Up to 28 homes for low-income families planned in Pierce County. Here’s where
The South Sound Housing Affordability Partners (SSHA³P) voted to commit $966,000 to support the future construction of up to 28 homes in Frederickson area for families earning below 80% of the average median income, according to the Pierce County news release.
Homes will be built on 4.22 acres at 5804 200th St. E. in on land that was purchased by the Pierce County Community Development Corporation last year. The median household income in Pierce County was $98,2000 in 2023, according to Pierce County.
The move marks the first public investment from SSHA³P to build more affordable housing in Pierce County, the county said. Funding comes from several local governments, including Pierce County and the cities of Auburn, Fife and Sumner. Construction is expected to start in 2027 after a housing developer is chosen later this year. Home sales are expected to take place in fall 2027 through 2029, according to a SSHA³P presentation in May.
SSHA³P (pronounced “shape”) is a collaboration between the cities and towns of Auburn, DuPont, Edgewood, Fife, Fircrest, Gig Harbor, Lakewood, Milton, Puyallup, Sumner, Steilacoom, Tacoma and University Place, in addition to Pierce County and the Puyallup Tribe of Indians “to create and preserve affordable, attainable and accessible housing,” according to its website.
In 2024 and 2025 Pierce County contributed $483,000 to the project, Fife contributed $263,000, Sumner contributed $190,000 and Auburn contributed $30,000, according to Pierce County. All funds allocated to the SSHA³P Capital Fund are generated via the Affordable and Supportive Housing Sales and Use Tax Credit under RCW 82.14.540.
“Affordable housing isn’t just a regional issue — it’s a local concern driven by necessity,” said Auburn mayor Nancy Backus in a county news release. “In Auburn, like so many communities across Pierce and South King counties, families are being priced out of the neighborhoods they’ve long called home. This investment is proof that when we work together, we can build and invest in a future where everyone has the opportunity to live and thrive right here in the South Sound.”
Fife mayor Kim Roscoe said in the release that this first investment by the SSHA³P Housing Capital Fund is the result of years of collaboration and planning.
“It reflects our regional commitment to addressing the housing affordability crisis and sets the stage for future projects that benefit the residents of all SSHA³P member cities,” she said.
