$3.7 million in new Home Fund support brings the County’s total to $5.5 million, moving a long-awaited island housing project toward the starting line
FRIDAY HARBOR, Wash. (October 26, 2026): Lee’s Landing now has the County’s full support. In a unanimous vote on Monday, the San Juan County Council committed an additional $3,709,596 from the County’s Home Fund to the San Juan Community Home Trust’s Lee’s Landing project, bringing the County’s total investment to $5.5 million, the full amount requested.
Lee’s Landing will bring 40 permanently affordable homes to Friday Harbor. The project builds on the Home Trust’s 49 existing homes across four island neighborhoods, which today provide stable housing for 57 island households.
The vote followed a presentation by Ryan Page, the County’s Affordable Housing Program Coordinator, on recommendations for 2026 Home Fund awards. Both County staff and the Housing Advisory Committee (HAC) recommended fully funding the Home Trust’s application.
From the Council, the message was clear: it is time for Lee’s Landing to move forward.
“I’m going to come right out and say that Lee’s Landing needs to happen, it needs to happen for the amount that they’ve asked for,” said Council Member Kari McVeigh. “This has been tied up for so long and this island absolutely needs to move forward with this project.”
Council Member Justin Paulsen said his priority was that “first and foremost, we put full funding into Lee’s Landing. This community has been working incredibly hard to get that project across the finish line. Or the starting line, I guess. So, I would fully support the Lee’s Landing ask.”
“On behalf of everyone at the Home Trust, thank you to the Council, the Housing Advisory Committee, and County staff,” said Jess Blanch, Executive Director of the San Juan Community Home Trust. “This commitment brings Lee’s Landing meaningfully closer to reality for the 40 families who will call it home. Our neighbors who teach our kids, staff our clinics, and everyone who helps make this island such a special place all deserve homes they can afford. We hope this vote encourages the State to join in supporting the project, and we thank our community, whose generosity continues to carry this work forward.”
What Comes Next
The County’s vote also strengthens Lee’s Landing’s case at the state level. The Washington State Department of Commerce is now reviewing applications for the 2026 Housing Trust Fund (HTF), and a strong local commitment will offer significant support as those decisions are made.
The Home Trust has applied for $2.7 million through the HTF Homeownership program and $7.4 million through the HTF Rental program, along with $1 million through the Connecting Housing to Infrastructure Program (CHIP). Decisions are expected in January 2027.
Islanders can help, too. The Home Trust is partnering with the San Juan Island Community Foundation on a $7 million capital campaign for Lee’s Landing, and the community has already contributed roughly $900,000.
About the San Juan Community Home Trust
The San Juan Community Home Trust is the only organization on San Juan Island dedicated to building and preserving permanently affordable homes for island residents. Since 2001, the Home Trust has built 49 homes in four neighborhoods. Lee’s Landing will significantly increase this impact by adding 40 more in the heart of Friday Harbor. Through the Community Land Trust model, the Home Trust owns and stewards land in the community’s interest, while qualified buyers own their homes. This allows low- and moderate-income families to become homeowners, build equity, and preserve long-term affordability into the future.