Is Tech or the City Responsible for Seattle’s Housing Crunch?
As of last week, Seattle-based tech companies DocuSign and Smartsheet went public. Both companies opened with higher stock prices than expected that will allow them to hire even more tech employees in the Seattle area.
On the tech side of it all, this is a true success story. “But it’s also part of a broader and more complicated story of a mid-sized city with working-class roots growing rapidly and leaving many behind in the process” states GeekWire.
According to GeekWire, Seattle Tech 4 Housing, an organization founded by tech workers who believe that the increase in tech companies should benefit every Seattle resident is determined to change all complications that tech companies bring to the Seattle area. One of the original founders, Zach Lubarsky, believes that newcomers drawn to Seattle for tech opportunities is part of the problem but he also believes that zoning is an even bigger problem. The organization believes in connecting the tech community with volunteer opportunities to help the city’s housing and homelessness crises. A volunteering example includes helping the Washington Low Income Housing Alliance develop an algorithm to find apartment listing ads that deny housing vouchers.
As Seattle’s tech industry continues to grow, debates on how the city can support the rapid growth continues to rage. In depth conversations on this matter continues and is always on the back of everyone’s mind as the housing market continues to rise.
To read the full GeekWire article, click here.