Although talk of the recession being over can be heard on television and radio shows alike, the grim reality of the economic situation is evident in the number of residents requiring assistance, but a new project from Kitsap Community Resources aims to help.

“The waiting list for housing has grown substantially,” Kathleen Hackney, community relations and development manager for KCR said of the list of more than 100 families needing emergency housing. “This development addresses the huge need that KCR has experienced for safe, affordable housing in Kitsap County. KCR’s goals are to help low-income families stabilize and thrive.”

Thanks to some hard work on the part of KCR and help from city and state funding, at least six of those families could be taken off that list because of Project Manager Mike Botkin’s latest endeavor — a six-unit, West Bremerton apartment complex.

According to Hackney, KCR submitted applications to city of Bremerton HOME and Washington State Housing Trust for funds to acquire and upgrade the property. Each of the 880-square-foot units have two bedrooms and one-and-a-half baths with a carport or garage. Each of the three buildings houses two units. The complex is located near schools and along public transportation lines to make this transition period as easy as possible for the residents.

The project set up these units for transitional housing, a step between emergency housing and the acquiring of one’s own residence, according to Hackney. Families can live in emergency housing for up to 90 days, but if after that time they are unable to secure housing, they can enter a transitional unit where they receive case management and are expected to pay 30 percent of their income toward the rental costs of the unit. As part of the program, tenants will participate in financial education classes and save for costs they will encounter along the path to their own housing, like deposits, fees and first month’s rent.

The units are set up facing a central courtyard area and Hackney said she believes this could lead to a more community feel to the complex.

“The layout of the apartment complex and its centralized courtyard area leads well to interaction among the families where they would be likely to support one another,” she said.

The units also are taking advantage of more modern weatherization techniques and have been equipped with energy-efficient appliances, including a ductless heat pump.

As part of the Washington State Housing Trust Fund’s goal of meeting or exceeding Evergreen Sustainable Development Standards, water conservation and necessary improvements were put in place and the property will be able to serve residents for 40 years.

“We are very grateful to the city’s Community Development Block Grant staff for their guidance and support on this project, and to the city council and Citizen Advisory Committee for their funding support,” said Larry Eyer, KCR’s executive director. “And also to the Washington State Housing Trust Fund program. Again, the staff was helpful and the funding critical to making improvements to sustain the housing for the long term. We could not have undertaken this project without these key partners.”