Catholic Charities of Spokane plans to build a low-income housing complex of up to 72 units near Spokane Falls Community College, in northwest Spokane.

To be called Mother Teresa Haven, the complex will be constructed at 1920 Holy Names Court, next to Catholic Charities’ existing The Sisters Haven Apartments low-income housing complex, says Jonathan Mallahan, vice president of housing for Catholic Charities.

Work on Mother Teresa Haven likely will begin by October, Mallahan says. The project will take 11 months to complete, he says.

“This site is a good opportunity for us to add affordable housing stock to the community but operate it in a really efficient way due to the adjacent housing that we already own and operate,” Mallahan says.

Sisters Haven, which opened in 2018, also provides Head Start and Early Head Start education programs.

“Opportunities for child care give parents the benefit of being able to get better employment, to go through training programs and education programs that make them more competitive for our market,” Mallahan says.

The development is also adjacent to Catholic Charities’ Rising Strong drug treatment and housing program, which will provide additional support and opportunities for families living at Mother Teresa Haven, he says.

“We provide supportive services on site for families that help them improve their family income, meet medical needs, and advance their own personal goals for wellness and sustainability,” Mallahan says. “Residents will have access not just to recreational opportunities but supportive service opportunities to improve their wellness and their well-being.”

The construction cost for the project is estimated at $10.8 million. Two of the three planned two-story, 24-unit residential buildings are being funded through a preliminary award of a 9% low-income housing tax credit allocation from Washington state’s Housing Finance Commission, Mallahan says.

Catholic Charities is applying for additional nonpublic sources of financing to cover construction costs for the third building, Mallahan says, although he declines to identify the potential funding source.

If all three buildings are funded, the complex will consist of 18 one-bedroom units, 36 two-bedroom units, and 18 three-bedroom units.

Mallahan says Spokane-based Inland Group is the contractor on the project. Spokane-based AHBL Inc. is providing engineering services. Olson Projects, also of Spokane, designed Mother Teresa Haven.

The new complex will be geared toward families that make up to 60% of the area median income, he says. According to the Washington state Department of Social and Health Services, the median income for a family of four in Washington is $8,566 per month, or about $102,800 annually. 

“It’s an opportunity for families to really change the trajectory of their wellness for years to come,” Mallahan says.

In addition to the residential buildings, the complex will include a single-story 5,700-square-foot clubhouse building, Mallahan says. The complex will have a play structure, and residents will have access to play structures and community spaces at Sisters Haven, as well as easy access to the Centennial Trail, he says.