How a Veteran Found Affordable Housing Near Seattle After Years of Displacement

Born and raised in Washington state's Puget Sound region, Dan struggled to find a lasting home in his community. A veteran, Dan experienced homelessness and was displaced twice by eminent domain, forcing him to repeatedly start over. Finding a home at Redondo Heights 10 years ago meant he could finally stay grounded in his community.

But for Dan and many households across the high-cost Puget Sound region, stability isn't guaranteed once housing is secured. Affordability is rarely a single-variable problem. In South King County, groceries alone cost roughly 9% more than the national average, further burdening residents already struggling with housing costs.

Blue Ridge Cascade redeveloped Redondo Heights with those pressures in mind. Supported by financing from Enterprise Community Loan Fund, housing credit investments, and preservation equity, the transit-oriented redevelopment preserved its 132 existing affordable homes, protecting them from conversion to market-rate units; added 202 more; and locked in long-term affordability for all of them.

The community also offers The Market at Redondo Heights, an innovative, market-style food bank. In its first six months alone, it served more than 2,000 households from Redondo Heights and the broader community.

"Affordable housing, access to transportation, and food insecurity are top needs in our community," said Kirsten York, CEO of Multi-Service Center, which operates The Market. "[This] is a perfect example of smart community planning and development." At Redondo Heights, resources that help residents manage everyday expenses are paired with long-term affordability, helping people remain connected to the communities they've built their lives around.

For our latest Social Return on Investment Report, we spoke with Dan about his journey to Redondo Heights and what it means to stay rooted in the community he's long called home.

How did you end up at Redondo Heights?

When I finished my time with the Navy after Vietnam, I thought I was going home, but I didn't have one to go back to. My parents had divorced and the house was up for sale. I wound up in Burien, Washington, for eight years or so - until eminent domain forced me out. After that, I was on the street for a few years. I found my last place in Des Moines, Washington, but faced another round of eminent domain.

I packed what I had, started looking, and found Redondo after about two months. Apartments weren't just scarce, they were basically unavailable.

You've been settled here for a decade. Has that stability made a difference?

I'm 72, and I've had health issues. Sometimes I need a walker. So having a place where I know the layout, where I can keep my routines - that matters. I love to cook here. I love to cut stones, too. When I was homeless, I kept busy by studying at the Gemological Institute of America, then the Geological Association of Great Britain. I'm a graduate gemologist, now - I've got a six-wheel unit and a faceting machine I use for my art. This home helps me stay targeted, focused, and self-disciplined. If I lose that self-discipline, I'll be in the VA hospital. So, my home is how I stay healthy.

There's a food pantry on site. What does that resource offer?

I haven't used it myself yet, but I was thinking of volunteering. I was in the ministry - you don't leave that. Matthew: 25, that's my mission: feeding the hungry, helping people through transitions. So, I think it's good that it's here.

What do you enjoy most about this area?

The fishing. I'm from the south Puget Sound region, so I've been fishing here since I was a wee lad. Now I'm right in the middle of everything: Angle Lake to the north, Steel Lake to the south, three or four smaller lakes in between. I've caught trout up to six pounds. I like to smoke them, salmon, too - that's good eating.

Have you gotten close with any neighbors?

You've got people from all over the world living in this community. I like to sit on the balcony and say good morning. If they know someone cares, they'll have a better day. That's all I want to do: let them know I care.

What does "home" mean to you?

Home should wrap around you like a nice, warm, beaver skin blanket. It's how I feel at Redondo Heights. Look around - this place, it's home.