The Seattle group is growing an answer for low-income faculty college students who’re banned from housing underneath tax law

Some community college students struggle to pay for an apartment. This is particularly difficult because they are often excluded from government-subsidized housing construction. Cities, including Seattle and Tacoma, have found some solutions for college students at risk of homelessness.

Over the past 30 years, much of the country’s affordable housing stock has been built using federal tax credits that give investors tax breaks in return for low rents. But a provision in the low-income tax credit that was part of the 1986 Tax Reform Act specifically prohibited most college students from living in low-income units.

Although there are some exemptions, including for single parents attending school, people who are homeless or nearly homeless are not exempt from the college student ban. Dan Wise of Catholic Housing Services in Seattle says this is a real problem for students who live on the fringes.

“So they try to get through their program of staying in a shelter or in their car,” said Wise.

To address this issue, the city of Seattle and nonprofits like Catholic Housing Services have come up with a plan: Build homes that don’t rely on the federal tax credit program and designate them for needy community college students.

The first example of this is on a leafy street in Seattle’s Greenwood neighborhood. It’s a four-story apartment complex that will open in about 18 months. Wise is very pleased that the project is underway.

“From where it is, it’s the perfect location. It’s close to two community colleges, has great public transportation, and is across from the library, ”said Wise.

Mayor Jenny Durkan said the project is an example of the strategic approach Seattle is taking to addressing the homeland crisis.

“We meet providers and the community where they are. This is a perfect example of this, ”she told reporters who had gathered for a press conference at Alice Ball Park across from the apartment complex.

Seattle isn’t the first city to address the housing problem for low-income community college students. For several years, the Tacoma Housing Authority has worked with Tacoma Community College to provide rental vouchers to students at risk of homelessness.