Housing grant helps to improve neighborhoods
»Play Video
TRI-CITIES, Wash. - Neighbors in Richland a house had its fair share of problems before it all went up in smoke a few years ago.
"The place was an absolute dive before the fire. There were like 50 cars on the lawn, it was just a mess," said Kim Fetrow.
It stayed that way for years. Richland bought the home on Delafield and did what it could to clean the mess. Neighbors swelled with relief.
Kim continues, "When they first started this project, they used work crews from the county jail and they were suited up head to toe, in masks and they had dumpster after dumpster after dumpster coming out of that house and I mean I wanted to walk over there and just hug those guys."
Then the work suddenly stopped. There was no more money to clean it up. Until now, thanks to the Benton County Auditor's office.
A portion of every fee collected on documents filed has been set aside for the past seven years. For example, filing a deed on a home includes a $10 surcharge. About half of that money is put into an affordable housing grant to be used locally.
By squirreling that money away Benton County has saved more than a million dollars. It can now be spent on projects like this home in Richland.
Restoring this property and this part of the neighborhood has been a very slow process. It's taken almost 3 years to get to this point alone. Still residents say they are relieved the funding has come through to continue the project. They can't wait to get rid of what they call an eye sore.
Richland has typically been able to afford one fix-up a year. This grant will add to that.
Neighbors can't wait.
"All of us are pretty darn excited now that they've finally done something with it because it looks great except for the yard", Kim said.
Keeping the pride in all neighborhoods.
The house on Delafield is expected to be finished by early next year. It will then be resold to the Kennewick Housing Authority for a dollar to be used for a future project.
"The place was an absolute dive before the fire. There were like 50 cars on the lawn, it was just a mess," said Kim Fetrow.
It stayed that way for years. Richland bought the home on Delafield and did what it could to clean the mess. Neighbors swelled with relief.
Kim continues, "When they first started this project, they used work crews from the county jail and they were suited up head to toe, in masks and they had dumpster after dumpster after dumpster coming out of that house and I mean I wanted to walk over there and just hug those guys."
Then the work suddenly stopped. There was no more money to clean it up. Until now, thanks to the Benton County Auditor's office.
A portion of every fee collected on documents filed has been set aside for the past seven years. For example, filing a deed on a home includes a $10 surcharge. About half of that money is put into an affordable housing grant to be used locally.
By squirreling that money away Benton County has saved more than a million dollars. It can now be spent on projects like this home in Richland.
Restoring this property and this part of the neighborhood has been a very slow process. It's taken almost 3 years to get to this point alone. Still residents say they are relieved the funding has come through to continue the project. They can't wait to get rid of what they call an eye sore.
Richland has typically been able to afford one fix-up a year. This grant will add to that.
Neighbors can't wait.
"All of us are pretty darn excited now that they've finally done something with it because it looks great except for the yard", Kim said.
Keeping the pride in all neighborhoods.
The house on Delafield is expected to be finished by early next year. It will then be resold to the Kennewick Housing Authority for a dollar to be used for a future project.
