Seed Funding Provided for Wenatchee, East Wenatchee Based Housing Trust

Serve Wenatchee Valley has received $16,600 in seed funding for the launch of the Common Ground Community Housing Trust. Serve Wenatchee operates as the fiscal sponsor of the housing trust, which will serve as a nonprofit with the goal to create permanent affordable housing in East Wenatchee and Wenatchee.

The housing trust model is a community led development of individually owned homes on community owned land, such as neighboring Chelan Valley Housing Trust and Upper Valley Mend's Share program. The Common Ground Community Housing Trust is hopeful to add more inventory with high rental rates and increasing housing costs that prices working families out of the local market.

"The purpose of community housing trusts is to increase inventory for families to be able to step into a home ownership opportunity that are low to moderate income households," said Thom Nees, executive director. "This is a proven concept nationally and internationally that offers a way for the community to come together and address the [housing] problem. It is really a community led project, as well as stakeholders that could benefit and find this meeting their need."

Many work groups are involved with the effort such as developers and realtors as well as Chelan and Douglas counties. To find out how to get involved, visit here.