On June 21, the doors officially opened at Astra apartments, a big step toward making affordable housing more accessible in Renton. The celebration highlighted how credit unions can make a real difference when they come together to support their communities.
The Astra development brings 275 affordable apartment units to working individuals and families. This was made possible through a partnership between five Washington credit unions—Salal Credit Union, BECU, Sound Credit Union, Verity Credit Union, and WSECU—along with the Evergreen Impact Housing Fund (EIHF) and developer DevCo.
A Shared Commitment to Community
This project reflects the strong commitment credit unions have to community impact and financial equity.
“Credit unions are innovators and collaborators. We see this time and again,” said Ann Flannigan, VP of Public Relations at WSECU. “None of us can move the needle alone, but together, we are finding ways to make progress.”
The EIHF was launched in 2020 by the Seattle Foundation and the Washington State Housing Finance Commission. It brings together private capital, philanthropic investment, and public funding to help solve the Puget Sound region’s housing crisis.
A Proven Model for Affordable Development
This is the second EIHF-backed housing project supported by credit unions. The first was the Copper Way apartments in Spanaway, which opened in September 2024 with 256 affordable units.
Ziquora Banks, Chief Impact Strategy Officer at Verity Credit Union, shared:
“By collaborating with credit unions across the region to support the creation of stable housing, we’re helping to create the conditions where families can thrive, opportunities flourish, and communities take root.”
Innovation Through Partnership
This project shows that innovative funding models and public-private partnerships can help solve large-scale regional challenges. By pooling resources and aligning around shared values, credit unions are helping make affordable housing in Renton a reality.
