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Councilmember Foster proposes slate of budget amendments to strengthen housing sector, prevent displacement, and support vulnerable communities  

October 27, 2026October 27, 2026By City Council News Releases

Today Councilmember Dionne Foster (Position 9) released details of her proposed budget amendments to strengthen Seattle’s response to the housing affordability crisis. They include a proposal to give an additional $10 million to the Office of Housing (OH) for development of affordable housing. Also included is a statement of legislative intent (SLI) directing the City to develop a plan for consistently appropriating 50% of annual JumpStart revenue for affordable housing and the Equitable Development Initiative (EDI).  

“These proposals, if approved, will deliver critical resources to the Office of Housing to expand affordable housing, keep longtime homeowners in their homes, and ensure our housing sector is set up for sustainable, long-term success,” said Councilmember Foster. “As I highlighted last week in my amendments for mandated fiscal sustainability, when we fail to plan for long-term spending, we end up diverting critical JumpStart revenues away from the core community priorities they were designed to fund. As rising housing costs continue to price families out of our city, I’m excited to work with my colleagues and community advocates to carry these essential amendments into the final budget.”
 

Housing-focused amendments backed by Councilmember Foster: 

  • Increasing funding to the Office of Housing: Allocates an additional $10 million to the OH to fund affordable rental and homeownership projects, to be distributed directly to affordable housing providers and included in Notices of Funding Availability or Requests for Proposals issued in 2027.
  • Create a plan to return to the initial allocation of JumpStart for Housing and EDI: Directs the City Budget Office (CBO) to develop a plan for how to consistently appropriate 50% of annual JumpStart revenue to affordable housing and EDI. The proposed 2027-2028 budget allocates 36% of JumpStart revenue to housing and EDI. Attaining a 50% investment would mark a return to the levels allocated in the 2022, 2023 and 2024 budgets and reaffirm the City’s commitment to fighting rising housing costs and the displacement of marginalized communities.
  • Report on Office of Housing funding practices: Requests a comprehensive report from OH analyzing the impact of reducing its Jumpstart appropriation by $65 million in the 2026 Year-End Supplemental and potentially making awards based on future year appropriations. Affirms intent to prioritize using the JumpStart Revenue Stabilization Fund to fund projects OH has awarded funding, if revenues decrease.
  • Rental Regulation Fee exemption for affordable housing providers: Exempts Seattle Office of Housing-funded affordable housing units from the Rental Regulation Enforcement fee. Affordable housing units are still subject to all rental regulations (including the recently passed Junk Fee legislation). This cost is offset by increasing the fee for other units by $1 per biennium (.50 cents per year).
  • Reinvesting Seattle Police Department (SPD) overpayment recoupment into affordable housing: Establishes a dedicated fund to capture funds recovered from the $13 million in SPD officer overpayments to support affordable homeownership and multifamily housing development. 
  • Anti-displacement funding from ‘Do Not Solicit’ violations: Directs fine revenue from violations of the Do Not Solicit list toward existing homeowner anti-displacement initiatives, including legal aid, estate planning, home retention/repair assistance, and list enforcement.
  • Preserving unspent JumpStart funds for housing: Authorizes carrying forward any unspent JumpStart funds at the end of 2026 and 2027 into subsequent years, ensuring all allocated dollars remain dedicated to affordable housing. This amendment would not impact the reduction of OH’s JumpStart appropriation by $65 million, as found in the transmitted 2026 Year-End Supplemental legislation. 

“Seattle needs more affordable homes, and we need to keep people in the ones they already have. Councilmember Foster’s housing amendments put real resources and planning behind both, and I’m proud to co-sponsor a number of these amendments. I’m also backing her amendments to make long-term fiscal responsibility part of how we budget. When we don’t plan ahead, the programs that too often get put on the chopping block are the ones that help build a more affordable and equitable city. Planning ahead protects those priorities. Let’s get this done,” said Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck (Position 8)  

“We need to grow all forms of affordable housing across our city — from permanent housing with services for people exiting homelessness, to homeownership opportunities for larger, inter-generational families. With looming federal cuts to homelessness and Medicaid and a slowdown in market-rate housing construction, it’s essential that we continue to invest locally in affordable housing,” said Councilmember Eddie Lin (District 2). “I look forward to working with the Office of Housing to unstick the permanent supportive housing pipeline and create new affordable housing options in every neighborhood across Seattle, and I thank Councilmember Foster for her leadership on these amendments.”

Next steps  

The City Council is currently in the middle of the 2027-28 budget process. Councilmember Foster’s amendments will be discussed during a series of briefings that will take place beginning on Oct. 27. Members of the public are encouraged to voice their s, including at the next public hearing on Nov. 5.

A full list of public comment opportunities, including an overview of the budget process, is available on the City Council webpage. 

Additional quotes 

“Affordable homes are essential civic infrastructure. Seattle needs more affordable housing so residents can live near jobs and opportunities, protect communities from displacement, and give seniors, people with disabilities, and working families the stability to thrive. We deeply appreciate Councilmember Foster’s leadership in advancing this package of proposed amendments to increase affordable housing investments in this budget year, and establish a plan of dedicating 50% of JumpStart to the tax’s intended role as a dedicated funding source for affordable housing and equitable development in the years ahead.” 
-Patience Malaba, Executive Director, Housing Development Consortium 

“For ten years, EDI has served as a critical tool in our fight against displacement and gentrification so that BIPOC, immigrant, and working-class families can stay rooted in the neighborhoods they call home. That is why Puget Sound Sage has worked in deep collaboration with City Council over the years to make EDI a priority for JumpStart. It’s a promise to our communities that we value them. Every dollar diverted from that promise is a dollar taken from the affordable housing and anti-displacement work our communities are leading. The amendments put forth by Councilmember Foster today are how we keep JumpStart working for the communities it was created to serve, and Seattle can’t afford to let that promise go unkept.” 
-Aretha Basu, Political Director, Puget Sound Sage   

“Councilmember Foster’s proposed budget amendments demonstrate a clear commitment to growing and sustaining the City’s portfolio of deeply affordable housing and to those for whom that housing is so important. I am particularly grateful that she has re-centered Jumpstart for its original affordable housing purpose and found creative ways to ensure that we do not lose ground in our efforts to meet our community’s housing needs.” 
-Susan Boyd, CEO, Bellwether Housing 

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