New tiny house village opens in Ballard on NW Leary Way

There’s a new tiny house village in Ballard at 1414 NW Leary Way.

It’s called Raven Village and has 22 heated, insulated, and air-conditioned tiny houses that will host up to 28 people. There’s a community kitchen, bathrooms, showers, and a laundry facility on site, along with staff offices, community spaces, and gardens.

The village is on Seattle City Light-owned land; Chief Seattle Club, a Native-led housing and human services agency, entered into a 10-year lease to use the property for the tiny home village.

Raven Village is a joint collaboration between the Chief Seattle Club, Low Income Housing Institute, the City of Seattle, Environmental Works, and Sound Foundations NW.

LIHI developed and constructed the village with help from volunteers and Sound Foundations NW. Chief Seattle Club will operate Raven Village and provide onsite case management to help clients find permanent housing, employment, health care and traditional wellness, access to education, and other support services.

LIHI says Raven Village will predominately serve American Indian and Alaskan Native individuals, couples, and people with pets experiencing homelessness. According to LIHI, American Indian and Alaskan Native people represent 1% of King County residents, but 9% of those experiencing homelessness in the county.

On August 11, Chief Seattle Club along with LIHI, Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell, District 6 Councilmember Dan Strauss, and community supporters gathered to celebrate at an open house at Raven Village. The celebration included drumming, song, and a blessing from Lorna with CSC and speakers.

“With great healing to the Native community and the homeless community, we’re going to solve this,” Derrick Belgarde, Executive Director of Chief Seattle Club said at the event.

Photos: LIHI