The City Council established the Housing Affordability & Community Services (HA&CS) Committee in January 2016 with the goal to develop a strategic plan to improve housing affordability and make recommendations on budget allocations to social services. The HA&CS Committee invited citizens and community leaders involved in the lives of low income residents to join in a discussion and develop strategies to address the barriers to achieving a mix of housing for these residents. Committees formed to help identify obstacles as well as available services and to help determine gaps in available resources. The outcome of that work is the following Strategic Plan which sets forth the goals, strategies and action items to guide the City in implementing its affordable housing policy.

With the rise of homelessness, lack of affordable housing, and lack of services for citizens throughout the United States, including Anacortes, the City Council established the Housing Affordability & Community Services (HA&CS) Committee in January 2016 to tackle some of these tough issues. The HA&CS Committee brought community leaders and citizens together on April 21, 2016 with the goal of developing a strategic plan to improve housing affordability and make recommendations on budget allocations to social services. One outcome of the incredible participation is the Strategic Plan which provides a beginning for our city and citizens to create a more equitable and healthy community.