I am so pleased the University of Washington is partnering with the Seattle Times and Microsoft Corporation on the LiveWire series that addresses vital issues impacting our region and its residents.
Earlier this week, we hosted more than 800 people on campus for a lively discussion about affordability and housing. We heard a variety of viewpoints of how to balance our rapidly growing population and the need for more livable and affordable neighborhoods.
Affordability and housing go hand-in-hand and they impact virtually all of our students, faculty, staff and community members. One way we’re addressing this is to work with both businesses and community members to create a new University District Partnership. It will take close campus and community relationships to make sure that issues including public safety, social services and housing are addressed as the U-District is revitalized.
That’s why we are partnering with Children’s Hospital to build a new employee housing project in the heart of the neighborhood. This mixed-income project will include 36 units that are affordable to those making between 65% and 85% of area median income. It will include larger units that we hope will attract families to the neighborhood.
As a public university, we have a responsibility and a commitment to address income inequality, skyrocketing housing costs and other social issues with adverse impacts. And as a community it is simply the right thing to do, taking care of each other and our neighbors.
Together, we can work to ensure that the U-District remains and grows as an affordable and livable region for all of us.
Ana Mari Cauce
Interim President
Professor of Psychology and American Ethnic Studies