Muslim family living and renting in faith

The City of Seattle isn’t doing anything to help Muslims buy homes, at least not yet.

When recent news stories highlighted a paragraph about Seattle’s Muslim residents in the city’s extensive and much-awaited affordable housing recommendations, critics reacted and, in some cases, misreported. The city isn’t “adjusting regulations” as some have reported.

Seattle’s Office of Housing Director, Steve Walker, says he sees the city’s role as a “community convener.”

“How can we be a connector of stakeholders,” he said. “The likes of lenders, housers, non-profits, community leaders, to really scope the problem?”

Walker says it’s too early to talk about how the city would be involved in solutions. Still, the issue opens up the conversation about a real piece of the Puget Sound community. The Washington chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations estimates there are about 30,000 Muslims in the greater Seattle area.

Ryan and Win Welton are among them. On a recent weekday evening, Ryan has just come home from work at Amazon. Ryan and Win and their three kids are in the back yard of their Kirkland rental home.

Their 5-year-old twin girls and 3-year-old son ride their scooters around the back yard and patio.

Win says she does have dreams of her perfect house.

“Yes, definitely. Oh, man. Where to begin?” she said. “It would definitely have a bigger yard. And more space for a garden would be nice.”

Win and Ryan don’t drink alcohol and don’t eat pork. They go to the mosque to pray. And they don’t associate with interest, meaning they don’t get involved with loans that use interest.

Ryan says this perspective on interest is really a good way to live.

“Islamic finance benefits everyone,” he said. “The principles are made for everyone, not just Muslims, because it promotes a fair economy and a fair society that’s not controlled by debt.”

Ultimately, Ryan and Win say they’re lucky. They have a healthy family and happy kids. A house would make it to their top ten list of life improvements but they won’t really disappointed if it never happens.

“Whatever we’re doing in this world is for the next world, the hereafter,” Win said. “So I feel like, when it’s been specified, it’s telling you [that] you shouldn’t partake in interest or usury, then you just shouldn’t do it because it’s gonna affect you in the next life.”