Impact · Case studies · Institutions
In the United States, the support provided by Elos helped to break the deadlock on social housing for 120 families.
Lynnwood, Washington · how genuine listening and co-creation with the community led the city council to approve, by 6 votes to 1, the zoning plan that paved the way for the regeneration of two housing estates.
6 × 1
votes by the Lynnwood council in favour of the new zoning plan, following a unanimous rejection in 2021
Lynnwood Town Council · Nov 2023
120
Families will have access to affordable housing as part of the two-phase regeneration project
HASCO · 2026
+60
local stakeholders involved throughout the process
Instituto Elos
The impasse · 2021
HASCO needed to renovate Timberglen and Pinewood, in one of the most expensive regions in the United States. But in 2021, in a neighbouring estate, the local council had unanimously rejected a similar application. Social housing there had become a battleground.
New Year’s Eve · end of 2022
Instead of repeating the same approach as before, HASCO approached Instituto Elos. Elos didn’t arrive with a ready-made plan; it arrived with an invitation: what can we dream of together?
Listening · early 2023
The stakeholder mapping exercise brought together residents, neighbours, local organisations, public authorities and businesses, with each group’s interests and concerns represented on the same panel. It was from this that it became clear who needed to be heard.
More than 20 meetings with over 65 people during eight days in the field, visiting the neighbourhood organisations that were already established there, such as the Latino Educational Training Institute.
An ever-wider range of consultation forums, with space also set aside for those opposed to the project. HASCO’s chief executive sat down with residents of Timberglen and Pinewood to listen to their concerns and explain the project.
the shared dream · 2023 and 2024
At the community meeting in September 2023, people’s requests were written down by hand and displayed for everyone to see: natural beauty, green spaces, walkability, more communal spaces, a variety of housing options and services in various languages.
The Oasis Experience, the Elos Oasis Game, taking place in the neighbourhood sports hall. Residents, experts and partners working together to shape the future of the area, and incorporating the community’s priorities into the project plans.
the result · Nov 2023
At the public hearing held by Lynnwood City Council, the council approved the new zoning plan by 6 votes to 1, following its unanimous rejection two years earlier.
The demolition is now complete and the project has made the headlines in Seattle’s business press. On the corner of 200th Street, the planning permission sign already hints at what is to come.
What Elos carried out: stakeholder mapping, field research, the Oasis Experience and mentoring for HASCO’s management, including the formation of an internal leadership group.
What HASCO and the community achieved: the trust that had been lacking to approve the zoning plan, and a new way of making decisions that continued to work after the vote.
The challenge: when social housing becomes a battlefield
The Housing Authority of Snohomish County (HASCO) operates in one of the most expensive regions in the United States, where access to housing is a growing crisis. To continue supporting low-income families, it needed to renovate and expand two housing estates in Lynnwood, on the outskirts of Seattle: Timberglen and Pinewood.
The plan was to demolish the old buildings and merge the two plots into a new complex, thereby doubling the service capacity. To do this, approval was needed for a change to the local zoning regulations, the Comprehensive Plan.
The town’s recent history served as a warning. In 2021, HASCO had attempted a similar process at Whispering Pines, another housing estate, and the rezoning proposal was unanimously rejected by the town council following strong opposition from local residents and negative press coverage. The episode left its mark: HASCO’s reputation was tarnished and the community’s trust was undermined.
The turning point: genuine listening and co-creation
Rather than repeating the previous approach, HASCO decided to invest in a new way of engaging with stakeholders. In 2022, it called on Instituto Elos to facilitate a process of listening, coordination and joint development with all those involved.
Elos didn’t arrive with a ready-made plan. It arrived with an invitation: what can we dream of together?
The approach was based on the Elos Methodology, which is founded on a key principle. In a deadlock such as this, what is usually lacking is dialogue, a sense of belonging and collaboration. The aim was to create a safe space for people to express their fears, expectations and dreams, and to build on that a shared vision for the future.
The Elos Methodology in action: from assessment to a shared vision
The project was organised into interconnected stages, combining technical rigour with sensitivity. It began with the mapping and analysis of the stakeholders: residents, neighbours, local organisations, public authorities and businesses, taking into account the interests, influence and concerns of each.
This was followed by active listening and outreach. There were more than 20 meetings with over 65 people during eight days in the field, with online sessions to reach those who were unable to attend in person. HASCO’s executive director, Duane Leonard, took part in a face-to-face discussion with residents of Timberglen and Pinewood, listening to their concerns and explaining the project.
Based on the feedback gathered, Elos facilitated the ‘Oasis Experience’ and the ‘Oasis Game’, a social technology that invites the community to dream and plan together. Residents, experts and partners came together to map out the neighbourhood’s future, identifying priorities and solutions.
Alongside this came a strengthening of governance: mentoring for the executive director and the technical team, and the formation of the HASCO Cohesion Leadership Team, an internal group of leaders who undertook a journey towards cohesion and defined the organisation’s six values, starting with empathetic listening.
The results: trust transformed into public policy
In November 2023, Lynnwood City Council approved the zoning change by 6 votes to 1. The contrast with the unanimous vote against the previous proposal speaks volumes about what changed along the way, and paved the way for the construction of new housing units for families and older people.
The new development is called 200th Street Apartments, and the city has already nicknamed it ‘The Bow Tie’. The demolition of the old buildings has been completed, and construction is progressing with funding from state and local sources.
The legacy extended from the site to the organisation. The HASCO Cohesion Leadership Team remained active after the vote, fostering collaboration across departments, and in 2024 a new ‘Oasis Experience’ at Millwood Estates brought together staff and residents to build a park and refurbish the sports court. For HASCO, the way decisions are made has also changed: rather than looking solely at the figures, the focus has shifted to the impact of decisions on people’s lives.
And the transition for the long-standing residents was handled with care, because, at the end of the day, the project is about people.
Those who have experienced it tell their stories
Working with the Elos team has been a wonderful experience. They’ve helped me look at problems from a different perspective. Where I saw problems, they saw opportunities. I work a lot with data and figures, and it’s easy to lose sight of the ultimate goal; when I refocused on the impact that decisions can have on people, the path became much clearer.
Duane Leonard
Executive Director of the Housing Authority of Snohomish County (HASCO)
No one had predicted a 6-to-1 result. It’s incredibly exciting. Now we’ll have the chance to build something truly beautiful.
Sarah Max
Head of Internal Legal Affairs at HASCO
In the media
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