Social Housing
—Board stipend increases—
—Growing social housing organization—
Report on July 17, 2025 Seattle Social Housing board meeting. By Landon Halverson (September 4, 2025)
July’s Seattle Social Housing Board meeting covered hiring professionals — with help from a $2 million city loan. The board approved increasing their stipends to $1,000.00 per meeting for top positions. The investigation into CEO Roberto Jiménez’ alleged behavior took some twists.
Seattle’s Social Housing’s (SSH) website has been down since at least August 21st. Their site has also vanished from word searches.
Jesse A. James wanted to log onto the Board’s published meeting time for that day and was unable. James reached out to board Chair Tom Barnard 15 minutes before the published meeting time, and has been ghosted since. The board held their August meeting, however, there is still no website, or any record of the meeting.
Much of the focus at the July SSH Board meeting veered into the realm of internal politics and how to grow the operation.
Chair Barnard shared that as the agency transitions from a “working board” to an oversight-oriented model, the organization is laying the groundwork for a professional staff to replace much of the board in performing day-to-day functions. To support this shift, the board unanimously approved a $2 million loan from City of Seattle, aimed at funding nine new key positions for internal development.
There was discussion regarding who would be in charge of leading the hiring. Barnard mentioned a Compensation Consultant would work in tandem with others to help hire these positions.
It was discovered that a board stipend increase had already been voted on as part of the broader budget approval — something that not all members realized at the time of voting.
After raising the issue, the board reopened discussion on the matter.
The current stipend structure — $200, $250, or $300 — is inadequate for some board members.
Barnard said there is “urgency around this issue”, as it involves board members, “facing precarity and oppression”.
Board Secretary Katie LeBrett said she currently lives in her car with a cat; sharing how she has been in this situation since joining the board. “I don’t care about the stipend” she said, “but let’s incentivize participation.” LeBrett urged members to understand why she has not been participating as much, “Because I had to travel to North Dakota to take care of my dad.” She stressed, “I have to pay for my cat, to make sure he’s good. I don’t have any money and I’ll literally use my stipend on gas and my cat. That’s it. I don’t use it [stipend] on me, it goes towards my fur baby.”
Barnard added how others on the board are facing significant medical bills that impact their ability to fully participate.
A proposal was introduced to increase the stipends to $600, $800, and $1,000, respectively, to address cost of living issues.
During the discussion, board members emphasized that this is not pay-for-performance or a salary increase, but a means of allowing more equitable participation, incentives for people from all walks of life to serve without being financially penalized.
The stipend increase was approved unanimously, but with Barnard, LeBrett, and Baldwin, abstaining from the final vote — to avoid any conflict of interest. Notably, these three were among the most vocal supporters of the increase and amongst those most in a position to gain.
The board agreed that the stipends would be reviewed periodically.
The Real Estate Committee reported progress on Project X, a potential property for development. Julie Howe noted ongoing meetings with consultants and a sense of growing feasibility about the property itself; though there are lingering questions about debt and financial equity that the board will review in the coming months as loans and other financial pieces are approved.
The Communications Committee, comprising Barnard, LeBrett, Baldwin, and Jiménez, met with Pyramid, a media consulting firm, to refine messaging and “audience engagement" strategies to promote social housing. Jiménez said Pyramid cost, “a lot.” According to the Seattle Times, SSH, "also recently agreed to pay a communications firm $45,000 for three months of work."
(Since SSH’s website has vanished, it’s currently impossible to find any documents with finances.)
Tom noted that most communications, including social media, will eventually be managed in-house as part of the transition. Gabriel Mendoza is the new social media manager. Baldwin said Mendoza’s compensation is $6,000 per month.
SSH is currently “locked out” of its social media accounts and is working to get them back.
The internal investigation into allegations against CEO Roberto Jiménez concerning abuse and racism yet again dominated the board's time.
The allegations are from Wylie Duffy, who served as board Chair, and Cliff Cawthon, who served as Treasurer. These two had also resigned in protest. At the June meeting, the board had voted to spend $64k on an investigator consultant.
This consultant subsequently withdrew stating, “they were not the best fit” to lead the investigation.
A new plan was then proposed: board members, alongside SSH legal counsel, would begin identifying a replacement investigator — but even this quickly became mired in debate about the hiring process.
The issue of racial equity entered the conversation. Barnard noted that having two white men making the final decision on hiring an investigator could be seen as problematic, further justifying a broader decision-making process.
As time went on, Barnard noted that a special meeting could be called regarding the issue.
The board eventually amended the agenda to authorize Jiménez to sign an agreement with the City of Seattle for the previously approved $2 million loan. That motion passed unanimously, with board members expressing optimism and excitement.
The meeting was adjourned by Chair Barnard after concluding discussion of other business — marking the end of a long meeting defined by pay increases for board members, the acceptance of a $2 million loan from the city to grow staff, and no progress on an internal investigation.
Photo: Hulya Ozkok for Alamy Images