Kent’s Open Doors for Multicultural Families receives $12M from state

Open Doors for Multicultural Families, of Kent, received $12 million in state funding to help build community spaces at Kent Multicultural Village on the West Hill.

Mercy Housing Northwest announced plans in 2024 for an $120 million project expected to include more than 220 affordable housing units, a six-classroom learning center, nearly 24,000 square feet of office and community space and approximately 4,000 square feet of retail/commercial space.

The Kent Multicultural Village is slated to go up in the 23600 block of Pacific Highway South between the highway and the light rail station. The village will be bounded by two new streets to the north and south, South 234th and South 236th.

Gov. Bob Ferguson’s recent signing of the state budget included a capital request from Open Doors for Multicultural Families, according to a May 21 press release from Open Doors. The $12 million will fund:

• A regional Early Learning Center, addressing the severe shortage of early learning spaces for children ages 3 to 5, with and without disabilities. In addition, the center will serve as a workforce development hub, training early childhood educators and child care providers to create inclusive learning environments for young children with disabilities.

• A Family Resource Center, expanding Open Door’s services to support over 2,000 families annually with case management, systems navigation, advocacy, and culturally responsive programs that empower individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and their caregivers.

“This project will not only benefit Kent—it will serve as a regional resource for individuals and families navigating IDD across King County, Pierce County and beyond,” said state Sen. Tina Orwall, D-Des Moines, a key supporter of the initiative. “By investing in the Kent Multicultural Village, we are creating housing and services for those in immediate need while setting a precedent for inclusive community development across Washington.”

For Ginger Kwan, Open Doors executive director, this project is deeply personal. As a mother of a child with disabilities, she has spent years fighting for inclusive spaces where families can live, grow and access the services they need to thrive.

“When I started Open Doors, it was because families like mine were struggling to find the support we needed: not just services, but a true sense of belonging,” Kwan said. “We were isolated, navigating systems that weren’t built for us, and constantly fighting just to be heard. The Kent Multicultural Village is the realization of a dream, one that started with parents asking, ‘Where will my child live? Where will they be safe, supported, and accepted?’ This isn’t just another housing development. It’s a community, built from the ground up with and for families like ours. And today, with this funding, we’re one step closer to making it a reality.”

While securing $12 million is a huge step forward, Open Doors must raise an additional $3 million before the end of the year to break ground, according to the press release. The organization is calling on community leaders, businesses, and individual donors to step up and help bring this vision to life.

In addition to the community spaces at Kent Multicultural Village, Mercy Housing Northwest and Open Doors are developing 233 units of affordable housing, with 20% designed and designated for individuals with IDD and their families.

“The Kent Multicultural Village represents the future of community-centered development—one that is equitable, inclusive, and rooted in access to opportunity for all,” said Joe Thompson, president of Mercy Housing Northwest. “As a model of Equitable Transit Oriented Development, this project connects families and individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to the housing, education, and resources they need. We are proud to partner with Open Doors for Multicultural Families to bring this vision to life and to help create a community where everyone, regardless of ability or background, can thrive.”

Sound Transit purchased 4 acres of land near the new light rail station at Pacific Highway South, just south of Kent Des Moines Road, for equipment storage and mobile offices during light rail construction. With construction wrapping up, the site will be available for transit-oriented development. Sound Transit in June 2023 awarded Mercy Housing Northwest and Open Doors to develop the north lot of the property.