During our annual Pride Build, we brought local members of the LGBTQ+ community, partner organizations, and allies together to support Habitat SKKC’s affordable homeownership programs and LGBTQ+ homeowners.
According to the 2024 King County Comprehensive Plan, “LGBTQ+ people experience systematic disparities in Washington State, including higher rates of housing instability, homelessness, cost burden, poverty, and less access to care and other services. LGBTQ+ residents in King County need access to affordable housing in neighborhoods where they feel safe and connected to the community.”
We kept this information top of mind as we gathered our community together to raise awareness of the need for affordable housing for all.
During this year’s Pride Build, which ran from June 18 through June 28, over 100 individual and corporate volunteers worked onsite at our Yarrow Cottages (South Park) and Miller’s Creek (Burien) builds. All volunteers took on tasks ranging from framing interior and exterior walls to installing cedar plank siding. They learned new construction skills while giving back to their community.
In addition to individual build days, we welcomed three groups for sponsor builds: Amazon, Symetra, and GenCap.
“It was a great day! We learned a lot about Habitat, and the team was all lovely to work with. I’m still a bit sore and with a new appreciation for construction work myself,” said Roxanne Grantham, HCLS Global Account Manager at Amazon.
Habitat SKKC Site Manager Brendan Lersch brought out a group of volunteers from Seattle Frontrunners, a local running and walking club for the LGBTQIA+ community and its allies, for a weekend day of service.
Lersch explained his reason for volunteering at this year’s Pride Build: “I often feel like Pride events are geared towards allies and don’t take time to recruit queer focused-groups. I wanted to bring out Frontrunners because I knew they would represent and work hard. It was raining on Saturday and everyone showed up because runners are like that. They don’t let rain stop them.”
The two weeks of volunteerism culminated in Habitat SKKC’s participation in the annual Seattle Pride Parade on Sunday, June 29. Over 20 staff members, volunteers, and community members marched alongside another 250+ organizations in support of LGBTQ+ rights.
Fran Reeves, HR Coordinator at Habitat SKKC, said, “I march in the Pride Parade every year to celebrate love, inclusion, and equality alongside my family, colleagues, and community members. Sharing this experience with my family and friends makes it even more meaningful as we show our support together.”
Throughout Pride Build, Habitat SKKC raised awareness of affordable homeownership’s power to transform lives for the better—because everyone deserves a place to call home.