In 2021, we formed a housing task force to research housing solutions in north Spokane County. ​
Our conclusion? North Spokane needs permanent, affordable housing that lifts people out of poverty & strengthens neighborhoods.
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Village Cohousing Works was formed to address that need. We're preventing homelessness, one home at a time.
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TIMELINE
Feb 2021 - Feb 2023 New Hope Resource Center in Colbert forms a task force to examine the need for housing related services in north Spokane County.
In two years, the task force met with: Jewels Helping Hands, Spokane County Sheriffs, Spokane County Library District, Spokane County Commissioner Josh Kerns, Family Promise Spokane, Spokane Low-Income Housing Consortium and Spokane Continuum of Care, Spokane Resource Center, WorkSource, Spokane Catholic Charities, Habitat for Humanity, Skills Center construction program, Washington State Parks, Washington State Dept of Natural Resources, Spokane Homeless Coalition, Spokane Urban Ministries, SquareOne Villages, Transitions, Spokane County Planning Department, Community Frameworks, Washington State Department of Commerce, Washington State and Spokane City officials, Camp Hope, Takesa Village Cooperative Board, Rural Resources, Northwest Cooperative Development Center, and more.
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November 2022 The Housing Task Force hosts A Solution to Homelessness in Your Town, with Cohousing Architect Charles Durrett at Whitworth University
Nov 15, 2022 A new volunteer group is formed with the intention of directly addressing housing insecurity. 40 volunteers agree to meet monthly.
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Dec 2022 Sarah Olson is selected as volunteer director.
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Jan 8, 2023 Village Cohousing Works is chosen as a name for this new group.“Seeking to serve those vulnerable to homelessness in north Spokane County who prioritize living in community.”
Jan 18, 2023 Smith-Barbieri Progressive Fund becomes Village Cohousing Works' fiscal sponsor.
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Feb 1, 2023 VCW website goes live.
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May 25, 2023 VCW signs a Memorandum of Understanding with Takesa Village Homeowners Cooperative in Mead. This agreement allows VCW to install 10 HUD approved homes, and resell them to low-income households, with no development fees.
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June, 2023 VCW interviews its first applicants at a dinner event at North Spokane County Library. One of these attendees would later become our first home buyer.
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Aug 19, 2023 VCW places an order for its first home.
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Sept 23, 2023 VCW's first golf fundraiser nets $14,000
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Oct 31, 2023 Numerica Credit Union agrees to develop a special loan product for VCW home buyers. Typical manufactured home loans have high interest rates (and short terms) that make them too expensive for our applicants. Numerica CU offers a 30 year loan, requiring only 1% down.
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Dec 11, 2023 First home is installed and prepared for move-in.
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March 8, 2024 VCW sells its first home. Significant down payment assistance loans from NWCDC halved our home owner's housing expenses. This buyer went from spending 70% of her income on rent, to 30% of her income on a home she owns.
July 11, 2024 VCW receives its 501(c)3 status from the IRS.