Housing Resources Board

Creating housing opportunities in our community

The Housing Resources Board has been providing a range of housing services on Bainbridge Island since 1992. Property values and rents are high in our community, as Bainbridge is a very desirable place to live, with its proximity to Seattle and convenient ferry service. Affordable housing is in short supply, and low-income housing is even more scarce.

HRB has built and manages 30 units of low-income housing on Bainbridge, and provides short-term emergency rental assistance as well. Other programs include transition housing and the Independent Living program.

HRB receives between one and five phone calls every day, requesting solutions to housing problems. This is in addition to requests for emergency rental assistance.

HRB Programs

Low-Income Housing Construction and Rental

Counselors coordinate with other agencies, school district teachers and counselors, Juvenile Court, the police, Helpline House, Kitsap Mental Health, physicians, therapists, drug and alcohol treatment facilities to ensure the development of a workable local support system for youth and family.

Islandhome Transition Housing/ Stepping Stones Program

Islandhome is the only transition housing on Bainbridge Island. Opened in 1992, Islandhome is situated on Knechtel Way and is made up of 10 units, 6 two-bedroom and 4 3-bedroom apartments. Families can remain at Islandhome for only up to 24 months.

Tenants for Islandhome are selected carefully in conjunction with Helpline House.

Emergency Rental Assistance

When illness strikes, or the main wage earner is laid off, and the rent or mortgage payment is due, sometimes no matter how hard one tries, the money just isn't there.

HRB manages an Emergency Rental Assistance program, providing short term support for families and individuals who find themselves in imminent danger of homelessness. In 1999 they provided financial support of $27,000 to 102 different households. Funds are administered by Helpline House.

Independent Living Program

The Independent Living Program was established in 2000, providing funding for remodeling and other modifications to allow low income infirm or disabled members of the the community to have barrier free access in order to remain safely in their homes.

The program will pay qualified contractors to make small to moderate home modifications, such as bathroom conversions, railing/grab bar and ramp installations, or lighting improvements. The program is funded through the City of Bainbridge Island's Housing Trust Fund and through the USDA and Kitsap County Consolidated Housing Authority.

Educational Workshops

HRB offers community workshops on topics such as first-time home buying, sweat-equity home construction, and working with mortgage lenders. For people with higher incomes, HRB can supply indepent living resource information on home modification, accessibility design and home safety.