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Habitat for Humanity partners with Project Restoration on six assistance areas

With the support of community volunteers and donors, another low-income family achieved the dream of homeownership through Habitat for Humanity as part of Habitat-Spokane’s Project Restoration in THEZONE Project.

A simple, decent, affordable home was built for Jack Santos’ family at 525 S. Fiske St.   He did the 500 hours of sweat equity, saved for his closing costs and attended homebuyer readiness training.

“Project Restoration fits Habitat-Spokane’s mission of serving Spokane families through affordable housing solutions,” said Michelle Girardot, CEO of Habitat-Spokane. “The partnership will rehab or repair vacant homes, restoring them to be safe, decent and affordable for low-to-moderate income families.”

A shared vision of a thriving Northeast Spokane drives cross-sector collaboration. Project Restoration’s team takes vacant homes and turns them into opportunities for students to gain skills, and for community organizations to do their missions.

Project Restoration can lead to better outcomes in education, health, housing and economic growth while discouraging crime,” said Andre Wicks, director of THEZONE Project.

THEZONE Partnership Network includes Habitat as the anchor organization, Youth Build, the City of Spokane, Spokane Public Schools and the Inland Northwest AGC Apprenticeship Programs. The project is a comprehensive, cross-sector collaborative approach to create a sustainable, thriving community.

The project focuses on results in six goal areas—education, health, housing, safety, resident engagement, and economic growth and job development. 

It’s focused in Northeast Spokane where high poverty, crime and unemployment rates create barriers to the community thriving, said Andre.

About 250 people from more than 75 organizations committed more than 2,500 work hours to create and begin implementing THEZONE Project.

Members of THEZONE Partnership Network are preparing a proposal for a Promise Zone, a federal designation to bring access to coordinated resources, technical assistance, tax incentives and other benefits.

In Spokane, Habitat for Humanity has built 265 new homes and housing solutions, empowering low-income residents to move from poverty to homeownership. Mortgages are repaid with a zero-percent interest loan, making homeownership possible.

For information, call 534-2552 or visit www.habitat-spokane.org.



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