09.26.24

Cantwell Announces Affordable Housing Award for Millworks Family Housing in Bellingham

Project developer Mercy Housing received $17 million from Cantwell-championed Low-Income Housing Tax Credit to finance award-winning project

WASHINGTON, DC – This week, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) announced that Millworks Family Housing in Bellingham was awarded a Charles L. Edson Tax Credit Excellence Award. Edson awards recognize outstanding affordable housing properties and organizations that have demonstrated impactful use of the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit – a program regularly championed by Sen. Cantwell.

Sen. Cantwell presented the award at the Affordable Housing Tax Credit Coalition Conference in Washington, DC, saying: “Millworks Family represents an exemplar LIHTC housing project. The community not only provides affordable homes for 83 families in the Bellingham Waterfront District – it will bring down the cost of rent in the region.”

“We are honored to have received this distinguished award for Millworks Family Housing,” said Ismael Guerrero, President & CEO of Mercy Housing, Inc. “We’re grateful to our partners and the Bellingham community for their support in bringing this highly sustainable development to life. Yes, Millworks provides housing, but it also hosts an early childhood learning center run by the Whatcom YMCA, addressing the growing needs of families and youth in the community.”

Millworks Family Housing, located in Bellingham’s Waterfront District, offers 83 total units of affordable housing of workforce and family housing earning between 30%, 50% and 60% of the local median income. Included onsite, Millworks also has a six-classroom early childhood education center run by the YMCA to offer services to around 100 children. Of the total 83 units, 20% serve families previously without permanent housing, and 20% of units serve differently abled residents. 

Mercy Housing Northwest developed the project, in partnership with the Whatcom Community Foundation. Mercy Housing received $17 million from the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit to build this community.

Phase 1 construction was completed earlier this year. Whatcom Community Foundation is planning for a Phase 2 with additional housing and regional food hub.  

Sen. Cantwell has been a longtime supporter of affordable housing and the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit. Sen. Cantwell is the leading Senate proponent of a tax package that would significantly boost the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program. Legislation approved by the House earlier this year on an overwhelming bipartisan vote includes two provisions authored by Cantwell to improve LIHTC, which together represent the most significant investment in affordable housing in the last 35 years.

Since 1986, the Housing Credit has paid for 90% of the federally-funded affordable housing construction across the country, and has financed over 3.8 million affordable homes, including more than 100,000 in Washington state. Since its creation, the Housing Credit has helped build or restore over 100,000 affordable homes in the State of Washington. The economic activity that the credit generated has supported nearly 170,000 jobs and generated more than $19 billion in wages.

More information about Sen. Cantwell’s work to include an expansion to the LIHTC program in the bipartisan tax package is available HERE.

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