Executive Director's Message

Building stronger communities is our bottom line

Recently, I was talking to a local reporter about our involvement in an exciting plan to redevelop and restore downtown Bremerton. She asked why a housing authority would partner with the community to develop an office building, market rate housing, even parking? Isn't KCCHA's mission to manage and build apartments for senior citizens and other low-income Kitsap County residents?

The answer is found in Washington State laws, which were written to give housing authorities flexibility to develop creative solutions to meet local needs. And since we are also a redevelopment authority, we are charged with providing financing and development expertise to help communities create bright economic futures for themselves.

The simplest way to think about it is that Fostering Healthy Housing Communities.

As you will see inside, building stronger communities means different things to different people:

• For the city of Bremerton, it means development of public/private partnerships and strategies to revitalize its downtown
   
• For seniors, people with disabilities and the working poor, it means preservation of safe, affordable apartments and a way to stay in their own homes
   
• For Christina and her mom, it's getting the tools and the opportunity to build their own home
   
• For Wendy and John, it means learning skills to move from public assistance to home ownership and a bright new future
   
• For families fleeing from domestic violence, it's transitional housing that provides a safe haven so they can rebuild their lives

But we couldn't accomplish all these things without partners. Partners such as local business and government leaders, social service agencies, service clubs, and community volunteers who provide the vision and hard work. Private investors and financial institutions like Bank of America and Key Bank, who prove their commitment by financing many of our programs. Government agencies - including the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Agency and the Washington State Office of Community Development, who believe that flexibility is the key to successful programs. And the entrepreneurial KCCHA staff, who are committed to developing quality programs that make a difference.

As I told the reporter, KCCHA is flexible and responsive to the needs of our local communities. Building stronger communities is our bottom line.

I invite you to read inside about some of the ways we met this goal in 2000.