Santa Teresita del Niño Jesús, housing in West Seattle for formerly homeless families, to be blessed September 9

Archbishop Alex J. Brunett of Seattle will bless Santa Teresita del Niño Jesús, permanent housing for families transitioning from homelessness, on Wednesday, September 9, at 2 p.m. Church and community leaders will participate. The site is located at 2427 S.W. Holden St., in the Delridge neighborhood of West Seattle. A reception will follow.

In addition to Archbishop Brunett, speakers at the blessing will be: Tobias W. Washington, Jr., president of Homestead Capital; Adrienne Quinn, director of the City of Seattle Office of Housing; David Wertheimer, senior program officer, Pacific Northwest, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation; and Evelyn Gomez-Ortiz, a resident of Santa Teresita del Niño Jesús.

The Archdiocesan Housing Authority (AHA) is the developer of the site, and manages it. The housing is fully occupied.

Santa Teresita provides 26 two- and three-bedroom units in four buildings. Two of the units are reserved for persons with physical disabilities, and six are reserved for large households. Also on site are two offices for residents to meet privately with counselors and case managers. Residents also have access to community space where they can gather for community events and attend classes and workshops. There is play equipment for children and a basketball court. 

Commenting on the new housing, Rob Van Tassell, AHA Director of Housing and Community Development, said: “The fact that 26 apartments were rented in less than 30 days emphasizes the need for safe, affordable housing for homeless families in Seattle. Formerly homeless families now have a safe, decent place to call home. Hopeful families are now building community and making connections to services and opportunities. The children of Santa Teresita del Niño Jesús will soon be walking to the school they will attend all year; they have stability. This is what AHA seeks to provide: safety, stability and connections.”    

The housing is named for St. Therese of the Child Jesus. She is also known as St. Therese of Lisieux and “The Little Flower.” St. Therese was a Carmelite nun who lived in France in the late 19^th century, and died of tuberculosis at the age of 24. She is beloved by Latino Catholics, and others, for her humility, dedication, extraordinary spirituality, and her identification with the most vulnerable people in society.

Throughout Western Washington, AHA provides more than 1,900 affordable permanent housing units in 44 programs, serving individuals, families, seniors and persons with special physical and mental needs. Most AHA housing includes resident support services to assist low-income persons be successful in staying in decent, affordable housing.

Van Tassell, the AHA Director of Housing and Community Development, thanked the organization’s partners in the housing project.

“We are grateful to our many partners Homestead Capital, state and local agencies and others who share our mission and work alongside us to serve the poor, the marginalized and vulnerable. We also thank the City of Seattle, whose levy funds made this housing possible and created hundreds of jobs, as well. Finally, we are most grateful to Archbishop Alex J. Brunett for his prophetic and courageous leadership. With his support and encouragement during these difficult and challenging times, we build more than just buildings. We build community and create hope for people who are vulnerable and often neglected.”

Tonkin Hoyne Architecture and Urban Design is the architect for the project. The general contractor is MC Lundgren Construction. Funding sources are Homestead Capital, Washington State Housing Finance Commission, the State of Washington Department of Commerce, the City of Seattle, King County, Sound Families and Washington Community Reinvestment Association.

Catholic Community Services of Western Washington is the largest private provider of services to poor and vulnerable people in the State of Washington. It includes 12 family centers located throughout Western Washington, a Long Term Care System, a Family Preservation System, Chemical Dependency System Northwest, and the Archdiocesan Housing Authority. During 2008, CCS and AHA served 78,073 unduplicated clients. Further information about CCS and AAHA AHA is available at www.ccsww.org.