Congress OKs $3M for Tri-Cities recovery housing. Here’s what it will add
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Congress approved $3M for Tri-Cities recovery housing.
- County shifts to freestanding units, saving $3M and expanding room count.
- Recovery center opens May 2026; housing due 2027.
Finding housing for people in the Tri-Cities navigating addiction treatment and mental health challenges will soon get a little easier.
New federal funding will add $3 million to a recovery housing project on the same campus as the Columbia Valley Center for Recovery, which is on track to open in May.
It’s the last piece of funding Benton County leaders were hoping to obtain for the project. Thanks to recent changes to their approach to how the housing units will be built, this money could help add even more rooms than initially imagined.
The newest allocation, announced Thursday by Rep. Dan Newhouse, R-Sunnyside, is part of the 2026 Defense Appropriations bill.
Newhouse said that Congress has approved $25 million in funding for central Washington projects.
The spending bills now head to the Senate for final passage before being sent to President Donald Trump for approval.
Finding $9 million
Altogether more than $9 million has now been secured for the Three Rivers Recovery Housing Project. That may not end up being the final name though, as the initial name for the recovery center changed to avoid confusion with other businesses.
Newhouse said in the news release that passing the bill was an “uphill battle,” but the legislation delivers on commitments to “rein in federal spending, root out waste, and refocus taxpayer dollars on the challenges in front of us.”
“I am also delighted to announce I have secured over $25 million in funding to go directly to projects at home in Central Washington,” Newhouse said in the news release. “As we prepare to begin the Fiscal Year 2027 appropriations process, I will continue to put the priorities of Washington’s Fourth District first and keep working to make sure we are responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars.”
Benton County Deputy Administrator Matt Rasmussen recently told the Tri-City Herald that the county is shifting from building 17 double occupancy apartments on the second floor of the old Kennewick General Hospital to build freestanding housing on the corner of the campus near the city’s athletic fields.
That approach will save $3 million, and allowed the county to get started on planning before knowing if the Congressional funding was going to be approved.
Initial discussions estimated the change would also add three more units, bringing the total to 20, plus a unit for an onsite manager. Last year, the Otness family donated $1.1 million for a commercial kitchen and dining area for the project.
With the new funds approved, the project could get even larger.
The idea of the project is to provide a place for patients to transition to independent living, where they will have convenient access to addiction treatment and mental health services.
The county expects to have preliminary designs to review in February. The recovery center will open this May and ramp up services to full capacity over the summer. The housing portion will likely be ready for tenants in 2027.
In the initial plans the apartments would be designed have their own bathrooms and use common areas for group meetings and entertainment, such as a TV room and game room, plus a shared kitchen and laundry area.
Rasmussen said in the news release that the county is proud to be selected by Congress for the funding.
“This initiative will expand access to clean and sober living in an area where demand for these services exceeds 90% occupancy. By increasing housing options for individuals in active recovery from substance addiction, we help reduce recidivism and support successful reintegration into the community,” Rasmussen said.
“The project is a vital component of the behavioral health services being developed in our region. We extend our sincere thanks to Congressman Newhouse for his leadership in bringing these much-needed resources to eastern Washington.”
Who is it for?
Seasons Housing would operate the program as part of “phase two” of the recovery center.
Rasmussen previously told the Herald that the rent will be based on HUD fair market rates for the county, and Seasons will be able to help residents navigate rental assistance programs through the county if needed.
The units are intended to be available for people in recovery as they go through their programs and find stable housing.
He estimated most will stay one to two years. It’s similar to some of the longer term housing that the Tri-City Union Gospel Mission offers. While the housing is not specifically for people experiencing homelessness, many of the people they serve will likely be either unhoused or have unstable housing.
