Family Promise seeks $700,000 for Cedar Woolley's transitional housing project

The Skagit County government meeting held on May 30, 2025, focused on pressing housing issues and proposed solutions to address homelessness in the region. The session featured presentations from Family Promise of Skagit Valley and the Housing Authority of Skagit County, highlighting the urgent need for affordable housing and support for vulnerable populations.

Audrea Woll from Family Promise opened the discussion by presenting alarming statistics regarding homelessness among students in Skagit County. In 2022 and 2023, the McKinney-Vento numbers indicated 968 homeless students, with an estimated total of 1,400 when accounting for younger children not yet in school. Woll emphasized the critical need for additional housing, citing a requirement for 4,474 units of affordable housing for families earning under 30% of the area median income (AMI), with 800 units specifically needed in Sedro-Woolley.

Family Promise has been actively addressing these challenges, serving 196 families in 2024, with 95% of those families under the 30% AMI threshold. The organization reported a success rate of 96% in stabilizing clients through its homeless prevention program. Woll requested $700,000 in funding for the second phase of their cottage village project in Sedro-Woolley, which aims to provide transitional housing for families. The project is designed to support families in stabilizing their situations and re-entering the housing market.

Raymond Favor from Favor Construction provided updates on the project’s progress, including securing necessary permits and working with local utility providers. He noted that the total funding needed for site preparation and associated costs is approximately $946,000. Favor highlighted the importance of this funding to make the project shovel-ready, which would enable further financial support to be secured.

Following Family Promise's presentation, Gil Estrada from the Housing Authority of Skagit County introduced the Farmview Family Housing Project. This initiative aims to create 30 units of permanent housing for farmworkers, with a focus on affordability for families earning 50% of the AMI or below. The project is expected to break ground by the end of 2025 or early 2026, pending financing.

The meeting underscored the critical housing crisis in Skagit County, with both organizations advocating for immediate action to provide stable housing solutions for families in need. The discussions highlighted the collaborative efforts between local agencies to address homelessness and improve living conditions for vulnerable populations in the community.