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A Healthy Community Houses All

The price and availability of housing is having a profoundly negative effect on people and communities in Chelan and Douglas counties. For many years, our region has not been able to house all of our residents, particularly low- and middle-income earners, which has created an ongoing and growing crisis.

Having a home is a basic need that helps build a strong foundation for everything else in life. Ensuring that all residents, regardless of income level, have access to housing is key to a vibrant economy and our quality of life.

The Chelan-Douglas Housing Solutions Group, a collaborative made up of residents who work in the housing sector, has researched and recommended 15 initial ways to increase the region’s housing inventory. To read the the group’s report, please click here.

What is Affordable Housing?

The government defines affordable housing if a family spends no more than 30% of their income to live there.

We are not alone. Communities across our state and beyond are experiencing these same challenges.

In early March 2023, the state Department of Commerce released housing needs projections for the next 20 years for counties throughout the state.

Based on a medium projected population growth, Chelan and Douglas counties need 17,000 new homes over the next 20 years, with about 50 percent of those homes for people making less than the area’s median income.

What can we do?

As a community, there are many things we can do to help guide what our response is to the housing crisis. Learning about the key issues and determining how you can get involved is key.

Here are a few ideas to get you started:

Residents & Individuals

  • Share your story
  • Educate yourself
  • Attend forums and planning meetings
  • Support local organizations 
  • Build an ADU
  • Follow & share posts
  • Donate land to Trusts

Organizations & Businesses

  • Share your story (recruiting and workforce)
  • Share content created by Housing Our Valley
  • Attend forums and planning meetings
  • Partner with organizations such as OVOF on events and other awareness activities
  • Look for opportunities to build diverse housing types
  • Donate land to trusts

Latest News

Seattle apartment building tests new affordable housing model

Modeled on similar efforts in Europe, social housing is publicly owned rental housing with the goal of integrating renters across the economic spectrum and shifting more housing away from private-market ownership. Unlike some other forms of affordable housing, social housing does not rely on federal tax credits and remains affordable in perpetuity.

Read More »

Leavenworth tables golf course housing concept

After a split discussion, the City of Leavenworth has decided to table a conceptual idea to transform the Leavenworth Golf Course property into a multi-use space with affordable housing units.

The concept, titled “A BIG Idea,” was submitted in response to the Housing Advisory Committee’s (HAC) request for affordable housing ideas.

Read More »

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