Chief Seattle Club — ʔálʔal (“Home”)
Location: Seattle, Washington
Contact: Derrick Belgarde, Chief Executive Officer | derrick@chiefseattleclub.org | (206) 965-1290
Overview
The ʔálʔal (“Home” in Lushootseed) development is a landmark urban Native housing project developed by Chief Seattle Club in Seattle’s Pioneer Square neighborhood. Conceived as a culturally grounded response to Native homelessness in King County, the project was designed to provide permanent supportive housing and community-centered services for Native residents experiencing homelessness and housing instability. The project was developed and is managed by Chief Seattle Club, a Native-led human services organization serving urban Native communities since 1970. The building was designed by Jones & Jones Architects and constructed by Walsh Construction, with development support from Beacon Development Group. Opened in 2022, ʔálʔal was envisioned as more than housing—it was created as a culturally affirming “sacred space” where Native residents can access housing, healthcare, gathering spaces, and supportive services in one location.
Project Features
Nine-story, approximately 53,000-square-foot mixed-use development located in Seattle’s Pioneer Square neighborhood.
Includes 80 affordable studio apartments, with units prioritized for households earning at or below 30% Area Median Income (AMI).
Sixty units are designated for individuals experiencing homelessness, and 10 units are reserved for veterans through VASH housing assistance.
Designed specifically to support Native residents through Indigenous-informed architecture, artwork, and culturally grounded community spaces.
Features include shared gathering spaces on every residential floor, private meeting rooms for case management and services, and community-oriented design elements intended to reduce social isolation among formerly unhoused residents.
Ground-floor amenities include a Native art gallery and café space supporting vocational rehabilitation and Native entrepreneurship initiatives.
The building also houses a primary care clinic operated by Seattle Indian Health Board, providing healthcare and pharmacy services for residents and the broader Native community.
Funding Sources
The ʔálʔal project was financed through a layered capital stack totaling approximately $33.6 million. Funding sources included:
9% Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) equity
City of Seattle funding
King County funding
Washington State Housing Trust Fund
Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) funding
Seattle Equitable Development Initiative funding
Building Communities Fund support
Private philanthropic contributions and a broader capital campaign led by Chief Seattle Club.