What is happening in Jefferson County, with the lack of affordable housing and lack of rental units, is happening elsewhere in the nation, as U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell clearly pointed out Aug. 18 during a visit to Port Townsend.

Cantwell was in town to promote a proposal to expand and reform the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit by 50 percent, which she said would allow Washington to develop about 35,215 new affordable units in the next 10 years. This could include an estimated 642 new units between Jefferson and Clallam counties. Her proposal also would promote broader income mixing in those projects and allow states more flexibility in financing projects that target extremely low-income families.

Cantwell's proposals were greeted with enthusiasm by most attending a roundtable meeting at Discovery View Retirement Apartments.

Cantwell already has lined up bipartisan support for her proposal, which she's touting as good for the economy – and the construction industry – as well as those in need of affordable housing.

What Jefferson and Clallam county officials told Cantwell is about the need to change rules on how those monies are used and more specifically, about the need for infrastructure.

And that raises the question about what's happening with the one project in rural Jefferson County that could not only create jobs but provide the much-needed infrastructure for precisely the projects Cantwell is talking about.

It's the so-called Tri-Area sewer project and it's gone almost nowhere in a hurry for the last 10 years due to lack of funding.

Jefferson County Commissioner David Sullivan, who represents District 2, which features the Tri-Area, has been working on the project for years. He knows a concern is that people in Irondale and Port Hadlock would have a hard time paying to connect. But if there is any hope of building affordable housing outside Port Townsend, that sewer system is key. It needs to be built and the people need help connecting to it.

The county owns the land for a treatment plant, owns the wetlands, has state Department of Health approval and the project is compliant with the Growth Management Act. The project is in its final design and “shovel ready,” Sullivan told the Leader last month.

All Jefferson County needs is $23 million to do the next two phases and when that happens, the Tri-Area would be in good shape to actually accommodate the multi-family housing that that area needs.

The infrastructure also would help businesses expand and provide jobs.

Sewers and water systems are not sexy, but they are vital for housing projects.

Thank you, Sen. Cantwell for carrying the torch on the nationwide crisis in affordable housing.

Next up, please consider funding for some of the boring projects like the Tri-Area sewer and assistance in helping low-income people connecting to them.

It would be what they call a win-win-win – for the people, the economy and the environment.

– Allison Arthur