functional living space at 30 percent of their income for as long as they need it. DASH has replicated this program with six more units for individuals with special needs at our Summerwood Apartments in Redmond, and 19 units for individuals with special needs at our Liberty Square Apartments in Renton. We now provide 37 units at three locations for housing individuals with special needs.
Recent Successes and Current Challenges
Completed and leased up 92 affordable units at our Liberty Square Apartments. DASH and development partner Sherman Development recently completed this project located at 415 and 417 Williams Avenue South in Renton, Washington. Situated close to Renton's newly revitalized city center, Liberty Square is a 92 unit, new construction apartment complex . The property consists of two four-story residential structures built on an attractively landscaped podium and above ground parking garage. Nineteen units at Liberty Square are reserved for families and/or persons with special needs.