Homes are for farm workers

ROYAL CITY - The construction of 51 townhouse-style homes is planned for Royal City farm workers.

Approximately $9.5 million could be spent building the homes, said John Probst, development manager of Yakima-based Catholic Charities Housing Services.

The organization received a $2 million loan for the project from the state Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development. The organization is applying for approximately $7 million in additional funds through tax-credit financing, Probst said.

Probst said homes could be rented as early as summer 2009.

"We're expecting that the demand will exceed the supply of even a project of our size," he said.

Renters of the homes are offered educational opportunities in addition to housing. A computer lab, a classroom and a social hall is housed within a community center on site.

Classes in English, consumer credit counseling, pesticides, home-ownership and civics could be offered through the classroom.

Housing in Royal City is the organization's 10th farm worker project, Probst said. Homes are two, three and four bedrooms in size.

"There's probably a need statewide for 40,000 housing units for farm workers," Probst said.

In Mattawa, hundreds are on a waiting list for a 45-unit project, Probst noted.

The organization hopes people advance in their career and move up in housing, he said. Some farm workers have lived in the organization's first unit in Granger, Wash., since it was constructed seven years ago.

"We really want to encourage people to move up and move out, so other people desperately in need of secure housing can have it," he said.