Last year, Habitat EJC and the Jefferson Community Foundation (JCF) joined forces to buy a 17-acre plot of land in Port Hadlock. WA. Recently, Habitat for Humanity International chose three affiliates out of 1,100 to present their innovative approaches to meeting the needs of affordable housing within their communities. Habitat EJC’s Mason Street project of 17 acres (about twice the area of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool) with potentially 200 plus affordable homes in Jefferson County was one of these selected presentations.
Executive Director Jamie Maciejewski presented “From Zero to 150 at Warp Speed: How One Habitat Is Answering Its Community’s Call to Go Big: After years spent developing deep relationships in its community and a track record of results, one rural affiliate is asked to step up to something bigger than it ever imagined.”
Habitat EJC Board Member Brian Cullin asked the Director of Habitat’s Innovation Department, Kevin Hiebert, why we were selected out of so many affiliates and he said it was because of our size – East Jefferson County being so small for such a big undertaking. He said everyone expects big builds out of large cities like Austin, Seattle, LA, etc. – but out of rural Washington County it is unusual.
This is not only a story about a huge undertaking in permanently affordable housing but also about how Habitat EJC keeps its unique model of partnership and humanity as it looks to build more and grow a sustainable community for everyone.
Read the full article by Kirk Boxleitner, published in the Port Townsend Leader on Wednesday, October 18, 2023. https://www.ptleader.com/stories/the-hidden-factors-of-affordable-housing,145132?
