In total, the Council awarded $3,734,596 in REET funding and $310,000 in sales tax funding. The County has now awarded approximately $19 million in grants for affordable housing projects across the islands through the Home Fund since 2019
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS |||
This week, San Juan County supported three significant affordable housing projects on San Juan, Orcas, and Waldron Islands using the Home Fund and the Affordable Housing Sales Tax. In total, the Council awarded $3,734,596 in REET funding and $310,000 in sales tax funding.
Affordable Housing Projects
This year marks the sixth funding round conducted by the Home Fund. $3,700,000 was made available to qualifying affordable housing projects, including funding from the 1/10th of 1% Sales Tax.
The County received applications for four projects prior to the application deadline:
- Pea Patch Townhomes – A development on Orcas Island of 20 rental units intended to serve seniors, people with special needs, and people experiencing homelessness.
- Lee’s Landing (formerly known as Argyle Lots) – A development of 40 units in Friday Harbor consisting of 22 rental units and 18 units available for homeownership.
- Lopez Village North Phase 2 – A development of 16 units intended to serve the senior population on Lopez Island.
- Waldron Commons – A two-bedroom house for one full-time resident on Waldron. The target is a worker household, with preference for a teacher, earning 60-115% AMI.
The total funding requested for the 2026 funding round was $9,349,596.
After reviewing staff recommendations, the County Council voted to fully fund Lee’s Landing ($3,709,596 for new Construction) and Pea Patch Townhomes ($310,000 for Operations and Maintenance funding). The Council awarded partial funding to the Waldron Commons project ($25,000 for new construction).
Staff would like to express their gratitude to all applicants for their hard work and attention to detail in applying for the Home Fund this year.
In total, the Council awarded $3,734,596 in REET funding and $310,000 in sales tax funding. With these funding commitments, County has now awarded approximately $19 million in grants for affordable housing projects across the islands through the Home Fund since 2019.
About the Home Fund
San Juan County’s Home Fund is now in its eighth year since voters approved it in 2018. This program contributes funding toward the creation and preservation of affordable housing funded by a Real Estate Excise tax (REET) and a 1/10th of 1% sales tax.
Relevant URLs:
About San Juan County’s Department of Health & Community Services
San Juan County’s Department of Health & Community Services is responsible for community and environmental health, mental health and substance abuse programs, senior services, affordable housing projects, and more. The department has staff and offices on Lopez, Orcas, and San Juan Islands. For more information about San Juan County’s Department of Health & Community Services, visit www.sanjuancountywa.gov/1777/
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