(The Center Square) – Even with the group under state and federal investigation, the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle has secured another round of funding for affordable housing.
The Washington Department of Commerce recently awarded tens of millions to dozens of organizations for affordable housing projects, and ULMS, despite being under state and federal investigation, received another $1.47 million for preservation of 36 units.
The concerns regarding ULMS center around Washington state’s Community Reinvestment Program, a race-based program that was created to support homeownership for minorities by providing grants and funding to programs that assist low-income households, and to support minority owned business development.
The allegations are focused on alleged self-dealing within the Tacoma Urban League and the Seattle Metropolitan Urban League, organizations which have received millions for race-based programs.
The funds are administered by the Washington Department of Commerce and initially amounted to $200 million in taxpayer funds to lift communities “disproportionately harmed by the war on drugs” and housing discrimination of the past. It is similar to the race-based Covenant Homeownership Program, which The Center Square h as also written about.
Corey Orvold, a Tacoma real-estate broker turned whistleblower first exposed alleged self-dealing within the Tacoma Urban League.
“I volunteered with the Tacoma Urban League for eight-and-a-half years, and my role was everything housing. So, if a community member needed assistance, they’d call me with that. When Desiree Wilkins Finch became the new CEO, things started to change. And I saw the decline of an organization I deeply cared about.”
As reported by The Center Square, Tacoma Urban League placed CEO Desireé Wilkins-Finch on paid administrative leave last November and launched an investigation into complaints of alleged questionable spending of taxpayer dollars.
Orvold told The Center Square she resigned her TUL position after learning of the alleged self-dealing.
“Once resigning, it just opened the door to start researching. And when I started researching, that’s when I started uncovering just self-dealing, and self-enrichment. I’ll help my friends. I’ll help my family. But the rest of the community was SOL. And, you know, it’s been heartbreaking to see. Even a year later we’re still picking up the pieces,” Orvold said.
Funds awarded
The 2026 Housing Preservation Program awards distributed $39.5 million across 47 multifamily affordable housing awards. According to Washington Commerce, the grants preserve 1,429 multifamily units by funding major building improvements and system replacements.
The Center Square reached out to the Washington Department of Commerce to question why ULMS is continuing to receive taxpayer funds for projects, even while they are under state and federal investigation for potential misappropriation of taxpayer funds.
“The Housing Preservation Program award is tied to a specific property, not to the organization as a whole,” wrote Rachel Havercroft, digital content manager at Commerce via email.
“In this case, the Urban League Village Apartments at Colman School has already been a part of the state Housing Trust Fund since 2008, and the funding is restricted to preserving the property, per Chapter 43.185A RCW. The funds cannot be used for the organization’s general operation or any purpose unrelated to eligible project costs for the property. Commerce monitors the contract and funding to ensure it maintains compliance with program requirements,” wrote Havercroft.
Orvold told TCS she recently met with the FBI and provided details to U.S. Housing and Urban Development. Both agencies are investigating ULMS based on what she uncovered.
“I met with the FBI, and I provided some information to HUD, and the Federal Trade Commission, and other agencies. And when I spoke with the FBI agent, he said that any federal agency that this touches, [they’re] going to loop them in. And I said that you basically need the whole alphabet because there’s so much corruption. And this was little old me who was able to use my computer at my house and uncover this. I mean, I can only imagine the access that the FBI has.”
Orvold said she’s frustrated that it has taken so long to get the attention needed to hold people accountable, but is also encouraged federal officials are involved.
Meanwhile, State Attorney General Nick Brown’s office has been reviewing claims The Center Square has raised and the Department of Commerce has faced pressure to tighten oversight of NGO self-dealing.
“I want to believe that Attorney General Brown is going to do the right thing, but I think that the evidence that I was able to gather should have been enough. Why is it that charges have not been filed? I don’t even understand how that takes so long,” said Orvold.
The Center Square reached out to Brown’s office to inquire if Commerce consults with the attorney general’s office about organizations that are under investigation before deciding if they should be provided with further grant awards.
“Any legal advice to client agencies is privileged on our end. Questions of that nature should go to Commerce,” wrote Mike Faulk at the attorney general’s office via email.