Spokane-based nonprofit Waters Meet Foundation has taken the initial steps to bring a pilot project serving individuals transitioning out of homelessness to the West Hills neighborhood.

As envisioned, the New Roots Tiny Home Village will build 30 tiny homes, two community spaces, and three restroom facilities on a pair of parcels just off Sunset Boulevard, located at 3004 W. Eighth, that are owned by the foundation’s subsidiary, Sunset Health LLC.

Waters Meet Foundation, formerly Empire Health Foundation, filed a State Environmental Policy Act checklist with the city of Spokane in September. The goal is to move the residential structures onto the property in early 2026, pending approvals, says the foundation's vice president of programs, Leroy Eadie.

“Our goal was to have everything up and running before snow hits,” he says, adding that with the SEPA process, they are prepared for a possible start in January or February.

The tiny home village will house approximately 30 residents along with two to three staff members, according to permit information filed with the city.

The foundation is using $800,000 in unspent funds from a Washington State Department of Commerce grant, Eadie says. 

The foundation works closely with Commerce and the city of Spokane on the Encampment Resolution Program, which was initially designed to address homeless encampments on Washington State Department of Transportation rights-of-way, he adds. According to the foundation's website, Opioid Settlement Funds will support the operating expenses of the village.

The residential structures have already been purchased, including 15 pallet shelters for $15,000 each from Everett, Washington-based company Pallet Shelter, which is a trade name for Pallet PBC dba Pallet Inc. Additionally, purchases have been made for three restroom units at $50,000 each; two community buildings priced at $48,500 each; and 15 volunteer pre-built shelters from Seattle-based Low Income Housing Institute.

The 70-square-foot modular homes will have heating and air conditioning, Eadie says.

New Roots Tiny Home Village is not intended for individuals coming directly off the streets, Eadie contends. Residents are accepted to the community through a referral-based bridge housing program, where residents will come from shelters or transitional programs and already be connected to case management services.

“It's a transition. … We’re hoping to find folks that are already in a shelter, that already have a caseworker, or already receiving services, and they're in a good position to be able to make that transition into their own tiny home,” Eadie says. “We’re hoping folks are there for 30, 60, or 90 days. It's a transition into permanent supportive housing.”

Spokane-based ZBA Architecture PS and Tacoma-based AHBL Inc. have been contracted to develop landscaping on the property.

“We really want to get this right,” Eadie says. “We want to make sure that we're designing something that's compatible for both residents that will be in the tiny home village and Ascenda, which is a sober living facility that leases from us on the same adjacent piece of property.”

Eadie says the Waters Meet Foundation has been holding weekly and biweekly advisory committee meetings with representatives and community members from both the West Hills neighborhood and Ascenda.

“We want something that works and doesn't impact them, or vice versa,” he adds. “And we want it to be as compatible as possible with the neighborhood.”

The property selected for the New Roots Tiny Home Village is zoned for multifamily use and was initially earmarked for affordable housing, he says. The short-term vision for the tiny home village — which is expected to last two to four years — aligns well with the foundation’s immediate goal of housing stability, he explains.

The city of Spokane issued a request for service provider proposals on Aug. 20, according to the Waters Meet Foundation website. The request for proposals will identify a service provider to operate the village, Eadie says, and the provider will be central to the day-to-day operations and ensure the needs of residents are met.

Waters Meet Foundation, which was renamed in 2025, is a nonprofit that operates with a mission of advancing health equity across seven counties and three tribal nations in northeastern Washington, Eadie says. The foundation focuses on supporting Black, Indigenous, Latino, disabled, rural, and low-income communities. Waters Meet Foundation also provides both financial and ethical support to a cohort of 20 grassroots organizations.

“We know that those are the communities, and those organizations that represent those communities, are the best chance for impacting positive health equity outcomes,” Eadie says.