MONROE — Housing Hope is working to put a roof over the heads of people who are trying to get by on their own.
The nonprofit offers tools to those who have experienced homelessness and poverty, to help them move past the trauma and build a better future.
Housing Hope has 354 affordable homes at 20 sites throughout Snohomish County and Camano Island.
It has helped 257 families attain home ownership through a sweat-equity program in which people work to build their homes. There are six neighborhoods in the county that are built, or are being built, by teams of families.
“Each family’s journey is different,” said Bobby Thompson, the group’s housing director.
To accommodate varying needs, Housing Hope offers emergency shelter for up to 90 days, homeless transitional housing for up to two years, permanent rentals and opportunities for homeownership. It also offers services for families, including case management, adult education, child development, a teen parenting program, help finding employment and credit and homeownership counseling.
Housing Hope is now completing construction on its largest affordable-housing development in Snohomish County.
Monroe Family Village will have 47 apartments on West Main Street when it’s finished in October.
The $12 million development includes 14 apartments for people with very low incomes and 10 for those who are homeless. Residents in those units will pay up to 30 percent of their income for rent.
The other 24 apartments will be rented to those with low incomes for up to 30 percent their monthly income. They are filled on a first come, first served basis.
There are about 900 families on the waiting list to get into Housing Hope, Thompson said. It is typically about a two-year wait.
“There’s a need that developers can’t meet,” he said.
Because many of the residents have low incomes, Housing Hope gets federal subsidies to cover the remaining cost of the rent at market rate. That creates cash flow, which the nonprofit uses to pay debt, do building maintenance and put money back into its programs.
“So it’s totally self-sustaining,” Thompson said.
The Monroe apartments are being built to face an open community space with play equipment and a small sports court, said Alex Lark, Housing Hope’s philanthropy director.
The apartments are spacious and sturdy with smart features, such as easy to replace tiled carpet. They are built by the state’s green standards, so they include low-flow faucets and toilets.
“I think they’re gorgeous,” Lark said. “They respect the dignity of our families.”
The development boasts planter boxes so people can do their own gardening and two shared laundry rooms.
The community space has a classroom where people living in Housing Hope apartments can take adult education classes. Other nonprofits will also be able to use it.
The classroom also has a window so people can see what’s going on in the adjacent childcare room.
“We’ve learned this was a need from other sites we’ve built,” Thompson said.
The childcare center has a garage door so it can be opened for activities when the weather is warm.
There’s also a pantry where residents can get help with household supplies and clothing.
Once it’s completed, all Housing Hope residents in east Snohomish County can go to the Monroe site to get social services.
“We’re excited to have Housing Hope here in our community,” Monroe Mayor Geoffrey Thomas said during a recent visit to the site. “I know there’s a need.”
Amy Nile: 425-339-3192; anile@heraldnet.com. Twitter:
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