EVERETT — Housing Hope, one of Snohomish County’s leading nonprofits serving low-income tenants, is laying off over 10 percent of its staff amid ongoing financial strain, the company informed staff this week.
The layoffs mean the loss of 26 positions, Housing Hope spokesperson Joan Penney said. A few of those positions had been vacant, but most were filled, she said.
The cut positions come from a mix between Housing Hope staff and its affiliate HopeWorks, which focuses on job training.
Penney declined to say which specific positions were eliminated.
“We have not put ourselves in a position to not operate,” she said.
The organization shares challenges faced by all nonprofits working in affordable housing, Penney said. The cost to maintain existing housing has soared, she said. The nonprofit’s insurance premiums have jumped 40% over the past year, she said.
Penney called the layoffs a “painful” but necessary step. She said homelessness is growing in the county and the nonprofit’s financials were unable to keep up. The layoffs are intended to be temporary until the organization’s budget looks rosier.
Housing Hope CEO Donna Moulton said she will look for more sources of revenue that can support affordable housing projects.
Housing Hope’s affordable housing units will continue to be maintained and its ongoing projects will not be affected by these layoffs, she said.
“While the cuts were devastating, we were able to focus our cuts in a way that allows us to maintain our mission going forward,” Moulton said.
In May, construction began on Madrona Highlands, a 52-unit affordable housing project in Edmonds. Penney said Housing Hope remains committed to completing it.
Housing Hope owns 601 affordable housing units across 24 sites in the county. The organization operates emergency shelters, affordable rental units and affordable homeownership programs.
Penney said there were just under 200 staff members prior to the layoffs.
In January, Snohomish County counted 1,285 people experiencing various forms of homelessness. That was an 8.5% increase from the previous year.
“This is a stopgap measure right now to stop hemorrhaging,” Penney said.
Jenelle Baumbach: 360-352-8623; jenelle.baumbach@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @jenelleclar.
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