On January 11, we welcomed four families to their new neighborhood, Yarrow Cottages. Located in Seattle’s bustling South Park neighborhood, Yarrow Cottages is a 26-unit project that is currently slated for completion in Summer 2026.
Residents of the newly completed Phase II gathered on a chilly winter day to find warmth from their new neighbors. Ranging from solo buyers to two-person families, they all gathered in community with Habitat staff for the dedication ceremony.
Rachael Campbell, Homebuyer Retention and Closing Specialist, says of the homeowners, “This is a celebration of all their hard work and dedication toward owning a home. It’s also a chance to recognize everyone who contributed, from the homeowners themselves to the construction staff, AmeriCorps members, and volunteers.”
View the video below for highlights from the celebration.
Habitat for Humanity Seattle-King & Kittitas Counties is pleased to announce Seattle Storm Legend Sue Bird as the 2025 ‘Beyond the Build” Luncheon Speaker. Our largest fundraiser of the year will take place on Thursday, June 5 at the Seattle Convention Center – Summit Building. To secure a table or become a luncheon sponsor please visit: Beyond the Build Luncheon 2025 – Habitat for Humanity Seattle-King & Kittitas Counties
After a championed career spanning three decades and regarded as the world’s premier point guard, Sue Bird has left her mark on the WNBA and the world of women’s sports. The league’s All-Time Leader in Assists retired in September 2022 and has since tapped into her progressive entrepreneurial spirit.
Bird dominated at every level in basketball. She is one of only seven women to win: an Olympic Gold Medal (she’s won five), a World Championship Gold Medal (she’s won four), an NCAA Championship (she’s won two), and a WNBA Championship (she’s won four – the last just weeks before her 40th birthday). Sue is also a five-time EuroLeague Champion, a thirteen-time WNBA All-Star, 2021 USA Basketball Female Athlete of the Year, and was voted by the fans as one of the WNBA’s Top 15 Players of All Time. Following Sue’s retirement in 2022, her jersey was retired by the Seattle Storm, making her only the second player in franchise history to have received that honor and in 2024, she officially joined the Seattle Storm ownership group.
In 2021, Bird co-founded Togethxr – a woman-centered media group – alongside Alex Morgan, Simone Manuel and Chloe Kim, to further the progress, culture, representation, and coverage of all women and girls in sport. Through Togethxr, Sue produced Power of the Dream, a documentary from director Dawn Porter on the WNBA and their fight for social justice which had a major impact on US politics in 2020; and the successful six-part podcast series, “Summer of Gold,” about the American female athletes who dominated in the 1996 Atlanta games, which will be adapted into a television limited series with Bird as one of the executive producers on the project.
Sue hosted “Sue’s Places,” a take on Peyton Manning’s signature ESPN+ Original series, where she explores the history and traditions of college basketball; over the past several years, she and best friend Diana Taurasi have hosted their popular ‘alterna-cast’ “The Bird & Taurasi Show” with their coverage of the Women’s Final Four; and Sue Bird: In the Clutch, a documentary on her historic career premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and is currently available on Netflix.
At the end of 2022, Sue and her fiancé and soccer legend, Megan Rapinoe, launched A Touch More, a production company focused on promoting narratives around revolutionaries who move culture forward. The company will amplify stories focused on identity, activism, and underrepresented groups. Their first TV scripted series, “Playing the Field,” (based off the best-selling novel, Cleat Cute) is currently in development.
Sue has quickly established herself as a true trailblazer as a former athlete segueing into the mainstream media business with an unparalleled perspective. Her vocal stance on racial, gender, and LGBTQIA+ equity has made her a cornerstone in athletic representation and allyship. She is an outspoken and visible activist advocating for Black Lives, equality, health and wellness and expanding opportunities for girls and all marginalized people.
It is with heavy hearts and deep gratitude that we remember former President Jimmy Carter, who passed away yesterday at the age of 100. Together with his wife, Rosalynn, President Carter led by example, working alongside volunteers to build homes and strengthen communities through the Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project. His unwavering dedication and advocacy transformed the lives of thousands.
“We join with others around the world in mourning the passing of President Jimmy Carter. The legacy he leaves behind in the Habitat homes he and Mrs. Carter built, and in the progress achieved in the fight for affordable housing and home ownership, will endure for generations to come. May President Carter’s life of service and his spirit of generosity continue to be an example to us all.” —Brett D’Antonio, CEO, Habitat for Humanity Seattle-King & Kittitas Counties
After leaving the White House, the Carters sought out meaningful ways to continue their commitment to social justice and basic human rights. They first volunteered with Habitat for Humanity in Americus, Georgia, near their home of Plains, in March 1984. Later that same year, the Carters joined Habitat volunteers in New York City’s Lower East Side to renovate an abandoned building in partnership with families in need of affordable housing. That trip marked Habitat for Humanity’s first Jimmy Carter Work Project (later renamed the Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project). Each year since then until 2019, the Carters volunteered with Habitat to build or improve houses alongside homeowners in communities across the United States and around the world. President Carter also served as a member of the organization’s board of directors from 1984-1987.
