Twenty Six Years ago the site where The Northeast Community Center now stands was a “field of dreams” for Northeast neighbors.  Although the period was a particularly difficult economic time, Citizens of Northeast Spokane were able to convince City officials that bringing services together under one roof would enable a high level of collaboration among service providers and support neighbors in their efforts to be self-sufficient. 

In 1982, the Center opened its doors. Six agencies operated in the newly constructed space under a collaborative model that maximized the effectiveness of the available resources and became a nationally recognized model for delivery of human services.  Most of the early partners continue as a part of the collaboration in 2004

As the model of service matured, neighbors began to see the Community Center as a HUB of activity.  Steering committees and planning groups met in the Center.   The Greater Hillyard Business Association, the Hillyard Neighborhood Council, COPS- Northeast and the Hillyard Skate Park all trace their roots to meetings in the facility.

In the early 1990’s the Hillyard Steering Committee took the lead in addressing the needs of low-income seniors who wanted to stay in the neighborhood but could no longer manage the upkeep of their large homes.  Partnering with Saint John’s Properties, a 40-unit addition to Winchester Court, HUD subsidized apartments for seniors was constructed to wrap around the Center.

During this same period, the Spokane Public Library won support in a bond issue to build new Library facilities.  In Hillyard, the new branch library was built on the campus of the Northeast Community Center. 

Head Start established classrooms in the Center and the demand for medical services outpaced the capacity of the small existing clinic.  Responding to the opportunity to better serve families, the Board of NECCA undertook its first major expansion, adding 5,000 square feet to the existing facility.

By the later years of the decade, families who needed to work were struggling to find Child Care.  With many Northeast households headed by single parents and even more households supported by two working parent, the NECCA Board, Head Start, and SPOC launched efforts to construct an 8400 square foot addition to provide quality child care services...  

Today, these successful programs have outgrown the space available; making a crucial step in continuing services....