Section 3 – Contracting with Residents
For Residents
Do you have a job skill? You could find a job with a company doing work for the King County Housing Authority. When a KCHA vendor needs to hire additional staff or workers for a KCHA project, that company is required, to the greatest extent possible, to hire low- and very low-income residents, particularly those who are recipients of government assistance for housing. This requirement, called Section 3, was enacted by HUD in 1968 to give residents opportunities for upward mobility.
If you would like KCHA vendors to know about your job skills and readiness to work, we can help. Please contact Michael DeLaney at 206-574-1259 or michaeld@kcha.org to learn more about the Section 3 program.
There is no guarantee of employment, and KCHA cannot force a business to hire or contract any specific person or company not qualified to perform the needed job task.
For Businesses
If you've been awarded a KCHA contract and need to hire people for the project, at least 30 percent of all new hires should be Section 3 qualified persons.
When employment or contracting opportunities are generated because a covered project or activity requires additional employees or additional contracts, Section 3 is intended to ensure that preference is given to low- and very low-income persons or business concerns residing in the community where the project is located.
Housing Authority staff work with local non-profits to find qualified Section 3 persons for KCHA projects. Depending on the location of the project, please contact the following staff to assist you in your hiring needs.
For projects in north or east King County (Shoreline, Bellevue, Kirkland, Redmond): Amy Moe. 206-574-1147 or amym@kcha.org Or Brian Bailey. 206-574-1286 or brianb@kcha.org
For projects in the White Center area: Tracie Friedman. 206-574-1161 or tracief@kcha.org
For projects in south central King County (Kent, Renton): Rosie Taylor. 206-574-1358 or rosiet@kcha.org
For projects in south and west King County (Federal Way, Auburn, Des Moines): Steve Fisher. 253-333-1737 or stevef@kcha.org
For all consultant contracts: Rickie Robinson. 206-574-1352 or rickier@kcha.org
If you're planning to submit a response to a KCHA request for proposals (RFP) or request for qualifications (RFQ), please remember that your company could qualify as a Section 3 business.
Section 3 businesses are awarded points when their responses to RFPs and RFQs are evaluated. In addition, a list of Section 3 businesses will be made available to KCHA contractors and/or KCHA staff upon request.
To qualify as a Section 3 business, your company must meet one of the four following criteria:
- 51 percent or more of your business is owned by Section 3 persons
- 30 percent or more of your permanent, full-time employees are Section 3 persons
- Your business participates in a local HUD Youthbuild program
- Your business subcontracts 25 percent or more of the contract's value to Section 3 businesses (see 1 & 2 above)
If you think your business qualifies, please contact Michael DeLaney at 206-574-1259 or michaeld@kcha.org to get on the Section 3 business list.