The Housing Trust Fund (HTF) was established by the Legislature in 1987 (RCW 43.185 and 43.185A). HTF is a fund that helps communities meet the housing needs of low-income and special needs populations.

Why HTF was created

Low-income Washington households spend a higher percentage of their income on housing than the rest of the population.

• Households earning incomes below 80 percent of an area median income spend more than 30 percent of their income on housing.
• Renters earning less than 30 percent of an area median income spend more than 50 percent of their incomes on rent.
• There is a critical need for special needs housing. This includes people with chronic mental illness, developmental disabilities, homeless families, frail elderly people and farmworkers.

What HTF does

• Supports the construction, acquisition or rehabilitation of 4,500+ units every two years.
• Creates rental and homeownership opportunities in every region of the state for people with incomes below 80 percent of the average median income.
• Serves thousands of households including families, at-risk youth and children, senior citizens, farmworkers, and people with chronic mental illness.
• Assists low-income, first-time home owners with down payments.
• Helps communities preserve investments in housing through rehabilitation of existing structures.
• Prevents dislocation of low-income households by preserving properties losing their federal subsidies.
• Ensures housing receiving HTF funding remains affordable for at least 40 years.
• Funds special needs housing that supports clients of Department of Social and Health Services and the Department of Health programs and services.
• Provides pre-development technical assistance and organizational capacity building through strategic partnerships.

Helpful Links

• Housing Trust Fund Application & Handbook
• For more information contact Housing Trust Fund staff