The Eastside is often seen as an affluent community, but increased housing costs have nonetheless affected residents. Housing is defined as affordable if its occupants spend no more than 30 percent of their income on it.
More than a third of East King County households pay more than what is considered affordable, and 14 percent pay more than half their incomes for housing, according to A Regional Coalition for Housing, an affordable housing nonprofit.
Last year, local shelters and transitional housing programs together served more than 1,000 people with a prior Eastside address, according to the Eastside Human Services Forum.
To help voters get answers from candidates on affordable housing, the Eastside Human Services Forum conducted an electronic candidates’ questionnaire. Candidates running in contested races in East King County cities, for King County Council (Eastside Districts) and for the King County Executive position were invited to respond.
Interested voters can go to eastsideforum.org/advocate/cities-king-county to read responses from the following candidates: Alan Lobdell for King County Executive; Shari Song for King County Council, District No. 9; Lyndon Heywood for Bellevue Council Position 2; Kevin Wallace and Steve Kasner for Bellevue Council Position 4; Lynne Robinson and Vandana Slatter for Bellevue Council Position 6; Fred Butler and Joe Forkner for Issaquah Mayor; Jay Arnold for Kirkland Council Position No. 1; Doreen Marchione for Kirkland Council Position No. 7; Kevin Scheid for Mercer Island Council Position No. 2; and Rich Erwin and Benson Wong for Mercer Island Council Position 6.