Building a Thriving Island County

Affordable housing for working families improves the resilience of our community.

What Makes Housing Affordable?

Affordable housing is defined by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as housing costs that do not exceed 30% of a household’s monthly income. Households spending over 30% on housing are considered cost burdened.

Area Median Income (AMI) is a metric used by HUD to measure income thresholds for a region. If a household earns 80% or less of the regions’ AMI, it’s considered “low income.” Workforce housing is often referred to as the “missing middle” – they often earn too much to qualify for housing assistance but do not earn enough to afford most market rate housing options.

Island Roots focuses on rental housing for local workers because there is a significant need and it’s an underserved demographic, representing a large gap in Island County's housing needs.

The Housing Crisis Impacts Us All

Housing is now unaffordable for a record half of all U.S. renters, and rural island communities like ours are even more acutely impacted. A 2022 Langley housing needs assessment found that young working families are disproportionately impacted by housing affordability – with rent unaffordable to 74% of Langley renters under 34 years old.

As housing prices go up and rental availability declines, more local residents are forced to leave the island. As a result, businesses have to reduce hours or close, school classrooms shrink, and families have to move off-island.

Impacts on Small Businesses

Housing insecurity creates staffing shortages and contributes to contracting economies. It means businesses are chronically short-staffed and local employees can’t afford housing where they work

The 2018 Langley housing survey found that 66% of employers reported employees had housing-related issues and 75% of local employers representing over 1,300 employees had difficulty finding and retaining employees due to lack of housing.

Unique Challenges for Rural Island Communities

Island County has affordability needs and development challenges that are unique to our rural island community.

As workers have to commute from “off-island” on an erratic ferry system, commuting costs rise exponentially and local wages can’t cover the cost.

Limited Housing Inventory

  • High price of single-family homes

    First time home buying is expensive and competitive, limiting the movement of renters to homeowners.

  • Mismatch of incomes and cost

    Price of housing is significantly higher than on-island incomes (low wages – service, retail, restaurant, seasonal tourism), driven up by off island or “work-from-anywhere incomes”.

  • Short term rentals reduce units

    Rental housing is being converted to tourist lodging and vacation homes that often sit empty much of the year.

Reduced Capacity for New Development

  • Zoning

    Few high-density residential land use zones; Properly zoned land often has significant critical areas that limit capacity.

  • Cost

    High material and labor costs due to transportation, handling, and travel time.

  • Investment

    Smaller projects don’t often interest multifamily contractors and don’t currently qualify for the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.

  • Infrastructure

    Challenges with water availability, perk limitations for septic tanks, and off-site connection costs.

  • "We have right now a real extreme crisis in our staffing. Currently we've got 4-5 (employees) that are pretty desperately looking for housing who, without finding some solution by end of the month, will have to leave."

    -Jenn Jurriaans, Restaurant Group Owner

  • “We are currently in a 1BR, carriage house apartment that is poorly insulated and not suited for three people; two married adults and teenage daughter.”

    -Local resident

  • “I know at least five people being displaced for houses being sold by the owner or turned into an airbnb. There are no rentals available and they may have to move off island. It’s incredibly heartbreaking.”

    -Local resident

  • "Affordable housing would allow me to stay here on Whidbey and give back to the community. I absolutely love it here and want to build a life here. The young people who are bringing fresh new ideas to the Whidbey Island community are really struggling to make it here and housing would solve this issue."

    -Local Resident

Local Workers Can’t Afford to Live in Langley

Many working families in Langley can’t afford to live where they work. These dynamics have resulted in an unsustainable population with an ever-shrinking workforce:

  • 68% of Langley residents are over retirement age

  • 10% of Langley residents are under the age of 20

  • 61% of renter households are cost-burdened

  • 74% of 25-34 year old renters are cost burdened

  • 67% of housing vacancies are due to seasonal use

Stable Housing Benefits Us All

Housing for all is the foundation of a thriving community and economy. It stimulates local economies by increasing local jobs, increasing disposable local incomes, supporting local businesses and sustaining local populations. It means locals and families can stay, which keeps them in the local workforce, contributing to the local economy.

How Can You Help?

Join us in creating an engaged community network that provides the resources necessary to create varied housing choices for a diverse population.