Grace Landing, a proposed community of six single family cottages at 702 Cascade Ave. in Langley, is ready to start building; it just needs to raise $1 million.
A collaboration between Whidbey Island Living Legacy—WILL—and Habitat for Humanity of Island County—HFHIC—Grace Landing is designed for long-term housing affordability. Currently WILL is seeking sponsorships and donations to raise about $1 million to commence building of the homes. Both WILL and Habitat are 501(3)(c) nonprofit organizations.
WILL’s webpage notes that Grace Landing was awarded a “major grant” from Washington State of $258,990 with a total of nearly $670,000 raised so far, about 42 percent of the project’s total budget of $1.6 million. Other generous donations have arrived from Trinity Lutheran Church as well as one from the Whidbey Community Foundation.
“We’re Whidbey Island’s living legacy, and we want to be sure these homes go to lower income people,” said Coyla Shepard, founder of the WILL project. “I’ve invested some of my legacy. I’d like to see people invest some of theirs so they can see the joy of people moving in to their own homes.”
Coyla is also the founder of the successful THiNC project—Tiny Homes in the Name of Christ—a tiny home village next door to the proposed WILL project on Cascade Avenue across from the South Whidbey Community Center.
THiNC Village, nine 264-square foot tiny homes, demonstrates “…how local communities can develop innovative solutions to the growing housing crisis,” THiNC’s website notes. “Local residents, faith-based organizations, nonprofits, volunteers and donors came together to create an attractive neighborhood of affordable tiny homes across the street from the Langley Community Center.”
Richard Queen, who built two THiNC tiny homes, purchased the half-acre lot next door to THiNC Village. He donated the land to WILL in 2024. This year, WILL partnered with HFHIC to support WILL and to work with the future homebuyers.
Coyla became an advocate for the unhoused in 2014 when “…a single mother with two children was in desperate need of housing. Coyla…worked to find housing for them. It was January 1st and the only thing the county could arrange was a tent with no heat, electricity or water. Coyla talked with Calvary Church and they opened the door to the family until they found other arrangements. Finding acceptable shelter for this family sparked Coyla’s interest in finding affordable housing for the homeless.”
Lynden-based Chelladek Studios Inc. is Grace Landing’s architect. Cruver’s Contracting LLC of Snohomish is the project’s builder.
Grace Landing’s architectural renderings show an attractive cottage facade with big windows framing a central door on a covered porch. WILL’s website notes: “These thoughtfully planned homes provide a realistic pathway to ownership for working individuals and families while fostering a close-knit, supportive neighborhood. Each home features a living room, kitchen, full bath, primary bedroom, and a stairway to a 200 sq. ft loft with a half-bath.” Additionally, there is a circular walkway to connect all the houses with their parking.
Liz Chaffin, Chief Development Officer for HFHIC, explained how Habitat works: “Our Habitat home buyers do not buy the land, it is placed in our land trust. They buy the home. Each homebuyer signs a 99-year land lease. The land lease defines the process, including the resale information and the set amount per year of equity they can earn. Because it’s in the Habitat land trust, we will, in turn, sell the home to another qualified homebuyer. After an owner sells, we paint and clean, put in new appliances, and perform any needed repairs before selling it to the next buyer. We make it as close to new as possible.”
In addition to earning equity on the home they buy, Habitat requires its clients to earn sweat equity—typically 250 hours—but less for Grace Landing since it’s based on a reduced scale of home.
How does one earn sweat equity? According to Liz, “Our home buyers are required to give eight hours of service as an applicant to show they’re willing to partner with HFHIC. Home buyers can work on their own homes, other Habitat homes, volunteer in the stores, and choose from several other opportunities. If they have children, they can also be involved and feel like they’re part of the process.”
Basic criteria Habitat requires of its prospective home buyers include their need, ability to qualify for a mortgage, have worked or lived in Island County at least a year, be willing to partner with HFHIC and its sweat equity program, take a new home buyer course, participate in a six-hour financial education course with a local Financial Advisor, Edward Jones: River Powers CFP®|ChFC®, plus engage in one-on-one coaching to learn about managing finances and following a budget.
After they’ve worked on their homes, homeowners will have learned how their homes are built and how to use common household tools. After their home sale closes, “Our Chief Program Officer, Scott Givens, does a walk through, showing where the water shut off is located, the electric panel, and other important aspects of home maintenance. They’ll schedule follow-ups throughout the year,” added Liz.
WILL encourages donors to become part of the housing solution through Living Legacy Giving. It’s an opportunity to see your generosity at work.