Accessible homes dedicated in Moses Lake

Development built for residents with disabilities

MOSES LAKE — It took many different groups several years to fund and complete, and residents will be moving in later this month to a housing development designed specifically for low-income residents with special needs.

Officials from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Community Frameworks, the Housing Authority of Grant County and others came together Wednesday to celebrate the opening with a ribbon cutting of Northwest Estates. The 12-unit development was built north of Patton Boulevard to bring affordable housing to local residents with disabilities.

"It's an outstanding project, and we're excited that it's built," Housing Authority Executive Director John Poling said.

Poling's agency will be managing the development, funded primarily through funds from HUD's Section 811 funding for residents with disabilities, Washington State Trust Fund funds and Impact Capital funding.

The $1.4 million development comprises of six approximately 1,200-square-foot duplexes in three separate locations, with one residence in each duplex approved to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The project has been in the works for the last several years, and began construction in April. Contributors said the units are separated as a way of integrating the residents into the community.

The development is the third of its type for the Grant County Housing Authority and Polling said the target is those in need of affordable housing and who also require disability services.

Sharon Kiehn is the executive director of Grant Mental Healthcare, whose office will be providing services to the residents with disabilities. Kiehn said that affordable housing projects like the one recently completed are a great need for the Grant County area.

The project involved several complex partnerships, with many different entities contributing to the end product. The project was developed by Community Frameworks, a Spokane-based group that works with other non-profit agencies to bring affordable housing to Northwest residents. Community Frameworks Co-Executive Director Frank Carpenter said his organization doesn't own or operate housing itself, but helps pull together sometimes six to eight funding sources to make a project work.

"That's what we do," Carpenter said, "is to pull funding sources together, sometimes from an idea."

In addition to monies from HUD, funds for the project were also received through the Washington State Housing Trust fund, through help from the office of state Rep. Janea Holmquist, who serves as a ranking member of the housing committee. Groups like the Grant County Public Utility District and other local agencies also contributed to the project. But Carpenter said the real benefit of the homes will be felt by the people who live there, and who are scheduled to move in by Nov. 22.

"These are people that are going to have a home to live that hey can have dignity in, and feel good about," Carpenter said.