Blog Articles

Join us in Celebrating President Jimmy Carter’s 100th Birthday

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Habitat for Humanity Seattle-King & Kittitas Counties joins with other Habitat affiliates around the world in wishing President Jimmy Carter a very happy 100th birthday. We are honored by President Carter and the late-Mrs. Carter’s incredible legacy of support for affordable housing and home ownership, dating back four decades.

A Brief History: 

  • In March 1984, President and Mrs. Carter worked with Habitat for Humanity in Americus, Georgia. They quickly realized that Habitat’s mission closely aligned with their values, and a partnership was formed. Just a few months later, in September of that same year, the Carters led a Habitat for Humanity work group to New York, serving 19 families in need of safe, affordable housing. That was the inaugural Carter Work Project.
  • For more than 40 years, President Carter has been a champion and strong voice for affordable, decent housing for all.
  • Through 2019, President and Mrs. Carter hosted Habitat for Humanity’s Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project. Although 2019 was the last year that President and Mrs. Carter were able to work on the build site, President Carter has continued support of Habitat for Humanity’s mission through advocacy.
  • Their efforts have helped raise awareness of the critical need for decent and affordable housing in the U.S. and around the world.
  • Inspiring millions, President Carter has worked alongside more than 104,000 volunteers in 14 countries to build, renovate and repair 4,390 homes.

Here are several ways everyone can be involved in the celebration:

  • Support the 2024 Carter Work Project. This project will bring together volunteers, homeowners, and supporters to build 30 new homes in The Heights, located in the Twin Cities and led by Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity.
  • Contribute a photo to The Carter Center’s photo mosaic project. Upload a photo and message to create a mosaic that reflects President Carter’s incredible life and legacy.
  • Tune in to watch the Carter Center’s Landmark Concert Event Jimmy Carter 100: A Celebration in Song on demand, starting Oct. 1 at 7 PM EDT (learn more here).
  • Join Habitat for Humanity Seattle-King & Kittitas Counties on social media (@HabitatSKC: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X) in wishing President Carter a Happy 100th Birthday!
  • And, if you would like to get involved locally, visit Habitat for Humanity Seattle-King & Kittitas Counties online at www.habitatskc.org to learn about opportunities to volunteer. 

The Puget Sound Business Journal: Habitat for Humanity breaks ground on condo project in Seattle

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On an empty lot in South Seattle on Monday, Habitat for Humanity Seattle-King & Kittitas Counties hosted a ceremonial groundbreaking for its largest single-building multifamily project in the U.S.

The five-story, 58-unit condominium development at 5022 Martin Luther King Jr. Way is intended for first-time homebuyers making less than 80% of area median income.

Brett D’Antonio, CEO of Habitat for Humanity Seattle-King and Kittitas Counties, called it the most complicated project the organization has done in the Puget Sound region.

“We spent a lot of time over the last two years during pre-development figuring out what changes we need to make to fit our business model to make sure it was successful,” D’Antonio said.

Click the link to read the full article.

Groundbreaking at 5022 MLK Marks Largest Habitat Single Building Project in U.S.

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On Monday, September 16, Habitat for Humanity Seattle-King & Kittitas Counties broke ground on 5022 MLK in the Columbia City neighborhood. With 58 affordable housing units, 5022 MLK is our largest endeavor to date, surpassing the Miller’s Creek 40-home project underway in Burien, where we broke ground in August. 

Slated for completion in Spring of 2028, 5022 MLK is also the largest Habitat for Humanity single building multi-family project in the country—surpassing the previous largest single building project, the 56-unit Sydney House in the Bronx borough of New York. 

In attendance and speaking were Lt. Governor Denny Heck and Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell, both champions of affordable housing, as well as Lily Kim with Amazon’s Housing Equity Fund and Habitat Homebuyer Elena D. 

5022 MLK capitalizes on smart density design with five stories of condominiums, including five studios, 26 one-bedroom units, and 27 two-bedroom units with homes ranging in size from 370 to 690 square-feet. The project will also include a 2,000 square-foot outdoor courtyard designed to encourage a sense of shared community within the project.

Located in Seattle’s culturally and economically diverse Columbia City neighborhood, 5022 MLK is a Transit Oriented Development (TOD). The site is located just two blocks from the Columbia City Light Rail Station for easy access to jobs, schools, restaurants, and services. Legislative work conducted by Habitat SKKC in 2023 helped to make the project possible by securing a $6 million investment from Washington State.

As with all new home projects developed by Habitat SKKC in King County, this community will offer families making less than 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI) affordable homes with mortgages set at no more than 35% of their incomes. The property will be placed in a Land Trust ensuring permanent affordability for future generations. In an area with average home prices at $850,000 and rising, these homes will ensure that families with low incomes continue to have a place to build lives in Seattle for generations to come. 

The 5022 MLK project was made possible through the support of Washington State, The City of Seattle, Washington State Department of Commerce, Amazon and the National Housing Trust, Washington Trust Bank, and the Washington State Department of Ecology.

Celebrating Nearly 32,000 Hours of Volunteer Commitment

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More than 120 devoted Habitat for Humanity SKKC fans spent a beautiful summer evening at T-Mobile Park on Thursday, August 8 for our annual Volunteer Appreciation Night. Habitat staff, volunteers, and donors came out to soak up the sun and get to know so many others with whom they share a commitment to build safe and affordable housing for all in the Puget Sound region.    

It was also an opportunity to celebrate this year’s exceptional volunteers and generous donors. Enthusiastic applause punctuated the Volunteer Awards presentation with Jim O’Farrell earning this year’s Volunteer of the Year award for his tireless work on this year’s Interfaith Build – the largest to-date in our affiliate’s history. 

More outstanding volunteers who earned recognition:

  • Jerry Haas earned the Construction Lifetime Achievement Award
  • Kayla Shuster Sasaki is this year’s Advocacy Volunteer of the Year
  • Paul Gustie was awarded Homeowner Services Volunteer of the Year
  • Addison Hawk, is the Habitat Stores Volunteer of the Year

Habitat’s Volunteer Program Manager Caroline Keck reported, “We all made our way to the ballgame to see the Mariners face off against the Detroit Tigers.” With plenty of popcorn, beer, and laughter, she said everyone had a blast. The excitement continued when the Mariners clinched a dramatic win in the bottom of the 9th inning, capping off a fantastic evening with a thrilling finish!

If you, your family or company would like to volunteer with Habitat for Humanity SKKC, please contact Caroline Keck at caroline.keck@habitatskc.org