Housing in Ellensburg

Single Family Home The City of Ellensburg recognizes the importance of affordable housing in fostering a healthy and livable community. In Ellensburg, wages have not kept up with the rising costs of housing leading to about 40% of households paying more than 30% of their income on monthly rent or mortgage and basic utilities. The City's interactive housing website has additional data on housing needs and affordability in Ellensburg.

The City is committed to helping provide safe and attainable housing for all members of the community through the City's funding, policy, and partnership efforts.

For information about ongoing and completed projects and resources for seeking housing in Ellensburg, please visit the Affordable Housing page. 

Creating Affordable Housing

The Affordable Housing Commission welcomes applications for eligible projects creating new housing or offering housing-related services in Ellensburg. Funds available and eligible projects are detailed in the 2025 Notice of Funding Availability. For consideration for funding by the City of Ellensburg, start by scheduling a pre-funding meeting with Community Development staff using the submittal meeting form. After that discussion, submit a Housing Development Application or Housing Services Application. Once proposals have been reviewed for completeness by Community Development staff, they will be presented to the Affordable Housing Commission for consideration and direction at an early, conceptual development stage. 

The Affordable Housing Commission will use the development project scoring matrix or services project scoring matrix to evaluate applications. The Commission will make a recommendation to City Council to support or not support the project as presented, or with recommended changes. City Council makes final funding and contracting decisions for affordable housing developments. 

The City also offers several residential development incentives that can be used to support housing development, including affordable housing. 

Affordable Housing Commission

The Affordable Housing Commission administers the revenues generated by the sales tax for housing and related services. The Commission meets the 1st Wednesday of each month and the 3rd Wednesday as needed from 4:30 pm - 6:00 pm in City Council Chambers.

Background

On November 7, 2017 Ellensburg voters approved a 0.1% sales tax for housing and related services. Consistent with RCW 82.14.530, these funds will be allocated to projects that create new affordable housing in Ellensburg. Eligible uses of funds includes costs associated with property acquisition, construction, and rehabilitation for projects that will serve target population groups earning 60% or less of the Area Median Income.

The Affordable Housing Commission recommends use of sales tax funds based on the following revenue allocation framework: 

  • 60+% for constructing or acquiring affordable housing and/or operations and maintenance costs
  • Up to 30% for the operation, delivery or evaluation of housing-related services (funds not used for services may be used for construction or acquisition of housing)
  • 5% kept in reserve, and
  • 5% for administrative costs

Pursuant to RCW 39.33.015 and Ellensburg City Code Chapter 2.06, the City of Ellensburg has identified two City-owned sites (total of three parcels) available for affordable housing development proposals that serve residents earning 80% or less of the Area Median Income.