Carson affordable housing project to begin this fall; organizers seek future homebuyers

Columbia Cascade Housing Corporation has purchased this 7-acres parcel in the 400 block on Smith Beckon Road in Carson near the Wind River Middle School. The nonprofit expects construction of 14 affordable homes this fall. The agency is asking for feedback from prospective homeowners.

Carson, Wash., May 22, 2026 — Plans for a new affordable homeownership development in Carson are moving forward after Columbia Cascade Housing Corporation secured funding for a seven-acre project that will eventually bring 14 single-family homes to the community.

With construction expected to begin between fall 2026 and spring 2027, project leaders are now asking prospective homebuyers to complete an interest survey that will help shape the development and identify families interested in purchasing homes through the program.

Click here for the survey in English.

Click here for the survey in Spanish.

The project addresses one of the Columbia Gorge's most persistent challenges: a shortage of affordable housing for working families. By creating homeownership opportunities rather than rental units, organizers hope to help local residents build long-term stability and wealth while remaining in the community.

According to Columbia Cascade Housing Corporation, the development will be built using a Community Land Trust model, which separates ownership of the home from ownership of the land. Qualified buyers purchase the home while leasing the land beneath it through a long-term ground lease for a nominal fee, reducing the overall cost of homeownership.

Liz Wilbur

Housing Resource Center Manager Liz Wilber previously said the model is designed to make homeownership affordable for first-time buyers earning below 80% of the area median income. The organization plans to construct the homes in phases, building four houses at a time as the project advances. The first homes could become available within 12 to 18 months after construction begins.

The project has already secured major funding support, including $2.1 million from the Washington State Department of Commerce Housing Trust Fund. An additional $383,551 was awarded through the state's Connecting Housing to Infrastructure Program to help construct water infrastructure needed for the development.

"Skamania County has been incredibly supportive in this effort," Wilber said. The county served as the applicant for the infrastructure funding through the Washington Department of Commerce.

Skamania County Commissioner Rob Farris previously described the project as an important addition to the county's housing inventory.

"Adding housing inventory in an already tight home and rental market is essential if we want to retain current residents and attract new families to our community," Farris said.

To qualify for the program, buyers must be first-time homebuyers, meaning they have not owned a home during the previous three years, must earn at or below 80% of Skamania County's Area Median Income or AMI, and must be able to qualify for a mortgage loan.

Here are those income limits:

Under the Community Land Trust model, homeowners will be responsible for taxes, insurance and maintenance. The homes may be sold in the future or passed to heirs, but resale restrictions are designed to preserve affordability for future low-income families. An equity cap of 1.5% annually will help keep the homes affordable for future buyers.

Columbia Cascade Housing Corporation is encouraging anyone interested in purchasing a home through the program to complete the Carson Community Land Trust interest survey. Information gathered through the survey will help organizers understand demand and plan for future phases of the development.

For more information, contact Columbia Cascade Housing Corporation at 541-296-5462, toll-free at 888-356-8919, or by email at info@columbiacascadehousingcorp.org.