PORT ANGELES — A shovel full of dirt is often just that — a shovel full of dirt. But for attendees at the North View groundbreaking ceremony, the six shovels represented hope and the potential to change lives.
The construction phase of Peninsula Behavioral Health’s (PBH) housing project, North View, commenced Friday afternoon with a groundbreaking ceremony.
The project, located at 138 W. Second St. in Port Angeles, is estimated to be completed by next December and will have 36 units dedicated to providing stable, affordable housing for individuals who have experienced chronic homelessness.
“Permanent, supportive housing changes people’s lives,” said Wendy Sisk, PBH’s CEO. “It’s hard when you’re living every single day just trying to survive.”
Dave Shreffler, whose family donated to the project, knew just how true that could be.
Shreffler’s brother, Doug, was a former PBH client who continually struggled to find stable housing before he died three years ago.
When individuals do have access to stable housing, Shreffler said it provides people with safety, dignity and hope.
“Those are three things that Doug didn’t have a lot of,” he said during the groundbreaking ceremony. “It is my hope that the North View will be the North star for a lot of people.”
The project will be funded through a combination of private, city, county and state funds.
The more than $6 million in secured funding includes $4 million from the county’s 1590, 1406 and behavioral health funds; $750,000 from the Shreffler family; $740,000 from the city’s 1590 funds; $250,000 from the Olympic Community of Health; $200,000 from Americas Foundation; $36,500 from Enterprise; $25,000 from the First Fed Foundation; $5,000 from Kitsap Bank Community Connections; $5,000 from Public Plaza LLC; and $4,500 raised via a community capital campaign.
“This project is really great evidence that, sometimes, it takes a village to make things happen,” Sisk said.
PBH has submitted a grant request to the state Department of Commerce to cover the remaining estimated $6 million to $7 million in costs, and Sisk said if PBH does not receive it, there are “backup plans on backup plans on backup plans.”
“I have a big happy smile on my face,” Clallam County Commissioner Randy Johnson said during the groundbreaking. “This is going to be life-changing for so many people.”
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Reporter Emma Maple can be reached by email at emma.maple@peninsuladailynews.com.
