Transitions, a Spokane-based nonprofit that’s goal is to end poverty and homelessness for women and children, is preparing to break ground on a $6 million housing complex to be located near its current facilities at 3128 N. Hemlock, in northwest Spokane.

Mary Tracey, the organization’s development director, says its 4-acre campus currently has three buildings, including a 10,000-square-foot transitional living center, a 2,000-square-foot Educare Center, and Chiara House, a 3,000-square-foot duplex that houses homeless veterans and AmeriCorps volunteers. 

Transitions expects to begin construction on the housing project in August, with the goal of having units ready for occupation by August of 2018, Tracey says. 

She says plans for the project call for the construction of 24 cottages for homeless and low-income individuals and families, as well as a 1,760-square-foot community building. 

The cottages and community building will be constructed at 2140 and 2176 W. Fairview, just south of the organization’s current facilities. 

Cottages will range in size between 475 and 1,000 square feet, and will include a mix of studio, one-bedroom, two-bedroom, and three-bedroom units. All units will serve a combination of homeless individuals, low-income families, and those with health and behavioral issues.

Tracey says the project is being designed by Heylman Martin Architects, of Spokane, and engineered by L&S Engineering Associates, of Spokane. 

She says Transitions chose Spokane-based Walker Construction Inc. as contractor for the project, partly because of the company’s willingness to accommodate a job-training program for young builders. She says at least one of the project’s cottages will be built by area youth who’re being trained in construction.

 “With there being a shortage of new entries into construction fields, we felt it was important to encourage young people to pursue those careers, and this will give them an opportunity to do that,” Tracey says. 

The project also is one of the few in Spokane to take advantage of a newly developed cottage housing ordinance, which the city created as a way to encourage in-fill housing, she says. 

“The ordinance requires cottages to be less than 1,000 square feet, with enough green space attached for each unit to have its own yard,” Tracey says. “Because it will also be a ‘net-zero’ demonstration project, we’ll also be working with Avista to follow through on reporting the efficient use of energy.”

She says at least 15 of the units will feature net-zero energy usage under the Ultra-High Energy Efficient Affordable Housing Demonstration Program.

Tracey adds that Transitions also will provide on-site case management, property management, and other support services to residents.  

“As part of our services, those who’re already involved in our other programs can be referred to site housing, or vice versa,” she says. “We have a long history of serving homeless and low-income women and children, so most of our services are tailored to them.” 

She says the project’s community building will include a tech center, meeting space, and laundry area. The organization also plans to construct two new playgrounds, one for toddlers and one for older children, as well as a service animal run.

She says the organization also hopes to move its current community garden to a spot just north of the new development and south of the current transitional living care building.

Tracey says funding sources for the project included $800,000 raised through a capital campaign, donations from both the Dominican Outreach Foundation and the Smith-Barbieri Progressive Fund, and a $500,000 net-zero energy grant awarded by Gov. Jay Inslee’s office and the Washington State Department of Commerce.

Additional funding was obtained through low income housing credits, and city HOME funds, which are part of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s HOME Investment Partnerships Program that helps provide housing for low income Americans. 

Transitions was originally founded in 1896 by five groups of Catholic sisters who came together to form the Transitional Living Center at the former site of the Spokane Children’s Home, Tracey says. The organization currently operates five programs here, including the Women’s Hearth, Transitional Living Center, Educare, Miryam’s House, and the New Leaf Bakery Café. 

“We’re unique in that we’re both locally founded and locally funded,” she says. 

Tracey says the organization last year assisted 1,613 women and their children, 115 of whom found permanent housing and 39 of whom also found employment.