Crews put finishing touches on new homes for survivors of Gray and Oregon Road fires

SPOKANE COUNTY, Wash. — Several families who lost their homes in the Oregon Road and Gray fires are just weeks away from moving into new homes, thanks to quick action to fill a funding gap.

The survivors of the devastating wildfires have been waiting for this moment for more than a year and a half.

“I lost everything I have ever known in my entire life,” said wildfire survivor, Melissa. “I paid off my home as diligently as I could, but because it was a manufactured home, as soon as I did, I was dropped from insurance and unable to fid insurance because it was a manufactured home.”

The Spokane Regional Long-Term Recovery Group has been working to build eight new homes for survivors like Melissa, but ran into issues when construction crews faced a $65,000 funding gap.

To help finish the project, Spokane County agreed to match a $40,000 donation from community foundation, Innovia.

“These are folks that didn’t have insurance, there are folks that don’t have other means to be able to rebuild after losing everything,” said George Dahl, Housing and Community Development Administrator.

The funding from the County comes from the sales and use tax designed for the creation of affordable housing.

With funding secured, it’s now a matter of time before these families can move in. Most of these homes are expected to be ready by the end of April, with the full round of houses completed by the end of July.