St. Vincent de Paul Bremerton secures $22.4M for Kitsap County housing project

St. Vincent de Paul Bremerton has successfully secured the final funding required for the first phase of its Star of Hope housing initiative. The $22.4 million goal was finalized following a $3 million grant from the Medina Foundation in October 2026. Construction on the site at North Callow Avenue and 13th Street is slated to begin in the spring of 2027, with completion estimated within 12 months.

The project addresses a significant shortage of housing for low-income residents in Kitsap County, where official data indicates only 12 affordable homes exist for every 100 households in need. The planned development includes 38 housing units for women and children, including space for those transitioning out of the incarceration system, alongside an expansion of the existing Birkenfeld-Stella Maris House emergency shelter.

Executive director Joseph Crain noted that the project is intended to provide a continuous support path for families, offering everything from immediate shelter to permanent housing and wraparound services, such as job assistance and mental health resources. The expansion will also include a renovated resource center to facilitate food distribution and case management.

While capital funding for the first phase is secure, the organization emphasized that the ongoing operation of the facility will rely on continued donations. Future expansion plans, currently in the development phase with partners including the Bremerton Housing Authority, aim to add an additional 70 homes and childcare facilities to the campus.