Seattle City Council Passes $2 Million Bridge Loan for SSH

July 8, 2025

Roberto Jimenez, CEO, Seattle Social Housing 

Statement on the Seattle City Council 

Passing the $2 million Dollar Bridge Loan 

This vote marks a real turning point for social housing in Seattle. Mayor Bruce Harrell, and the city council and SSH came together and spoke with one voice that social housing is an important investment for Seattle.  

We are very pleased today that the city council unanimously passed a $2 million bridge loan for Seattle Social Housing that will provide the necessary resources so we can further advance our mission to develop, own and maintain mixed-income housing that is permanently affordable and owned as a public asset forever.  

These loan resources are required so Seattle Social Housing can effectively continue our operations through January 2026 when the tax revenue will be realized for SSH. Over the next several months, we will continue to plan for growth of opportunities to acquire our first property, grow our staff, and strengthen our governance as well our operations at SSH. 

I want to thank Mayor Bruce Harrell for leading on the ordinance for the loan, Dan Strauss the Chair of Finance, Native Communities, and Tribal Governments Committee for shepherding it through the council and all the council members for their support. It is a real endorsement that Seattle Social Housing has the momentum for building more housing that Seattle needs. 

Roberto Jimenez, CEO of Seattle Social Housing