OLYMPIA — Senate Democrats introduced a capital budget proposal on Monday, Feb. 23, that would direct $4 million in funding to an Evergreen Habitat for Humanity project in unincorporated Clark County. The project includes the purchase of nearly 19 acres of property, which holds two adjacent mobile-home parks, known as the Hidden Village Mobile Homes. This project will create and preserve a minimum of 105 affordable homeownership units through a permanent affordability land trust model.
Sen. Adrian Cortes (D-Battle Ground) played a significant role in advocating for the funding for this project to be included in the proposed budget.
“The Hidden Village Mobile Home community deserves affordable and stable housing,” Cortes said. “I worked hard to include funding in the proposed capital budget to help Evergreen Habitat purchase this property. This project will prevent the displacement of our neighbors currently living in the Hidden Village Mobile Home parks while creating affordable homeownership opportunities.”
Manufactured home communities in Clark County have experienced significant challenges caused by land redevelopment and rising rents, which have contributed to displacement and homelessness. The Hidden Village Mobile Home parks are located in an area with a significant risk of redevelopment.
The goal of the first phase of the project is to acquire the property in order to preserve the affordable housing within the Hidden Village Mobile Home parks and prevent displacement. The second phase of the project will include reconstructing or rehabilitating current units that are in disrepair and installing units on vacant pads. Current tenants in substandard units will be immediately rehoused during the second phase of the project. Once complete, Evergreen Habitat for Humanity will begin a community-centered planning process to determine how to develop the remaining property acreage.
The Hidden Village Mobile Homes are located in unincorporated Clark County, within the urban growth boundaries of the city of Vancouver and between Interstate 5 and Highway 99. The location of the park coincides with the development of a new section of The Vine, Clark County’s bus rapid transit system.
Evergreen Habitat for Humanity has been providing housing solutions in Clark County since 1991.
The capital budget is scheduled for a public hearing in the Senate Ways & Means Committee on Tuesday, Feb. 24. Watch on TVW.
