A strong community depends on being able to live where you work, raise a family, and belong. Yet for many families who work and serve here, safe and stable housing remains out of reach.

Amy and Nigel returned to East Jefferson County to raise their daughter, Flora, near family and in the community where they grew up. Amy works at a nonprofit health clinic. Nigel works in local food and retail jobs. Both volunteer and remain active in their community. Even with steady work, rising housing costs put their family at risk of having to leave.

“In a place like Port Townsend, there’s always the worry you could be priced out,” Nigel said.

Habitat for Humanity of East Jefferson County is making it possible for them to stay. Habitat EJC offers what the market cannot: a permanently affordable path to homeownership and the chance to remain rooted.

Flora already talks about her future room. She wants it painted sky blue, with a big bookshelf and a cozy place to read with her dog, Cooper. Those details reflect something larger. Stability gives children space to imagine, grow, and belong.

Their story reflects a broader reality facing many essential workers in East Jefferson County: housing costs continue to outpace wages.

Habitat EJC’s permanent affordability model addresses this challenge with fixed mortgages, energy-efficient homes, and long-term community benefit. These homes remain affordable, not just for one family, but for generations of local households.

At Landes Terrace, Habitat EJC’s largest neighborhood to date, 14 permanently affordable homes are now under construction in a walkable location near schools, parks, transit, and groceries. The design emphasizes connection, health, and a strong sense of neighborhood.

For Amy and Nigel, permanent affordability means more than their own stability. It also means knowing another local family will have this opportunity in the future.

When neighbors help neighbors, doors open. Landes Terrace shows what is possible when our community chooses to act together. 

Photos, left to right: Nigel, Flora, Amy and Cooper at the Port by the start of the Larry Scott Trail; the family at Landes Terrace, where 14 new homes are under construction.

Top photo collage, clockwise left to right: Landes Terrace, future home for Amy, Flora and Nigel; artist rendering of Landes Terrace by studioSTL; Habitat community gathering for Frank and Jane's home dedication; their 'new-to-them' home. 

Photos, left to right: At Landes Terrace, seven buildings will be home to 14 families; an artist rendering of Landes Terrace by studioSTL, architects for the site. 

Built for Today. Ready for Tomorrow.

Earth Day reminds us that sustainability is not just about what we build, but how long it lasts and who it continues to serve. At Habitat, our homes are designed to support families, strengthen communities, and respect the planet long after the first set of keys are handed over.

Habitat homes are meant to be lived in, cared for, and passed on. One of the most recent examples of a 'recycled' Habitat home is fondly known as the 'Purple House’. We recently celebrated the home dedication for Frank and Jane, the second owners of this home. Another Habitat home on 21st Street, originally built in 2007, will soon welcome its third homeowners Paul and Oceana. We hope you can attend their home dedication later this spring.

Every time a Habitat home is passed from one family to the next, we reduce waste, conserve materials, and preserve the investment already made in the structure. Continuity, reuse, and sustainability in action.

Sustainability also encompasses efficiency, and our commitment continues inside the walls. Every new Habitat house includes a heat pump system, significantly reducing electricity use for heating and cooling compared to conventional systems. Each home is tested for peak airtightness using blower door tests, and we consistently earn excellent results. High airtightness means fewer drafts, lower energy loss, and more comfortable living spaces year round.

Our homes are Energy Star certified and go beyond the basics with upgraded Energy Recovery Ventilators. These systems improve indoor air quality while saving a substantial amount of energy, a win for both families and the environment. Thoughtful design choices like these help homeowners keep utility costs manageable while reducing their carbon footprint.

Durability plays a key role as well. Recent Habitat homes are built with metal roofs that last more than twice as long as more traditional roofing materials. Fewer replacements over time mean less material waste and fewer resources used overall.

This Earth Day, we are proud to say that sustainability is not an extra feature at Habitat. It is part of the foundation. By building homes that last, homes that perform, and homes that stay in our community across generations, we are investing in a healthier future for both people and the planet.

Earth Day is one day. The impact of a well-built Habitat home lasts for decades.

Photos, left to right: Dick Chambers presenting Frank and Jane the keys to their new home; Frank and Jane welcoming guests to their new home at the home dedication.

Help Open the Door for 14 Families
During GiveBIG on May 5

When you show up for your community, real change happens. Your support helps build permanently affordable homes so local families can stay, work, and thrive in Jefferson County.

That’s what GiveBIG is all about.

Give today. Double your impact.

During GiveBIG, your gift helps build permanently affordable homes for local families, and every dollar will be matched up to $7,500.

Early giving is now open.
Don’t wait, make your gift today and help open the door for local families.

Accepting applications for homes in Port Townsend and Port Hadlock