A Word From Our Executive Director

It is with both pride and satisfaction that we look back on the accomplishments of Bremerton Housing Authority.  We recently noted the 75th anniversary of BHA. Founded on July 17, 1940 by resolution of the Bremerton City Commission, the Authority immediately went to work to meet the intense demands for safe, decent, and affordable housing in a community that was tasked with building up national defense on the eve of World War II. Thousands of shipyard workers and their families streamed into Bremerton, dramatically increasing the population from 15,000 to over 80,000 in the space of a few years. BHA built over 6,000 dwellings in less than four years to address a housing shortage.

In the intervening years and up to the present, BHA has remained steadfast in our mission of ensuring an adequate supply of affordable housing opportunities. The creation of a new neighborhood, Bay Vista, on the site of BHA’s first development, Westpark, remains a successful work in progress. The vision of creating a vibrant community of mixed uses, mixed housing types, and mixed incomes continues to move forward. At the same time, we are always looking for ways to provide affordable housing in other parts of Bremerton. The recent acquisition of Charter House, a 30-unit apartment building for seniors in Manette, is an example of our efforts to preserve and expand affordable housing.

At the same time, we feel an absolute responsibility to assist individuals and families to become economically self-sufficient. From scholarships to training programs to individual case management, we seek to support our residents to thrive and grow. We are grateful for those that support us in our vision to bring positive change to people and communities.

Sincerely,

Kurt Wiest, Executive Director