Groundbreaking held for affordable housing for children and their families

MOUNT VERNON - Community Action of Skagit County held a groundbreaking ceremony last week for the first phase of its project to house students experiencing housing instability.

Community Action and the Mount Vernon School District are working together on the Kulshan Vista Village project, which will provide affordable housing for children and their families.

"Stable housing is foundational to student success," Community Action Executive Director Bill Henkel said in a news release.

There is substantial need in Mount Vernon for housing for students, according to Community Action.

In the Mount Vernon School District, there are 325 students who are homeless or lack permanent housing.

Community Action bought 1.5 acres next to LaVenture Middle School in 2022.

Community Action and the school district intend to develop the land into 48 apartments for local families.

"When families have a safe, permanent place to call home, children come to school ready to learn. Kulshan Vista Village is exactly the kind of community investment that makes a lasting difference for students and families in our community," said Henkel.

Those at last week's groundbreaking celebrated the launch of the first phase of the project - building the first 24 apartments.

Those in attendance included Community Action Board President and Skagit County Assessor Danny Hagen, Mount Vernon Mayor Peter Donovan, state Rep. Alex Ramel, Mount Vernon School District Superintendent Victor Vergara, and representatives from organizations in the area, including the Skagit Community Foundation and the Jerry Walton Foundation.

Community Action has secured the $10.3 million needed for the first phase.

The funds come from the state Housing Trust Fund, the federal Home Loan Bank Affordable Housing Program, Mount Vernon affordable housing funds, the state Connecting Housing to Infrastructure Program, Skagit County Economic Development funding, a state capital budget appropriation, and a state direct appropriation.

The 24 apartments will house families earning between 30% and 60% of the area median income. Priority will be given to families currently experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

The district plans to identify eligible households and refer them to Community Action.

The groups expect construction to begin this summer, and hope to begin to house families by fall 2027.

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This story was originally published June 5, 2026 at 7:06 AM.