The Washington State Department of Commerce announced $54.5 million in grants to support the creation of nearly 5,000 affordable housing units across the state. The funding will assist 70 projects in 22 counties, reducing development costs and facilitating the construction of 4,517 affordable units. This initiative is part of the Connecting Housing to Infrastructure Program (CHIP), established in 2021, which provides funding for water-related infrastructure and reimburses public utilities for waived connection fees.

Governor Bob Ferguson emphasized the urgency of addressing the state’s housing crisis and highlighted that Washington needs over a million new homes by 2044 to accommodate population growth. The CHIP program requires projects to allocate at least 25% of new units for low-income households. This round of funding also includes a pilot program for moderate-income housing in Chelan, Douglas, and Okanogan counties, with about $5 million designated for those earning up to 100% of the state median income.

Since its inception, CHIP has invested nearly $152 million, aiding in the development of almost 14,000 affordable housing units, thereby enhancing community and housing options across Washington.