SPOKANE, Wash. — Bethany Presbyterian Church will build 22 affordable housing units alongside its new sanctuary after an electrical fire in 2022 destroyed its original building.
The church on South Ray Street plans to break ground in June on the project that combines worship space with community housing. The congregation has been without its own space for four years since the fire charred the interior of the 35,000-square-foot building.
Eleven units will serve families supported by Thrive International and Family Promise, organizations that assist refugees and homeless families. The remaining apartments will house other families needing affordable housing.
“The low income housing need has just really hit the fan in the last two or three years, and so it was kind of like, ‘yeah, we’re going to be doing that.’ So we’re very excited about that,” said Sharon Smith, a church member.
“Then the other 11 apartments will be for just families that need a place to live. That way, the people from Thrive will have people to practice their language skills with,” Smith said.
The church has raised $11 million through grants and donations toward the $11.5 million project. Leaders expect to raise the remaining $500,000 before construction begins, though fundraising will not delay the building schedule.
Construction is scheduled for completion by fall 2027, when the congregation will return to its own worship space while providing housing for 22 families in need.
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