CAC transitional housing project in Pullman nears completion

For those who have trouble paying the rent or staying long in one place, a transitional housing complex in Pullman is almost finished.

The nine-unit complex will be a transition home complete with life skills classes and an on-site staffer who helps watch over residents.

“They can become self-sufficient- that is the goal,” said Dale Miller, co-director of Pullman Community Action Center.

CAC is actively working on getting families into low-income CAC-built housing in Colfax, Pullman and Palouse.

The project in Palouse has plans for four stick-built single family homes. Miller said he hopes to see the exterior of those homes up by the time the weather turns cold.

With an eye on creating manageable housing for young, working families, CAC bought an acre at Palouse in June. Four new homes will be built on the site along the Palouse Cove Road.

CAC has a similar housing project of four homes in Colfax in the Hauser Addition. Two homes are complete and have residents; two are ready for residents.

The developments are part of a Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) program to give affordable homes to “moderate income working people.”

CAC received a grant from HUD in 2007 for $200,000 to design such a program.

Once the projects in Colfax and Palouse are finished, CAC will turn its sights on other small towns, such as Colton, within driving distance of Pullman and Moscow. They are focusing on smaller communities, Miller said, because it is there especially that young families find it difficult to buy homes.

Two of the homes in Palouse will be single story homes with three bedrooms. The other two will be two story homes, also with three bedrooms. The second floor, Miller said, will not be a full floor.