Homes for Islanders to Show New Orcas Homes

Organization helps islanders build their own homes

County non-profit organization Homes for Islanders and the USDA Rural Development invites the public to tour the Woodland Estates off Rosario Road and Firehouse Lane on Wednesday, May 5 at 3:30.

The Woodland Estates Development is located just off the Orcas to Olga Highway at the Rosario Resort turnoff, and is the site of eight newly-completed homes built through Homes for Islanders (HFI).

John Campbell, Secretary of the Homes for Islanders  county-wide association says, “Eight hardworking families have worked a full year on achieving their dream of owning a home by building it themselves,with a little help on plumbing and electrical work and planning, financing and construction help from HFI ! Now it’s time to help the Woodlands Estates homeowners celebrate the successful completion and to award them the key to their new homes.

A “Key & Dedication Ceremony” for invited guests will precede the Open House, at  the Rosario Resort Discovery Center on Wednesday, May 5th, at 1 p.m. Those who would like to attend the ceremony are asked to contact Justin Roche, Executive Director of Homes for Islanders, at 370-5944.

Woodlands is HFI’s fourth self-help development and their first on Orcas.

The Woodlands sites were developed by John Miller with a density bonus for affordable housing. The density bonus requires that homes must be owner occupied by low or moderate income households for fifty years. The remaining lots are scheduled for market rate development.

“How do wage earning home builders manage to afford a 1200 to 1500 s.f. house and garage?” Campbell asks rhetorically. “Through a combination of self-help construction that cuts the cost of the house significantly and a USDA-assisted mortgage that cuts monthly payments. USDA has a long history of helping rural families build affordable homes.

“The main  requirements are regular employment and good credit history. Construction is modest, durable and cost effective. HFI provides sites, financing, house plans and  on the jobtraining and direction. Home builders work together as teams to build all the homes and no one moves in until all homes are completely finished. Home owners move in with subtantial, earned home equity.”

Cambell says, “HFI has a San Juan Island project coming up soon but they are looking for Orcas applicants and another Orcas site now.”

Interested prospective homeowners can apply at  www.homesforislanders.org or call 370-5944. The next Orcas development will start when HFI has a group of Orcas applicants qualified and ready to work.