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Bellwether is excited to announce that Richard Loo has been selected to serve as our Director of Real Estate Development. Over the last three and a half years, in his role as a Senior Housing Developer, Richard has led the charge on complex development projects including the rehabilitation of the Parker Apartments and the ground-up development of Arbora Court, our largest project to date. He has also taken the lead in assessing the business and political risks and benefits of potential new projects and in establishing important new joint development relationships for future projects. Richard is a mature leader who brings a diverse professional background. Prior to joining Bellwether, Richard worked in the financial industry as a lender and a developer in the private sector. He ran his own business as a development consultant and he was an architect focusing on multi-family and hospitality developments. Throughout Richard’s tenure at Bellwether, he has forged strong relationships with community members, industry partners, key stakeholders and his Bellwether teammates. He has advocated with public and private funders to advance Bellwether’s mission and business interests. He is well positioned to guide Bellwether’s development as we continue to grow our own portfolio, manage complex rehabilitations for our existing buildings and provide high quality development services to other nonprofit organizations. "It is with great honor and humility that I accept the position of Director of Real Estate Development," shared Loo. "The need for affordable housing is more urgent than ever. It is a privilege to be working for an organization that is part of the solution."

In this Issue: Celebrating our new CEO, preventing evictions, announcing Brooke Gladstone as the keynote speaker at our Closer to Home Breakfast and more. Read the Spring 2017 newsletter. #SusanBoyd #EvictionPrevention #residentservices #BrookeGladstone #NPR #OntheMedia #ClosertoHome #advocacy #HALA #Seattle #GiveBig

Feb. 15, 2017 SEATTLE – After a thoughtful and extensive nationwide search engaging more than 150 prospects from a variety of sectors, the Bellwether Housing Board of Directors announced today that Susan Boyd has been selected to serve as the Chief Executive Officer effective immediately. “Susan has a true passion for our mission and has dedicated her career to creating communities in which low income people have the opportunity to thrive,” shared Bellwether Board Chair Harry Matsumoto. “She is a leader in the affordable housing community and her proven track record for developing strategic partnerships, her deep knowledge of housing policy and her well-honed financial acumen are just what this organization needs to achieve its next phase of growth and community impact.” “I am deeply honored to be the next leader of this incredible organization,” said Boyd. “I am so fortunate to take this position surrounded by the talent and dedication of the Bellwether team. The environmental and economic health of our region, the well-being of our people, and the civic strength of our communities is dependent on our collective ability to meet our region’s affordable housing needs. It is very exciting for me to have the opportunity to leverage the strength of this organization to meet those needs." With an annual budget of $20 million, Bellwether has developed 1,900 units of affordable housing that it manages at 30 different locations throughout Seattle. Bellwether has two projects under construction, Anchor Flats and Arbora Court, which are slated to open in 2018. These projects will add 200 apartments to the South Lake Union and University District neighborhoods and will serve low income and formerly homeless households. Boyd brings 28 years of experience in direct social service, policy analysis, advocacy and law to Bellwether and is a respected voice on regional housing issues. For the last four years, Boyd has served as Bellwether’s Director of Real Estate Development, leading housing development strategy and tripling the number of units the organization has in production. In that time, Boyd has also built relationships with for-profit developers, non-profit organizations and governments, served as an organizational spokesperson and helped guide the vision of the organization. Prior to coming to Bellwether, Boyd was a partner at the law firm Kantor Taylor Nelson Boyd & Evatt PC, representing tax-exempt nonprofits, for-profits and public agencies throughout the West coast in all aspects of the development and financing of affordable housing and community facilities.

In this issue: What we're doing to address homelessness, groundbreakings, our CEO search — and more! Read the 2016 Fall Newsletter #affordablehousing #MatthewDesmond #ClosertoHome #impactinvesting #AnchorFlats #ArboraCourt

On October 19th more than 400 guests ventured out early in the morning to attend our 6th annual Closer to Home breakfast at Benaroya Hall. All were united in the fact that we are facing an affordable housing crisis throughout our region and were motivated to come together to make a difference. Author and keynote speaker, Matthew Desmond, with Bellwether resident, Paris Chapman. The program highlighted the critical work Bellwether is doing to address the widening gap between income and rent in our city and beyond. Seattle Mayor Ed Murray welcomed all in attendance and reiterated his commitment to increasing the inventory of affordable housing throughout Seattle. The program also featured a keynote address by Harvard sociologist and MacArthur “Genius” award winner Matthew Desmond. (His recent New York Times bestselling book, Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City, explores the crisis faced by poor families in finding and maintaining affordable housing.) It also included one of Bellwether’s current residents, Paris Chapman, who shared his experience commuting between home and work - four hours each day between Seattle and Tacoma. Lacking stable housing, Paris was forced to couch surf and uncertain about where he’d rest his head at night. Paris eventually heard about Bellwether and moved into one of our studios downtown, finally experiencing a sense of security and predictability. With your help we raised $173,000 – our most successful event yet! Because of your support Bellwether will continue to be a force against rising income inequality, unequal access to opportunity and geographic class segmentation — forces that undermine the economic, social, environmental and physical health of our communities. Thanks to all of our individual contributors as well as our generous sponsors for making this possible. #ClosertoHome #fundraisingbreakfast #affordablehousing #MatthewDesmond

