Affordable Housing Fund

Overview

The Affordable Housing Fund (AHF) supports people experiencing very low-income in Vancouver through affordable housing development, rental assistance and homelessness services. In 2016, voters approved a $42 million property tax levy to support AHF projects through 2023. In 2023, this levy was renewed by voters to provide $100 million in AHF funding from 2024 through 2033.

The City will make funding available to community partners for projects and programs that:

Build and preserve long-term affordable housing in Vancouver.
Provide temporary shelter to people experiencing homelessness.
Provide rental assistance and services to help households avoid an eviction or access a rental unit.

This funding aims to increase affordable housing for individuals and families experiencing low incomes within the City of Vancouver, with a focus on:

Households earning below 50% of the Area Median Income (AMI) for rental units.
Households earning below 80% of the AMI for homeownership opportunities.

Note: If you live in Vancouver, WA and are seeking rental assistance or other housing services, please contact the Housing Hotline at 360-695-9677.

Read: Housing Story: Turning Darkness into Purpose.

Important updates about Affordable Housing Fund application availability – June 2025

The June Affordable Housing Fund quarterly application deadline for Housing Production and Preservation has been extended from 6/30/25 to 7/25/25. Applications will be reviewed by the Housing Advisory Committee in August.

Following this round of applications, Housing Production and Preservation applications will be paused until further notice. While applications have been accepted on a rolling basis, we have now committed most of the available funding and will pause further application review following this last round. Here is a status update by application type:

Housing Production and Preservation: applications paused after 7/25/25
Rent Assistance and Housing Services: applications remain open and will be reviewed once annually, in October
Temporary Shelter: applications paused
Homeownership Assistance: applications remain open

We remain interested in understanding the ongoing demand and potential pipeline of affordable housing projects. We will continue to accept pre-applications for future consideration. These pre-applications will help inform planning for future funding rounds and ensure we understand where interest and need continue to exist.

We appreciate your continued partnership in advancing affordable housing in our community. For more information or questions, please contact Ian Alger, City of Vancouver Housing Project Planner, at ian.alger@cityofvancouver.us.

Eligible Affordable Housing Fund Recipients

Developers, nonprofits, and other housing providers whose projects will provide housing for low-income households in Vancouver are eligible to apply for the AHF. Through the City selection process, priority will be given to applicants with a demonstrated ability to develop, own, and/or manage affordable housing.

Eligible Recipients:

Nonprofit agencies with the primary mission of providing housing.
Public housing authorities.
Private for-profit firms with experience developing, owning, and managing multifamily rental housing.
Private property owners with experience developing, owning, and managing multifamily rental housing.

Ineligible Recipients:

Households
- Homeowner, homebuyers or tenants with low income must access assistance through programs operated by the City, or through a nonprofit or other housing agency contracted with the City.

To be added to the waitlist for AHF applications, please email Samantha Whitley at samantha.whitley@cityofvancouver.us.

Affordable Housing Fund Application

The Affordable Housing Fund (AHF) pre-application is now available via Neighborly. Applicants are encouraged to read all the AHF Rolling Applications Guidelines and view the information session video below before applying.

Key Details:

Funding Amount: Up to $9.5 million available annually from 2025 through 2033.
Pre-Application Open Date: January 27, 2025, at 8 am via Neighborly. Link will be made available on webpage.
Application Process: Approved pre-applications will be granted access to the full application. Applications will be reviewed quarterly in the order they are received.
Award Announcements: Targeting quarterly, beginning April 2025, but timing may vary depending on the number of applications and project evaluations.
Information Session: The City hosted an information session for the Affordable Housing Fund on January 22, 2025. Applicants are encouraged to view the recording before applying:

Information Session PowerPoint Presentation

Contact

For more information about the Affordable Housing Fund, please contact Samantha Whitley, Community Development Manager, at samantha.whitley@cityofvancouver.us.