“We are deeply saddened by President Carter’s passing, and our prayers are with the rest of the Carter family,” said Jonathan Reckford, CEO of Habitat for Humanity International. “President and Mrs. Carter began volunteering with Habitat for Humanity near their home in southwest Georgia, soon bringing worldwide attention to the need for decent and affordable housing. We are grateful for the incredible impact the Carters have had on Habitat and on the families who have benefited from their shining example. The Carters put Habitat for Humanity on the map, and their legacy will live on in every family we serve around the world.”
“I think every human being has within himself or herself a desire to reach out to others and to share some of our blessings with those who are in need,” President Carter has said. “What’s opened up that avenue for me and my wife and hundreds and thousands of others is Habitat for Humanity. It makes it easy for us to reach out and work side by side with the homeowner who’s never had a decent house, perhaps. I haven’t been on a Habitat project that I wasn’t thrilled and inspired, and wept.”
Over the last three decades, the Carter Work Project has touched lives around the world by inspiring more than 108,000 volunteers across the U.S. and in 14 countries to build, renovate and repair 4,447 Habitat homes. Since its founding in 1976, Habitat has served more than 62 million people around the world.
In 2016, Habitat named President and Mrs. Carter as the inaugural Habitat Humanitarians for their extraordinary dedication to service in alignment with Habitat’s vision of a world where everyone has a decent place to live.
Habitat SKKC will commemorate President Carter’s life of service with local observances. Details will be shared shortly.
Change doesn’t happen all at once – it’s built slowly, through the dedication of people and rooted in the conviction that there is good worth working for.
In Washington, recent breakthroughs like passing Middle Housing (HB 1110), ADU legalization (HB 1337), and renewing the Seattle Housing Levy reflect the power of this commitment. As pandemic era funding continues to sunset in 2025, the challenge now is clear: local and state leaders must double down to sustain progress, scale proven programs, and address persistent development barriers.
This fall, Habitat for Humanity SKKC’s advocacy efforts made meaningful headway on several fronts:
In King County, we championed support for a revolving construction loan program as part of the County Council’s Workforce Housing Initiative. This initiative has now advanced to the County Executive, marking a big step toward faster, more efficient housing development.
In Seattle, our coalition played a critical role in shaping the Comprehensive Plan update to build on statewide reforms. While the updates reflect significant progress, we’re pushing to expand density bonuses beyond Neighborhood Residential zones and refining design standards to keep housing production on track. At the same time, we’re advocating for Payroll Expense Tax funds to directly address housing needs.
On the Eastside, our partnerships with the Bellevue Roundtable and Eastside Affordable Housing Coalition spurred important changes. Updates to Bellevue’s Wilburton neighborhood plan will unlock new housing opportunities, and the creation of a dedicated Office of Housing—secured in the latest budget—will streamline and expedite future construction projects.
Looking ahead to the 2025 legislative session, we’re laser-focused on four priorities: expanding investment in proven programs like the Housing Trust Fund and CHIP, implementing solutions to close the racial homeownership gap, establishing dedicated funding tools like revolving construction loan funds, and removing regulatory barriers that slow affordable housing development. With over 300 units in our pipeline, we’re working with legislators to create lasting solutions for affordable homeownership across Washington state.
These achievements – and the work still ahead – represent more than legislative wins; they are tangible steps toward ensuring everyone has a safe, decent, and affordable place to call home.
Please join us in our efforts by signing up for Habitat SKKC’s Advocacy Alertshere.
Habitat’s building schedules don’t pause in the winter, and many projects must stay on track to meet deadlines. Volunteers are critical to ensuring that construction continues, regardless of the season, so families can move into their homes as planned. Habitat SKKC’s Winter Warriors are dedicated volunteers who brave the winter chill to help at our Construction Sites and Habitat Stores from December to March and we are always looking for more!
The need for safe, warm, and affordable housing is especially urgent during colder months. Completing homes or making progress on construction during winter helps ensure families aren’t left waiting longer than necessary, especially as harsh weather highlights the challenges of inadequate housing. By participating in Winter Warriors, you can make a meaningful impact in the community by building safe, affordable homes.
As a bonus, you also have the chance to win exciting prizes along the way. For example, the top 10 individual volunteers by hours will receive a custom Winter Warriors beanie and all volunteers who join us will receive handwarmers, Winter Warriors stickers, along with a sense of pride!
Winter Warrior $5K Sponsorship opportunities are now available. Not only does a sponsorship help your team bond and enjoy the winter season—it also provides vital construction materials and support for building homes for families in need.
Winter Warriors selflessly work in challenging winter conditions to improve lives, and as a sponsor, you play a crucial role in making that happen. Your team will participate in three (3) volunteer days December through March with team sizes ranging from 5-15 people. Habitat will keep your team warm and energized with hot chocolate and donuts served at your volunteer day! Each team member present at the volunteer day will receive a custom Winter Warriors beanie hat.
