[BAINBRIDGE ISLAND, Wash.] - Resilience and regeneration.  This is the reHOME motto, a project that aims to provide affordable housing neighborhoods utilizing one hundred percent recycled or repurposed materials for a third the cost of today’s construction prices.

A creation of Architect Matthew Coates, the reHOME team, is comprised of Bainbridge Island firms: Coates Design Architects, Clark Construction, Friends of the Farms and Housing Resources Bainbridge (HRB).  The collaborative seeks to reduce the 600 million tons of construction and demolition waste in the United States and the 2,000 tons of construction waste local contractors estimate they dump into our landfills annually. 

“The alarming lack of affordable housing locally and nationwide, fueled my ambition to kickstart reHOME to address both the housing crisis and improve the sustainability of the building industry.” – Matthew Coates, President, Coates Design Architects

The prototype reHOME project, currently under launch, will provide affordable farmer intern housing by creating three tiny, recycled homes on the Morales public farmland, owned by the City of Bainbridge Island, and operated by Friends of the Farms.  This project addresses the national affordable housing crisis by starting on a local level.  Due to the lack of inventory and high cost of development and residual effects of the 2008 financial crisis, many Bainbridge working families struggle to find housing they can afford including school employees, farm and restaurant workers, childcare professionals, small business owners and those who provide essential services. 

“Friends of the Farms is thrilled to be chosen as the pilot reHOME project.  When housing is available and affordable, more land is farmed, new jobs are created as young people are attracted to and stay in our community to start businesses and families.”    - Heather Burger, Executive Director, Friends of the Farms

State-of-the-art software has been specifically designed to source, vet and catalog construction materials and will be available free-of-charge to other organizations desiring to create reHOME neighborhoods.  Storage containers to house building materials are also donated by the reHOME Team.  Housing Resources Bainbridge and Clark Construction are providing vital project management and construction oversight capabilities for the duration of the project.  Both entities are optimistic regarding future applications for reHOME while Clark employees are providing voluntary monetary donations to the project’s budget.

All team member firms are delivering professional services entirely pro bono.  Additional project financing will be raised through grant funding and a public outreach campaign.  Please visit rehomeproject.com to learn how to become involved or reach out to pr@coatesdesign.com