In 2018 University Christian Church (UCC), in partnership with Bellwether Housing, realized a decades-long dream of creating affordable housing for families in Seattle’s University District.

 

The UCC congregation sold to Bellwether the church’s parking lot and adjacent land at a below-market rate, allowing Arbora Court to become a reality. The 133 units of affordable housing include 40 units dedicated to families transitioning out of homelessness. Families living at Arbora Court enjoy large indoor and outdoor play areas and community spaces.

 

“The early realization of this dream started in 1961,” explained longtime UCC member and a founding board member of the UCC Legacy Foundation Marsha Tolon. “The congregation’s vision was to build affordable housing in the University District to support our most vulnerable in this community.”

 

Today, the University Christian Church Legacy Foundation provides scholarships to children and youth living at Arbora Court to help support their educational goals. Last spring, the Foundation was able to provide scholarship applicants ranging in age from 2 to 22 with support for vocational training, school tuition, academic tutoring, and lessons in swimming, music, and dance.

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Learn about the experiences of two UCC Legacy Foundation scholarship recipients, Meika and Danston. 

This project was also featured in Bellwether's 2021 Annual Report. 

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