InterIm CDA

InterIm CDA promotes resiliency in Asian, Pacific Islander, immigrant, and refugee communities through culturally and linguistically responsive community building. We are a nonprofit affordable housing and community development organization based in Seattle's Chinatown/International District. We provide multilingual, culturally competent housing-related and community building services.

We provide housing services and real estate development, building low-income housing projects and mixed-use projects. We provide asset building services to residents of two of our apartment complexes and clients we serve. We advocate on behalf of our clients and low-income people, particularly those living in the Chinatown/International District. We help build sustainable communities by leading neighborhood improvement projects and teaching leadership development for high school students through the WILD program. We connect elders, youth, and younger children through the Danny Woo International District Community Garden and our intergenerational program. We also manage several community parking lots in the neighborhood to support local businesses and people who work or shop in the Chinatown/International District.

Our Programs Include:

AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT: InterIm CDA owns five properties, totaling 296 units. The properties range from mixed-use developments, to historic renovations, to new construction family affordable housing. Each year about 730 individuals have permanent stable housing in our properties.

HOUSING STABILITY AND HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION: Our housing services program helps reduce homelessness by providing stabilization services to immigrant, refugee, and limited English proficient (LEP) people in Seattle’s Chinatown-International District (CID) and greater Puget Sound region. Multilingual staff members help clients address cultural barriers to keeping their housing in times of crisis. About 1,500 individuals each year have stable housing because of our direct housing services and the case management support we provide.

THE DANNY WOO COMMUNITY GARDEN AND CHILDREN’S GARDEN: Each year about 70 elderly gardeners (mostly Asian immigrants), have a safe place to exercise, socialize and grow nutritious, culturally-appropriate foods. Additionally, through the Children’s Garden, every summer about 40-50 young children and youth gain an experiential education that teaches them about environmental stewardship.

W.I.L.D. (WILDERNESS, INNER-CITY, LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT): W.I.L.D. is important not only in fostering young leaders, but also in nurturing intergenerational connections. The Wilderness Inner-city Leadership Development (W.I.L.D.) program provides leadership development opportunities that build a strong foundation for youth from immigrant and refugee families to focus on environmental and social justice issues that impact the CID.

SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES: We are advocates for our community and neighborhood through policy development and neighborhood planning. We work on planning efforts and projects to ensure that neighborhood growth and development is balanced with the needs of the API and other immigrant/refugee communities. Our Healthy Communities Program has defined the unique challenges to mental and physical well-being we face in the CID and identifies strategies and actions that will bring our community closer to its vision of a healthier, safer, and more livable CID.

ADVOCACY AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT: Since 1969, we have worked on projects to improve our community’s food systems, social and economic services, public art, parks, and streetscape projects. We also work within the API community to register voters, provide interpretation for election-related events and activities, and ensure all of our voices are heard.