Building Ohana

PEOPLE: Ohana Community Education and Awareness ProgramIn early 2024, BUILDING OHANA began advancing land-acquisition efforts within the River District of Liberty Lake, WA, relocating its office there to engage more fully with the community where Ohana Village will take root. Through its Community-Engaged Education and Design Initiative, Ohana convened multiple Liberty Lake gatheringsincluding business breakfasts and the second Patterns to Live By eventwhere more than 60 residents, civic leaders, and partners helped articulate shared values and design patterns for healthy, connected living. The process prompted early sponsorship commitments and produced OHANA's first Community-Engaged Design publication, a foundational document guiding the Project Management Team and anchoring Ohana's inclusive-design framework.Education and advocacy continued locally and nationally through conferences and workshops promoting inclusive neighborhood development. The office responded to more than 200 online and in-person inquiries, many from families seeking supportive, community-based housing across the lifespan. BUILDING OHANA also presented to the Liberty Lake City Council on support needs for people with developmental disabilities and their families. All activities and publications remained free to the public.

PLACE: Ohana Research, Design and Development ProgramThe PLACE program was BUILDING OHANA's most active area in 2024, turning community input into the first physical steps toward Ohana Village. Work centered on an eight-acre River District site in Liberty Lake, coordinated with the master developer and city staff on due diligence and infrastructure planning. In September, after months of research with legal and real-estate advisors, BUILDING OHANA prepared and submitted a Purchase and Sale Agreement (PSA) for the property, pending City of Liberty Lake approval of a Binding Site Plan (BPS) in 2025. The offer was structured to meet state and federal requirements for affordable-housing financing. To support negotiations, Ohana developed a site-specific conceptual plan showing housing types, shared spaces, and the intended community character to help partners understand the project's scope. Feedback from the Patterns to Live By process guided refinements and alignment with local priorities. New collaborations in 2024 included Central Valley School District, the Arc of Spokane's residential-support program, and Spokane's premier private-market developer. All work emphasized transparency, collaboration, and knowledge-sharing to inform future inclusive-housing efforts in the region.