KENNEWICK, Wash. – At the intersection of 13th and Gum Street, a new construction project is underway to construct low-income housing for Tri-Cities families.
The Kennewick Housing Authority has started work on “Bubble on Gum,” a low-income housing initiative. Spanning 3.7 acres, the project to provide homes for 58 families in need.
The $19.8 million development has been in planning since 2023, and last week, the Kennewick Housing Authority officially broke ground at the site. Hermelinda Sierra, interim executive director for the Kennewick Housing Authority, says they’re beyond ready to get families moved in.
“Our team is excited… staff is ready to serve these families,” said Sierra. “We have all the way from, caseworkers, property managers and family self-sufficient coordinators ready to serve these families when they come on board.”
The “Bubble on Gum” development will feature a community center with basketball courts, a soccer area and a play area for children. Previously, the parcel was used as a public facilities lay-down yard by the city of Kennewick.
Sierra says a lot of work has gone into the project, and they couldn’t have done it without help.
“It’s required a whole, partnership and, you know, community to make this possible. We have all kinds of, funding all the way from, federal, state and local level who make this possible,” said Sierra.
Such partners include (but are not limited to):
Benton CountyWashington State Department of CommerceCity of KennewickSenator Murray’s OfficeWSU Energy ProgramTW Clark Construction
To qualify for housing, families must meet low and very low-income requirements, earning at or below 50 percent of the area’s median income. The project is expected to be completed by October 2026
