An Update on Ismael Two Years After Leaving Childhaven

When Ismael first came to Childhaven at age 3, he was struggling with anger and occasional violence. This was how he had learned to cope with early abuse he had suffered. His grandparents now looked after him, and they brought him to Childhaven.

After his arrival, Childhaven helped Ismael and his grandparents learn how to manage and work through his anger. He learned social skills along with his ABCs. Two years later, he graduated from Childhaven and went on to kindergarten. The staff was very hopeful and felt he was ready, academically as well as socially and emotionally. But, like most of these stories, you often are left wondering about the long-term impact.

Well, we got an update!

Two years later, Ismael completed first grade, and his grandmother now described him as “an outgoing, smart, and positive little boy.” To be able to say that after two years in a regular classroom setting is a huge accomplishment, and confirms that the foundation laid at Childhaven has grown stronger and been built upon with two good years of school experience.

Thanks to Childhaven, Ismael now has a life that is full of joy. He has a future that is full of promise. That transition to a successful life in school — and beyond — is at the core of Childhaven’s mission.

We donate a portion of the profits from every home we sell to Childhaven because they take kids who come in with everything against them, and send them out to the world with much more going for them.

An Introduction to Accessory Dwelling Units – Is This Smart for Your Property?

Housing shortages have been in the local news for many years now, and the problem isn’t getting better. One solution that is getting increased attention is accessory dwelling units (ADUs). One local study found that if just 5% of eligible lots in Seattle built ADUs on their properties, it would create about 4000 new housing units. Would this solve the housing shortage? Not entirely. But it sure would make a dent.

So what is an ADU, and is this something to consider for your property?

This is a big topic, but here’s a very brief introduction to help you begin thinking about ADUs. First, the terminology:

AADU – attached accessory dwelling unit

DADU – detached accessory dwelling unit

Just like it sounds, an AADU is a second unit attached to another unit on your property. The other unit could be an existing structure on your property, or you could build two new attached units together. ‘Attached’ simply means the units share a wall. A DADU is a distinct structure on the same property, but not connected to any other structures.

One big advantage of pursuing an DADU for your property is that the approval process is much quicker and easier than the one for subdividing a parcel. One reason for that is that ADUs have no lot square footage requirement, but subdivisions do. (NOT TRUE)

ADUs end up functioning somewhat like duplexes. The main difference between an ADU and a duplex is that the duplex will have separate meters for one or more of the utilities – at a minimum, the electric meter. Whereas an ADU is all under a single meter, although some owners can install separate meters, so that if they have a tenant, they can allocate the utility charges equitably. There are also companies that can submeter the water and bill separately based on usage.

If you are going to convert a portion of your existing home into an AADU, you may need to get permits for some of the work that needs to be done to complete that task. So be sure to inquire with the local government that has the correct jurisdiction, typically the city or the county.

If you’re going to add a structure to your property to create a DADU, or perhaps convert an existing structure, such as a detached garage, into a DADU (or add a second story to that garage and put the extra unit there), then getting the right permitting is critical. And you’ll need to make sure that you can bring the proper utilities to the structure, namely, electricity, water and sewer. Delivering a sewer line to the property can be particularly tricky, depending on the location and other factors, and may raise the cost of construction quite considerably. So make sure that know exactly what you’re getting into before you commit.

In the end, the ADU can provide extra income as a rental, or offer great place for an adult relative. Some use them for adult kids who need a place to transition. And other use them as an office or studio.

If you have more questions about this topic, I’ll be happy to discuss them with you and help point you in the right direction.