We are thrilled to share that Bellwether Housing broke ground on our second development in as many weeks. Yesterday, we gathered in the parking lot of 1511 Dexter Avenue (Seattle) to celebrate as we begin construction on Anchor Flats. This is our first development off South Lake Union and it will provide 71 affordable apartments to individuals and families – all close to downtown. Seattle Mayor Ed Murray and Seattle Councilmember Mike O’Brien attended and shared a few words about the importance of this particular building, the first affordable apartment building in this area. Both were joined by more than fifty other supporters. Seattle City Councilmember Mike O’Brien, Seattle Mayor Ed Murray, Bellwether Housing’s Real Estate Development Program Manager, Becky Bicknell, Bellwether Housing’s Director of Real Estate, Susan Boyd, Brian Runberg, Principal of Runberg Architecture Group, and Harry Matsumoto, Vice Chair of the Bellwether Housing Board unearth affordable housing in South Lake Union. This groundbreaking was also a celebration of a novel tool that Bellwether created, resulting in a new approach to funding affordable housing. Anchor Flats is the second development supported by Seattle’s Future Fund, a tool we launched in 2014. $1.9 million has been raised from local, socially motivated investors to finance the construction of Anchor Flats and many were in attendance. “These investors will receive a modest financial return and will know that their investment is helping to create an inclusive community in which all people can thrive,” explained Susan Boyd, Bellwether’s Director of Real Estate Development. Yesterday marked a turning point for Bellwether. We purchased this parking lot in 2011. For five years, we have been focused on transforming this it into something that can be so much more. The wait is over. Anchor Flats is slated to open its doors in March of 2018. See more about our groundbreaking here: Ground to be broken on affordable housing in South Lake Union Bellwether Housing breaks ground on another affordable housing project, this time in Seattle’s South Lake Union On the Block: Does density have to bring displacement? KOMO-TV KOMO-AM KIRO-TV #1511Dexter #affordablehousing #AnchorFlats #community #groundbreaking #SeattleCouncilMemberMikeOBrien #SeattleMayorEdMurray #SouthLakeUnion

After four years of persistence and hard work, we celebrated the groundbreaking of our first property in Seattle’s University District. This would not have been possible without the equally-determined members of University Christian Church (UCC): it was this congregation that sold the property (a parking lot and adjacent land across the street from the church) to us below-market rate and made this a reality. Mayor Ed Murray with Susan Boyd 75 supporters came together in UCC’s lounge to acknowledge the significance of the day and to celebrate what’s to come. Bellwether’s Chair Elect, Harry Matsumoto, welcomed all and expressed the excitement he – and the Bellwether team felt – to be able to kick-off construction. Mr. Matsumoto was followed by UCC’s Reverend Dr. Adam Harmon who led a prayer of thanks. Speakers included Bellwether’s Director of Real Estate Development, Susan Boyd, Seattle Mayor Ed Murray, and church member/spokesperson, Marsha Tolon. “This building, Arbora Court, will be the largest that Bellwether has ever constructed. 133 units, including many family-sized units and large indoor and outdoor community and play spaces,” said Susan Boyd. Ms. Boyd continued, “Of course [we] don’t get to this point in a development without an enormous amount of support.” This project would not be possible “without the vision and commitment of this wonderful faith community.” Mayor Murray expressed that, “homelessness is an international crisis”. He then continued, “it’s important to remember that good things are happening to change this crisis. Arbora [Court] is one of those things.” Arbora Court will provide safe, affordable homes and will support families transitioning out of homelessness. This mattered to University Christian Church. Marsha Tolon shared some of the story of how the Church came to the decision to dedicate its property for this purpose. “The early realization of this dream started in 1961. The congregation’s vision was to build affordable housing in the University District to support our most vulnerable in this community.” In March 2018 this vision will be realized. Participant with art installation The celebration closed with a symbolic “groundbreaking”. Guests wrote their wishes for the people who will find a home at Arbora Court on a paper leaf and attached it to an art installation. This artwork will be placed in the building lobby to welcome new residents to their homes. Media Coverage Bellwether Housing Breaks Ground on 133 Affordable Apartment Units in Seattle’s University District New affordable housing is coming to U-District U-District church’s dream of providing affordable housing becoming reality Mayor Ed Murray celebrates groundbreaking for new affordable housing #groundbreaking #UniversityDistrict #newdevelopments #UniversityChristianChurch #MayorEdMurray #ArboraCourt #apartments #affordablehomes #homelessness

In this issue: Yaminah Prop. 1 South Lake Union Block Party Closer to Home fundraising breakfast and more! Read the 2016 Summer Newsletter

Creating, Preserving, Pioneering, and Leading: read more highlights from 2015 in our most recent annual report. #annualreport #ArboraCourt #AnchorFlats #MayorEdMurray #TheParker #impactinvesting

In this issue: The Faces of Bellwether 1511 Dexter – The Long Road to Our Latest Development GiveBIG is May 3rd Affordable Housing Week: May 16-22 Save-the-date: Closer to Home Fundraising Breakfast Read the 2016 Spring Newsletter

In honor of Earth Day, we wanted to share a few green features of our upcoming projects at 1511 Dexter and Arbora Court. Both buildings will have low-flow water fixtures, LED lighting and occupancy sensors and high efficiency central hot water heating. We are excited to see the tangible results to Bellwether’s triple bottom line: reduced operating costs for the building, reduced costs to residents and reduced energy and water consumption. You can learn more about both of these developments here. #1511Dexter #ArboraCourt #Bellwether #affordablehousing #EarthDay #Seattle #sustainability #UniversityDistrict

We have been engaged by DESC to provide development services for their Estelle Supportive Housing project, to be located in the Rainier Valley, a few blocks south of the McClellan light rail station. The building will include 91 units of permanent supportive housing for homeless men and women living with disabilities. The project will also dedicate one floor for high quality on-site health care to be provided by Harborview Medical Center. Approximately 15 apartments will be allocated for people exiting the hospital with healthcare needs who can’t be served in conventional residential care systems. Construction is expected to begin in September 2016 with completion by the fall of 2017. You can learn more about this project here and here. It’s a privilege to be a part of this! #affordability #affordablehousing #advocacy #DESC #disabilities #healthcare #homelessness