Snohomish County is partnering with Senior Services of Snohomish County to provide 40 affordable housing units to seniors, veterans and their families.

County Executive Aaron Reardon signed an ordinance Monday approving a loan guarantee for Senior Services of Snohomish County. The loan guarantee will allow Senior Services to purchase and renovate a 40-unit complex named Tall Firs, located at 23000 55th Ave. W, Mountlake Terrace.

“Everybody should have a safe place to live, and these additional housing units will provide that,” Reardon said. “We must continue to find new housing opportunities throughout Snohomish County for those most in need.”

The ordinance was passed last week by the County Council. Council Chairman Dave Gossett was present for the signing.

“I’m excited to help provide this needed senior and veteran housing,” Gossett said. “This is a great example of how working together we can increase low-income housing at no cost to the taxpayer.”

The Tall Firs project will ultimately provide transitional housing for homeless veterans as well as permanent housing for low-income households up to 80 percent of the area’s median income. The rehabilitation work will include repairing exterior siding and roofing as well as window and floor replacement.

Compass Center, a Seattle-based veteran’s services organization, will provide key support services for the 16 transitional housing units available to homeless veterans.

The financing for this project will initially include $2.85 million in tax-exempt bonds, $1 million from the state’s Land Acquisition Program. Senior Services is seeking additional funding through a federal program that provides both capital and service dollars in support of assisting veterans.

For more information on this project, contact Dean Weitenhagen, supervisor of the county’s Office of Housing, Homelessness & Community Development, at 425-388-3267