Marilyn’s Story: A Call to Protect Our Seniors

I first met Marilyn when she came to City Council to share her story. At 82, she’s lived in Washington for 35 years — the last eight in the only independent low-income senior housing facility in Woodinville. It’s the perfect place for her, close to a warm-water pool that helps with her disability and near everything she needs to live independently. But now, she’s afraid she won’t be able to afford it much longer.

Listen to Marilyn’s story — 82 years old, a retired teacher, and a longtime Woodinville resident. Despite working hard all her life, she’s now facing the fear of being priced out of her home.

Despite working as a teacher and living on Social Security, the rising rents — tied to the area median income in King County — are outpacing her fixed income. Marilyn’s story is one of many. Seniors throughout Woodinville are being priced out of the very community they helped build.

Marilyn’s message is clear: Affordable housing isn’t a threat to our town — it’s a lifeline for our neighbors. Michelle Evans is listening. She’s exploring ways to use underused public land to develop affordable housing for seniors like Marilyn. But not everyone supports this. Some are spreading fear and misinformation, claiming that affordable housing will harm our community.

But as Marilyn said, seniors like her are not outsiders. They are our teachers, our friends, our longtime neighbors. They deserve to stay here, in the place they call home.

Watch Marilyn’s powerful message and ask yourself: What kind of community do we want to be? One that stands by its seniors, or one that turns its back?