Local Information for Washington

The Evergreen State, more popularly known as Washington, is named after the United States’ first President, George Washington. In order to distinguish it from the nation’s capital (D.C. or Washington, D.C.), it is often referred to as Washington State. According to sources, the state was first named Columbia.

Washington is a state that brings together many ancestry groups. If you go around its streets and neighborhoods, you will likely meet Germans, English, Irish, Hispanics, Swedish, Scottish, Polish, Russian, Italian, Norwegian, Scottish Irish, and Dutch residents; apart from the Americans, of course.

The state is also known for its many professional sports teams, the most popular of which are the Seattle Seahawks (National Football League) and the Seattle Mariners (Major League Baseball).

Two of the largest cities in Washington are Seattle and Spokane. The coastal seaport city of Seattle is the home of the Seattle International Film Festival, the Sakura-con anime convention, and one of the country’s largest and most colorful Gay Pride festivals. It is also where the headquarters of Amazon.com, Nordstrom, and Starbucks are located. Seattle’s Space Needle, which provides an almost 360 degree view of the city, is one of the world’s biggest tourist attractions.

The city of Spokane is found in the northwestern region of the U.S. It used to be known as Spokan Falls back in the 1870s. It was eventually renamed after Spokane, a Native American tribe. The word Spokane is Salishan for Children of the Sun. In the early part of the 20^th century, lilacs grew in multitudes in the city. This led to the creation of the nickname Lilac City for Spokane.

Washington Housing Authority

The Washington State Housing Finance Commission or WSHFC is the authority to approach when you are in need of assistance in finding affordable housing options in the state. This Washington housing authority provides help to the state’s low income, disabled, and elderly residents. The WSHFC is self-supporting and is dedicated to increasing residents’ access to and availability of affordable quality homes.

In the city of Seattle, affordable home assistance is available through the Seattle Housing Authority. Created in 1939, it is an agency focused on providing housing options to the residents of the city through various assistance programs. The agency has a long list of apartments, single and multi-family houses, and townhomes.

If you plan to reside in Spokane, housing assistance will be provided by the SHA or Spokane Housing Authority, which has been in operation since 1972. Its mission is to help residents find safe, decent, and sanitary homes that fit their income by providing, developing, and promoting “quality affordable housing options”.

Rental Assistance Washington

Washington State offers the Housing Choice Voucher or Section 8 Voucher for residents who wish to find safe, decent, and affordable private rental community homes.

Created by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development or HUD, the Housing Choice Voucher program allows Washington residents to find a home of their choice from the private rental market. There are income limits and eligibility requirements to consider, and if the resident and the chosen home adhere to these, the program is carried out. The resident will then pay only a portion of the rent (based on his income) and the remainder or the balance will be shouldered by the program.

The Section 8 Voucher Program is administered by the state’s local housing authority.

If you want to find more assistance before building your home in Washington, look for rental housing deals online. You’ll find a lot of options that may even allow you to compare amenities and check prices. You may even view photos and explore floor plans. Find that affordable housing deal now so you can start building your dream home in Washington State!