Last week, FamilyWorks Executive Director Marcia Wright-Soika spoke at the groundbreaking for a new affordable housing development in Ballard, where FamilyWorks will provide family support services for residents. This project is a partnership between St. Luke’s Episcopal Church and BRIDGE Housing, and will bring 84 affordable family apartments to Ballard on the St. Luke’s property. These apartments will consist of studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments, and will be affordable for households earning 60% or less than area median income for the City of Seattle. We are thrilled to partner with St. Luke’s and BRIDGE housing on this development, which will open in 2025.
Read Marcia’s full remarks and view photos from the groundbreaking below:
Hi everyone, I’m Marcia Wright-Soika, and I’m the proud Executive Director of FamilyWorks. I’m honored to be here today, as a community partner in support of this joint effort with St. Luke’s and BRIDGE Housing to bring affordable housing and critical family support services to Ballard.
FamilyWorks has partnered with North Seattle families for nearly 30 years to alleviate food insecurity and ensure they have the resources and support to overcome systemic barriers to equity, build stable communities, and thrive.
When BRIDGE Housing reached out to us – nearly three years ago to the day – to share their vision for a vibrant affordable housing community, we were inspired to join them and to bring FamilyWorks’ community-building services right to families’ front doors. Because of this partnership, families living here will have access to a broad range of FamilyWorks programs designed to help families to achieve stability and to thrive. We will provide free parenting classes, caregiver support programs and playgroups, helping to nurture strong and healthy relationships, where children and caregivers alike will build community and belonging. Residents will have a safe and confidential place to seek additional support, such as clothing, diapers, and navigation of complex systems for the resources they need for stable and thriving homes.
We are inspired to help create a sense of place, where families are welcomed into a warm, inviting, and respectful environment where they can partner with us to determine what services are most responsive, and are invited to volunteer and lead community events for holidays, cultural celebrations, and Back-to-School events.
I would like to thank the BRIDGE Housing team again for this opportunity to create a shared vision for services and support. When the shovels hit the ground, I know we will be thinking of the many future families who will create home here, and I’m excited for the impact this will have on the broader community.
This new partnership in Ballard is part of our Nourishing Communities Campaign. One of the five main initiatives of the campaign is to bring family resources and services directly to new housing communities, schools, and health organizations. You can help make projects like this possible by making a gift to the Nourishing Communities Campaign today.