Council scheduled to cast final confirmation vote during Monday’s Full Council meeting
SEATTLE – Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda (Position 8, Citywide), Chair of the Council’s Housing, Health, Energy and Workers’ Rights Committee, issued the following statement following a favorable vote of Appt. 1428 to approve Emily Alvarado as the incoming Director of the Office of Housing.
“During this time of unprecedented need for more affordable housing in Seattle, Emily is the right person to lead the way towards a more inclusive and equitable city,” said Mosqueda. “Emily is knowledgeable about Seattle’s housing needs and possesses a demonstrated appreciation for the role of permanent affordable housing in promoting social inclusion, reducing poverty, and creating healthier and more resilient communities. Her strong relationships with Seattle communities, support for community-led development, and expertise in leveraging City funding and resources will be instrumental in creating affordable housing that benefits all communities in Seattle.”
“Emily is someone with a bold vision for housing in Seattle,” said Patience Malaba, Policy Manager for the Housing Development Consortium of Seattle-King County. “She has for many years been in front of the biggest housing issues, in partnership with the community, and has been a voice advocating for an equitable and inclusive city. As the affordable housing community, we are thrilled to see this appointment and look forward to continued partnership to address the critical need for affordable housing in our city and region.”
“Seattle’s affordable housing investments are important to help workers achieve the economic stability that makes our city run—not only by providing access to affordable housing where they work, but by making sure that when we build the housing, we’re creating good jobs,” said Monty Anderson, Executive Secretary for the Seattle Building Trades Labor Council. “A Director who understands and appreciates the intersection of housing and the need for good jobs and strong labor standards is what the City of Seattle needs—and that’s what we’ll get with Emily Alvarado.”
Alvarado currently serves as Acting Director of the Office of Housing. Earlier this month, Mayor Durkan nominated Emily Alvarado as Director of the Office of Housing.
Between 2014 and 2019, Emily served as Manager of Policy and Equitable Development at the Office of Housing. Her previous roles include serving in non-profit organizations on affordable housing and equitable development advocacy and policy development, including the Housing Development Consortium of Seattle-King County, the Housing Consortium of Everett and Snohomish County, and Pittsburgh UNITED. More recently, she has contributed her time and talents to Seattle in her role as Acting Director of the Office of Housing.
The Council is scheduled to vote on Alvarado’s confirmation during Monday’s meeting of the Full Council at 2:00 p.m.
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