Bellwetherhousing.org

Eligibility and qualifications

To be eligible to live in Bellwether housing, all applicants must meet certain income and other criteria based on the funding restrictions for the property and Bellwether’s additional criteria. The following summarizes Bellwether’s standard resident qualification criteria. Bellwether has different screening criteria for our subsidized units filled through our waiting lists.

• At least one member of the household must be 18 years of age or legally emancipated with proof of emancipation.  Some Bellwether properties serving seniors are restricted by age.
• All apartments have a maximum income limit. Therefore, all sources of income must be disclosed and verifiable for all household members.
• Applicant household income must be at least 2.5 times the rent per month, OR applicants must have accessible financial assets to cover the gap for the length of the lease.
• Ability to document at least 30 days of verifiable employment. Bellwether has in-lieu-of criteria; please ask for details.

RENTAL HISTORY

• Past twelve (12) months verifiable residential rental history. Rental history can be a room rental or with roommates as long as the applicant paid rent directly to the landlord and it can be verified. Paying rent to friends or relatives is not considered rental history. Bellwether has in-lieu-of criteria; please ask for details.
• No prior evictions or unlawful detainers in the past five (5) years and no evictions from Bellwether ever.
• Outstanding debt owed to any landlord must not exceed $500 and must have a current and verifiable payment plan in place.
• No current 3-Day Notices to Vacate or 10-Day Notice to Comply or Vacate for monetary defaults.
• No more than two (2) legal notices in any twelve (12) month period for any member of applicant household.
• Poor resident history reported by landlord, even if a legal notice was not issued, is grounds for denial.

Note: No victim/survivor of domestic violence will be denied housing based solely on their status as a victim of domestic violence.

PETS

Pets are accepted at some Bellwether properties:

• Only cats are accepted at Graham/Terry, Sterling Court and Victorian Row.
• Dogs (75 lb. limit) and cats are accepted at Bellevue/Olive, Cambridge, Casa Pacifica, Genesee, Gilmore, John Winthrop, Mercer Court, Meridian Manor, Olive Tower, Oregon, Rose Street, Security House, Stewart Court, Sunset House, Tate Mason House and Vine Court.

Approval for certain other small household animals may be requested in writing. Bellwether limits the number of pets to two (2) per apartment. Each pet must be accompanied by a $300 refundable deposit, proof of inoculations, proof of spay/neutering and a current license. Resident must agree to and follow the Bellwether Pet Policy.

Note: Service and companion animals are not considered pets. They are accepted at all properties and require a Reasonable Accommodation Request involving verification.

STUDENTS

Applicant households where all members are full-time students are eligible at Annapolis, Cambridge, John Winthrop, Kingway, Meridian Manor, Olive Tower, Oregon and Vine Court. They are also eligible for certain units at Adams.

Applicant households for all other Bellwether properties (not listed above) where all members are full-time students must meet one of the following exceptions:

• Married and filing a joint federal tax return with spouse
• Single parent with a minor child and neither are dependants of a third party
• Receiving benefits under Title IV of the Social Security Act (e.g., TANF)
• Enrolled in a job training program funded by State or Local government
• Previously under the care of a state foster care system.

FEES AND DEPOSIT SCHEDULE

Screening Fee is non-refundable, payable by Money Order, Cashier’s Check, or Personal Check; no cash accepted. $30.00 for each adult applicant and $10.00 for each child ages 14-17 years old.

Deposit payable by Money Order or Cashier’s Check only, no cash or personal checks accepted, is due within three (3) business days following notification of an approved rental application. A cancellation fee equal to the deposit will be charged should you decide not to move into the unit. The amount of deposit depends on unit size as follows:

First Month’s rent due at lease signing, payable by Money Order or Cashier’s Check only, no cash or personal checks accepted.

Waiting list information for extremely low income households

Bellwether manages subsidized low-income housing units at several properties. Subsidized units are available through a waiting list process. These lists are long and waiting times are expected to be months or even years. A completed Pre-Application is required to be added to a waiting list.
Upon receipt of a Pre-Application, Bellwether will ensure basic criteria requirements are met prior to adding households to the waiting list. The pre-applicants will receive a letter within four weeks notifying they have been added to the list or the reason for denial. Periodically, pre-applicants will receive a letter requesting updated contact information. Letters must be returned within 10 days to remain active on the waiting list. Bellwether does not disclose a household’s position on the waiting list. There is no need to contact the property or administrative offices regarding status on the waiting list, only to update contact information.

We have open waiting lists at the following properties:

1. Judkins Park, 1123 23rd Avenue S, Seattle, WA 98144.  Two- and three-bedroom units that require one household member to be HIV positive and one household member has to have a disability (can be the same person).  Household income must be at or below 30% area median income.  Occupancy is 2 – 5 people in a two-bedroom unit and 4 – 7 people in a three-bedroom unit.
2. Meridian Manor, 10345 Meridian Avenue N, Seattle, WA 98133.  HUD-subsidized one-bedroom units that require one adult household member to be 62 years or older. Household income must be at or below 80% area median income. Households with incomes at or below 30% of the Area Median Income are prioritized. Maximum occupancy is 3 people.
3. Sunset House, 2519 1^st Avenue, Seattle, WA 98121.  HUD-subsidized studio and one-bedroom units that require one adult household member to be 62 years old or older or a member of any age with a disability.  Households with incomes at or below 30% of the Area Median Income are prioritized.  Household income must be at or below 50% of Area Median Income.  Maximum occupancy is 3 people. 

Contact the Resident Manager at the building or our Leasing Office (206-622-2893) to request a Pre-Application.  Completed Pre-Applications should be mailed to the building for which you are applying. 

What to bring when you apply

• Completed Airfactz screening application form
• Picture ID for all adults (government issued)
• Social security number, if issued, for all household members
• $30.00 screening fee for each adult applicant – check or money order to “Airfactz”
• $10 screening fee for each child age 14-17 yrs old – check or money order to “Bellwether”
• Most recent paystubs for all jobs
• Fax number for HR or Payroll (call your employer to ask who processes employment verifications)
• Addresses for all the places you have lived in the past 3 years and the landlord’s contact information written on application form
• Social Security award letter or other benefit information, if applicable
• Rental subsidy award letter, if applicable
• Financial aid award letter and tuition statement, if applicable