Whidbey Home-Raising is a new nonprofit with deep roots in community-led housing solutions. This first project under their banner builds on the leadership and experience of Cary Peterson, known for her work co-founding Upper Langley Cohousing, and brings together a team of skilled volunteers and local contractors committed to building deeply affordable homes on Whidbey.
During our site visit, we saw a clear example of what’s possible when local knowledge, community generosity, and creative problem-solving come together. The project underway—Lot #10 in Upper Langley—is a modest 676-square-foot home designed for long-term affordability. It’s being built at cost and will be sold to an income-qualified buyer: a single mother raising her son, working locally, and attending graduate school.
With no access to family financial support, this home represents not just shelter, but stability and security for her family’s future. A key feature of the project is its deed covenant, which limits annual appreciation to 1.5%, ensuring the home remains permanently affordable. Volunteers and local businesses have stepped in to donate labor and materials, and a mission-driven loan has made the project possible without traditional development financing. The team is committed to completing the home for under $250,000—including land costs.
A grant from WCF’s Whidbey Affordable Housing Fund will help offset increased construction costs caused by Washington state’s 2024 energy code updates. These additional expenses—upgraded windows, insulation, heating, and hot water systems—are essential for compliance but stretch an already lean budget.
This home is more than a construction project—it’s a proof of concept. It demonstrates a replicable, community-powered approach to affordability that could inspire future home-building efforts across the island.
To learn more about Whidbey Home-Raising visit https://cultivatingcommunitywhidbey.org/
Support the Whidbey Affordable Housing Fund and More Grants Like These
Everyone on Whidbey is affected by the housing crisis—whether you’re searching for a place to live, struggling to keep the one you have, or watching neighbors move away because they can’t afford to stay. Teachers, restaurant workers, caregivers, artists—people who make our island vibrant and resilient—deserve to live in the communities they serve.
That’s why Whidbey Community Foundation created the Whidbey Affordable Housing Fund. This fund helps fuel locally driven, community-rooted housing solutions—like Whidbey Home-Raising—that are creating real change right here at home. From permanently affordable homeownership to innovative pilot projects and partnerships, your support helps turn bold ideas into reality.
You can help. Your gift to the Whidbey Affordable Housing Fund makes more grants like this possible—grants that support stable homes, stronger neighborhoods, and a more equitable future for everyone on Whidbey.
To learn more or to donate, www.whidbeyfoundation.org/whidbey-affordable-housing-fund/
WCF is a 501c3 nonprofit organization dedicated to Whidbey Island; all donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. Learn about different ways to make a charitable contribution here.