A new village may be going up in Sequim.
Clallam Mosaic, a 501(c)3 nonprofit agency formerly known as SNAP that serves people with developmentally disabilities in Sequim and Port Angeles, seeks affordable housing, classrooms and office space for its community.
Scott Schaefer, president of Mosaic’s board of directors, said the Home & Good Life Housing Committee has been developing the concept for 1½ years and soon will have conceptual drawings from nonprofit Seattle community design center Environmental Works.
Mosaic officials host a forum and present the designs on their proposal from 7-8:30 p.m. Thursday, June 25, at the Sequim Transit Center, 190 W. Cedar St. For more information, contact Mosaic at 681-8642 or 4housing@clallammosaic.org.
Schaefer said the need is becoming more immediate to find housing for developmentally disabled adults.
“There are so many people who live with their parents who are getting old and it’s coming to a point when they can’t take care of them anymore,” he said.
Mosaic officials report Clallam County has 413 individuals with developmentally disabilities living here with 260 people using the Developmental Disability Administration, an in-home assistance department of the Department of Social and Health Services. Another 41 are on a wait list for services.
Clallam also hosts two group homes for six full-time live-in individuals but they are full. Clallam Mosaic served 183 developmentally disabled people in 2014.
Board members’ goal is to build:
• Seven three-bedroom apartments
• 13 two-bedroom apartments
• 10 one-bedroom 500-square-foot cottages
• Six three-bedroom 2,400-square-foot homes
• Two eight-bedroom tri-level group homes
• 10-bedroom physical needs/Alzheimer’s unit.
The total cost could reach upwards of $16.1 million.
Phase by phase
Brad Collins, a Port Angeles city councilman who sits on Mosaic’s housing board, said the project is large and he would expect they start with a smaller component and work phase by phase.
“Housing is the main focus,” he said. “They want it to be a self-contained village concept so people with disabilities can do a lot of things within their own village like recreation, food and stores with the opportunity to live quietly in their own complex. It wouldn’t be different from a retirement community.”
Mosaic volunteers said they have identified a property but are in negotiations for a price.
Missy Rief, chairman of the Home & Good Life Building Committee, said for the land purchase they are applying to the Land Acquisition Program from the Washington State Housing Finance Commission.
They also are looking into funding from other state and federal programs, private organizations and grants.
“We intend to explore all possibilities and hope to add people from our community with experience in these areas to help us apply as all of these processes are quite involved,” Rief said.
Collins said there are a few village concepts like this for developmentally disabled individuals but none close by.
He said the committee’s first steps are to create awareness about the need for housing and find ways to work with the community, such as seeking suggestions for the complex, fundraising, etc.
If funding is secured, they’d seek to build a multi-purpose building, a farm and the first set of apartments followed by houses, cottages and more amenities such as the physical needs/Alzheimer’s unit.
Schaefer said they tentatively plan to host a similar town hall meeting on Sept. 17 in Port Angeles City Hall.
More about Mosaic
Mosaic, first known as SNAP, was founded in 1999 and grew to offer 12-18 hours per week of classes through most of the year. From fall-spring, classes are held four days a week split between Sequim and Port Angeles with a varied schedule in the summer.
Schaefer said participants range from those who are independent and work to those who need 24/7 care.
For more information about Clallam Mosaic, visit www.clallammosaic.org, call 565-6414, 681-8642 or e-mail 4housing@clallammosaic.org.
