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The Sanders County Community Housing Organization (SCCHO) has been working to provide affordable housing options to residents in the area for around 10 years, and recently received a donation of land in Noxon. The group has been working for about five years to procure the land, located across from the post office in Noxon. The property encompasses 12 lots and just under two acres. The project still has a long way to go, according to SCCHO Executive Director Lisa Fried de Reyes. "We are very excited to have this generous donation." The organization received the land in November 2020. Fried de Reyes said that this donation will "give us the ability to move forward with our mission statement."

According to Fried de Reyes, SCCHO manages one other such set of housing units in Plains. These provide an option to those looking for housing in the area. Both the current housing units, and those to be built in Noxon, will focus on the county's senior population, as well as teachers and young families, said Fried de Reyes.

Currently, the organization is getting a site evaluation done, and will be raising funds to have a preliminary architectural report done on the location. These will give SCCHO an idea of the types of housing options that can be put on the land. The group estimates that there will be room for at least eight to 10 housing units. SCCHO is going to be pursuing grant and private funding opportunities to finance the report and eventual construction. Fried de Reyes said the group would like to see the report done this year. The organization also plans to have public hearings on the matter, as well as to reach out for support.

SCCHO housing in Plains consists of five duplexes with a mixed income tenant range. A similar demographic may be what the organization will cater to in Noxon. According to SCCHO asset manager Jim Jacobson, the housing will likely be of a multi-family design like those in Plains. Jacobson said there are several barriers to the construction of the housing there. One he mentioned was although Noxon has a public water supply, it does not have a sewer system. This means the units will need to utilize a septic system. This will determine the size, shape and layout of the housing units. Another barrier that Jacobson included was the land also has swampy and hilly areas. This means certain parts of the property may not be suitable for construction.

SCCHO is always looking for donations to help bring this kind of opportunity to the community. According to Fried de Reyes, some aspects of the project are quite expensive, with the preliminary architectural report alone costing over $30,000. The organization can be contacted at (406) 546-7183, or by reaching out through emailing [email protected]. The organization also has a website; however, it is under maintenance and cannot receive electronic donations. For more information on the organization, the website is http://www.sanderscounty

communityhousing

organization.org. Fried de Reyes said that since the organization is a 501 (c) 3, donations are tax deductible.