Frequently Asked Questions

No. The cost of housing (land, construction, taxes, etc.) is just a small part of the market forces that drive rental costs. Right now, rents are rising because there is more demand than supply. The levy will create more housing, increasing the supply and putting downward pressure on everyone’s rents. The downward pressure from increased supply will offset any upward pressure from a small increase in costs. Further, the levy will do this while making housing that is affordable for people making less than half of the community’s average income, which the market has been unable to do on its own.

If you are a senior citizen and/or disabled ​with your primary residence in Washington State, the Property Tax Exemption for Senior Citizens and Disabled Persons program may help you pay your property taxes. Under the exemption program, your residence’s assessed value is frozen and you will be exempt from excess and special levies resulting in a reduction in your property taxes. The reduction in property taxes from participating in this program does not place a lien against the property.

95%. By state law, none of the funds collected by the City as a result of this levy can go into the City’s general fund. Just 5% of the money collected will be dedicated to administrative costs, oversight, & monitoring. The allocation of the proposed Affordable Housing Fund is as follows:

• Housing Production/Preservation: 60%
• Rent Assistance/Housing Services: 20%
• Temporary Shelter: 10%
• Homeownership: 5%
• Implementation: 5%

Temporary. Proposition 3 is a proposal of $0.30/1,000 of assessed property value for 10 years, applied to homeowners & businesses. The annual amount to be collected is capped at $10 million, meaning the more housing that is build, the lower each home or business owner’s share will be. Notably, this fund will collect money for 10 years, but keep homes affordable for up to 50 years!

Over the last five years, average incomes in Vancouver have only risen by 3.1%, while average rental costs soared 38.3%. This means that hardworking families who play by the rules are unable to keep up with increasing rents. Further, our seniors on fixed income who helped build this community are being pushed out of our city.

Many people who need affordable housing are working hard, often holding down multiple jobs. But rents have jumped almost 40% in the past five years, and wages have not kept up. The affordability challenge is even worse for older adults, trying to make it on a retirement income or forced to go back to work. The result is young families and long-time Vancouver residents are being priced out of town.

If you think about it, most of us are just a few paychecks away from being in the same situation. A layoff, an unexpected accident or illness can wipe out savings even for hard-working people. Today, many jobs pay only minimum wage or barely above that. Many people are working two or more jobs to make ends meet. It is estimated that to rent at the current average rent level, a person would have to earn over $30 per hour to afford a median two-bedroom apartment.

Yes, our community is very caring and understands the importance of this issue. The Affordable Housing Fund originally passed in 2016 with over 57% of voters saying yes. Since then, the Fund has helped keep thousands of Vancouverites in their homes, and helped many more people previously experiencing homelessness get into affordable housing. Help us spread the word by volunteering or donating!

The funds from this levy will be used specifically for creating more affordable housing. By law, the money cannot be used for anything other than what the levy specifies. The levy funds will also be under local control, but might help us obtain matching funds from the state or federal government, which could increase the amount of money available to provide more affordable housing in our community.

On the contrary, providing housing allows people to have the stability they need to work on resolving their problems. We know that when people have security, safety, and a home, it creates opportunity, and this levy makes those opportunities a reality. When homeless, a person’s time must be spent just surviving and moving from place to place. With a stable place to live, a person can focus on the mental health or drug treatment they might need. With better health and less stress, they will be more likely to be able to work. They are more likely to be hired if they have an address to use when applying for jobs. Children can have a place to do their homework, and they will have the stability of attending the same school, which is critical in keeping up with their studies and building needed friendships.