Building Ohana

PLACE: Ohana Research, Design and Development ProgramThe PLACE program was BUILDING OHANA's most active area in 2024, turning community input into the first physical steps toward Ohana Village. Work centered on an eight-acre River District site in Liberty Lake, coordinated with the master developer and city staff on due diligence and infrastructure planning. In September, after months of research with legal and real-estate advisors, BUILDING OHANA prepared and submitted a Purchase and Sale Agreement (PSA) for the property, pending City of Liberty Lake approval of a Binding Site Plan (BPS) in 2025. The offer was structured to meet state and federal requirements for affordable-housing financing. To support negotiations, Ohana developed a site-specific conceptual plan showing housing types, shared spaces, and the intended community character to help partners understand the project's scope. Feedback from the Patterns to Live By process guided refinements and alignment with local priorities. New collaborations in 2024 included Central Valley School District, the Arc of Spokane's residential-support program, and Spokane's premier private-market developer. All work emphasized transparency, collaboration, and knowledge-sharing to inform future inclusive-housing efforts in the region.

PURPOSE: Ohana Programs of SupportIn 2024, BUILDING OHANA advanced its Programs of Support, translating Intentional Neighboring into community-based frameworks for mutual care and belonging. Research addressed behavioral-health supports, natural-care networks, and evaluation methods for resident well-being within inclusive neighborhoods. We provided advisory leadership to regional and state coalitions on housing and disability inclusion and maintained collaborations with partners named in 2023, including the Arc of Spokane, Northwest Autism Center, Project I/DD, and Side-by-Side. Engagement with two local school districts and Washington State University's nursing and medical programs expanded training and awareness of inclusive-care practices.In the 4th quarter of 2024, our strengthened financial position ensured that site purchase upon Binding Site Plan approval would be possible without undue funding restriction. In response, BUILDING OHANA initiated research and planning for the OHANA FIT (Friendly Intentional Tracker) programa resident-supportive framework designed to help match future households with housing, accessibility, and community connections. These efforts collectively advanced the social infrastructure essential for inclusive community living. All activities remained free to the public.