Common Ground (Seattle)
Encyclopedia
Common Ground is a nonprofit affordable housing developer in Seattle, Washington
. Its primary goal is creating and preserving high-quality permanent and transitional housing for the homeless; it now also includes nonprofit facilities other than housing , such as community centers and medical buildings. The core of the organization are housing development specialists, who work together with existing nonprofit social service agencies, government agencies and housing authorities.
The organization does not own or manage these facilities. Instead, like market-rate real estate developers, it puts together land deals, arranges financing and supervises construction for social service agencies and housing authorities. Clients include the Metro YMCA
, Pioneer Human Services, Solid Ground
and Downtown Emergency Service Center
.
In the late 80s, they started to work with churches to provide housing for individuals with mental illness, establishing partnerships between mental health agencies and area churches. The churches rented houses to be used as group homes and the agency staff provided services and oversight. The experience led the organization into a new area of focus: special-needs housing.
Today, Common Ground has expanded throughout the state of Washington, working with more than 300 community-based organizations to develop more than 6,200 units of housing for people with low-income or special needs.
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
. Its primary goal is creating and preserving high-quality permanent and transitional housing for the homeless; it now also includes nonprofit facilities other than housing , such as community centers and medical buildings. The core of the organization are housing development specialists, who work together with existing nonprofit social service agencies, government agencies and housing authorities.
History
In 1980, county planner Steve Clagett and other housing activists founded Common Ground in response to a growing housing crisis in the downtown core. The organization began helping local social service agencies and churches preserve and transform historic buildings into affordable housing, and identified sites and secured funding for new affordable housing units. The group helped preserve many downtown Seattle landmarks, including the Olive Tower, the St. Regis Hotel and the Josephinum.The organization does not own or manage these facilities. Instead, like market-rate real estate developers, it puts together land deals, arranges financing and supervises construction for social service agencies and housing authorities. Clients include the Metro YMCA
YMCA
The Young Men's Christian Association is a worldwide organization of more than 45 million members from 125 national federations affiliated through the World Alliance of YMCAs...
, Pioneer Human Services, Solid Ground
Solid Ground (Seattle)
Solid Ground is an anti-poverty and social service organization in Seattle, Washington...
and Downtown Emergency Service Center
Downtown Emergency Service Center
The Downtown Emergency Service Center is a non-profit organization in Seattle, Washington providing services for that city's homeless population. The organization focuses on providing basic services for those homeless men and women who are vulnerable due to such factors as mental illness and...
.
In the late 80s, they started to work with churches to provide housing for individuals with mental illness, establishing partnerships between mental health agencies and area churches. The churches rented houses to be used as group homes and the agency staff provided services and oversight. The experience led the organization into a new area of focus: special-needs housing.
Today, Common Ground has expanded throughout the state of Washington, working with more than 300 community-based organizations to develop more than 6,200 units of housing for people with low-income or special needs.
Residences Built in 2011
As of August 2011 Common Ground has developed 5 buildings with 117 units.| Client Sponsor | Building | Location | Number of Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transitional Resources | Avalon Place | West Seattle | 16 |
| YWCA of Seattle, King County, Snohomish County | Passage Point | Maple Valley Maple Valley, Washington Maple Valley is a city in King County, Washington, United States. The population was 22,684 at the 2010 census.-History:The area was first settled in 1879 by three men who were improving a trail and brought their families in. When a name for a future community was proposed, the names Vine Maple... |
46 |
| Solid Ground | Brettler Family Place | Seattle | 51 |
| Valley Cities Counseling and Consultation | Auburn Four-Plex | Auburn Auburn, Washington -Parks:Auburn has an extensive system of parks, open space and urban trails comprising 29 developed parks, 5 undeveloped sites under planning, 2 skate parks, 2 water roatary parks, and over of trails , and almost of open space for passive and active recreation.-Environmental Park:The Auburn... |
4 |
See also
- housing firstHousing firstHousing First, also known as "rapid re-housing", is a relatively recent innovation in human service programs and social policy regarding treatment of the homeless and is an alternative to a system of emergency shelter/transitional housing progressions...
- affordable housingAffordable housingAffordable housing is a term used to describe dwelling units whose total housing costs are deemed "affordable" to those that have a median income. Although the term is often applied to rental housing that is within the financial means of those in the lower income ranges of a geographical area, the...
- Homelessness in the United StatesHomelessness in the United StatesHomelessness in the United States has continued to remain a focus area of concern of social service providers, government officials, and policy professionals since its resurgence among many types of individuals and families. The number of homeless people further grew in the 1980s, as housing and...
- Common Ground (NYC)Common Ground (NYC)Common Ground is a nonprofit social services organization with the goal of creating high-quality permanent and transitional housing for the homeless...