Habitat Initiative Advances with Infrastructure Funding

A Major Step Forward for Affordable Housing in Clallam County

Clallam County commissioners recently approved an $800,000 allocation from the Opportunity Fund to support Habitat for Humanity of Clallam County. This funding will help cover infrastructure costs for Lyon’s Landing, a 45-unit affordable housing development planned for a 7.7-acre site in Carlsborg. The decision marks a significant milestone for the organization, representing its largest project to date and a shift in how public funds are being used to tackle the region’s housing crisis.

The development, located at 303 Mill Road, is named after Frances Lyon, whose estate donated over $850,000 to Habitat in 2023 — one of the largest single gifts in the organization’s history. This donation helped attract additional support, including a $1 million contribution from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott. Other supporters include the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe, First Federal Community Foundation, and various local and national partners who have provided materials, labor, and financial assistance.

Commissioner Randy Johnson emphasized during the July 8 meeting that housing has become the top issue for many county residents. “In Clallam County, it continues to rise to probably the No. 1 issue for most county residents — the shortage of housing, and/or the affordability of housing,” he said. The county’s allocation will fund essential infrastructure such as lighting, utility installation, roadwork, and stormwater systems, all of which are necessary to make the development livable and accessible to working families.

The Opportunity Fund was originally created to boost economic development through investments in utilities and public services. However, a legislative change in 2024, House Bill 1892, recognized that stable workforce housing is essential for economic growth. Since then, Clallam County has focused on using Opportunity Fund dollars to support workforce housing, particularly for those in the “missing middle” — households that earn too much for low-income housing but not enough to afford homeownership.

Last September, the Opportunity Fund Board reviewed fund balances and assessed current needs through a survey of local agencies. The board ranked eligible projects by priority and recommended funding levels. Lyon’s Landing received close to, if not all, of the recommended allocation due to its alignment with workforce housing targets and its focus on families earning between 60% and 120% of the area median income.

State data shows that one in three Washington households spends more than 30% of their income on housing, while one in seven pays more than half. In Clallam County, the average rent reached $2,001 in January 2025 — a 7.5% increase from the previous year — while the state’s minimum wage is $16.66 per hour.

For Habitat for Humanity, this project represents a major leap in scope. Historically, the nonprofit has built one home every 12 to 18 months. With Lyon’s Landing, the organization aims to build 45 homes ranging from 1,200 to 2,000 square feet, in phases of 10 homes at a time.

However, scaling up comes with challenges. Although the Opportunity Fund award was initially approved in December 2024, finalizing the agreement took months. Habitat’s staff faced a steep learning curve navigating complex public funding regulations, including prevailing wage laws and public bidding requirements.

Commissioner Mike French acknowledged that the project is the largest Habitat has ever undertaken. “With that comes a steep learning curve,” he said. “But the need for affordable housing is urgent. If they can succeed — and I believe they will — this could become a model for future public-private collaboration.”

Habitat CEO Colleen Robinson noted that the homes will be built with community participation, offering opportunities for residents to join volunteer builds, tours, and discussions about housing solutions. Danny Steiger, vice president of the board and CEO of Lumber Traders, emphasized the organization’s mission: “We are a community of neighbors, volunteers, donors, families, and advocates bound together by a shared belief: that everyone deserves a decent place to live.”

He added, “We don’t claim to have all the answers. But we are committed to finding them — with integrity, openness, and humility. We’re listening. We’re learning. And we’re building — not just houses, but bridges — between doubt and understanding, need and opportunity, challenge and hope.”

Construction is expected to begin unofficially in the next 60 days, with completion anticipated within 12 months. “There’s a place for you in this work,” Steiger said. “So let’s keep building — together.”