The Carlton Complex of fires devastated north central Washington last summer. Now efforts are underway to rebuild many of the homes there. Not everyone who lost their home was insured.
About 300 homes were lost during last year’s fires in North Central Washington. About 40 percent of those homeowners were uninsured, and 36 percent underinsured. Now there is an effort underway to help those people get into a new home.
Since the fires, the Carlton Complex Long term recovery group organized through efforts of local citizens, and began to fundraise to help those in need.
The executive director of that group, Carlene Anders, says most of the people found temporary housing, but they hope to contribute some more substantial quarters to those who need it:
Anders: "We had a mild winter, thank goodness. We did have to hose some people in migratory housing and so on. But most people are in travel trailers on property right now as they are rebuilding."
Anders say her organization has had about forty people apply to get assistance to get a new home built. She says they are offering four different floor plans to those who had no insurance or were underinsured. And there are other specific requirements, like a clear title to the property, as well as a committal to live in the home as a primary residence.
Anders says her organization has almost enough funding to do the first phase, in which they hope to build 11 homes.
Anders: "It’s in the production. We've gotten six foundations poured, walls up and trusses on those, and in the last days of May we will have four more dried in.”
The group has raised $1.3 million of a capital campaign to raise 4.3 million in their efforts. In addition , they are looking for volunteers to help with the work. If you would like more information on how you can help the project to build homes for those in need, you can visit their website at carltoncomplexrecovery.com.
