Success Stories

Habitat Repairs Keep a Hub of Comfort Going

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Ivory Haywood embarked on a big adventure in 1972 when she followed her older brother to Seattle from rural Mississippi. He came here to join a pro basketball team and Ivory came in search of opportunity for herself. She’s still living in South Seattle and raising her twin granddaughters in the home she purchased in 1994.

As a single mother, Ivory raised one biological child, one adopted child and two others in foster care. “I’ve had 30 or 40 foster kids in my care over the years. There are so many kids who need a home.”  She did all this while engaged in a 33-year career with the City of Seattle administrative offices.

It’s an understatement to say Ivory’s home is a hub of comfort for her family and community. The repairs Habitat provided included waterproofing, significant deck repair, installing handrails and grab bars and retaining wall repair. These updates make her feel safe and more secure in her home as she ages in place and as her granddaughters grow up.

A recent cancer diagnosis and treatment rendered Ivory somewhat disabled. Her eldest daughter has moved into her home to help, and the Habitat repairs have enhanced their home life.  “Habitat did some magnificent things for us. I didn’t think I’d need it so soon, but that new deck allows me to get outdoors and enjoy the air.”

Ivory is looking forward to returning to the volunteer work that sustains her emotionally and spiritually. “Helping others helps my mental health,” she says. She is involved with Kinship (a group of seniors who care for others in their community); she volunteers with Catholic Community Services; and has been an active church member. The Habitat repairs will make it possible for her to continue that work when her cancer treatment is complete.

Ivory sings Habitat’s praises every chance she gets and has been delighted with the quality of the craftsmanship. “It is totally amazing how everything has turned out. I don’t have the words to say how wonderful it is. Habitat has saved me from so much.”

Car Donation Pays Off for Habitat and for Donors

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Most of us remember our first car. 

For Sudhanshu Kumar, his first car meant independence in his new country. 

“When I moved to the States, before I learned how to drive or owned this car, I had to rely on others to move around,” he said.

Once he earned his license and his Hyundai Tiburon, Sudhanshu was free to go wherever he wanted. 

“I still remember finding the best pancake place in the city and driving this car to get there.  That’s one of the moments I felt such immense happiness and freedom.”

Sudhanshu recently donated his Tiburon and all those memories to Habitat for Humanity’s Cars for Homes program.

“I thank this car for such wonderful memories, and while I part with it, I am also happy to know if it might be of some use and value to others in need.”

Indeed, Sudhanshu’s generous donation will provide significant support to Habitat’s mission of providing everyone a decent and affordable place to live. Since 2005, Habitat’s nationwide Cars for Homes program has raised more than $30 million and repurposed over 120,000 cars. 

In addition to helping fund affordable homeownership, the Cars for Homes program helps to reduce carbon emissions in our atmosphere. According to a carbon reduction study by Worcester Polytech Institute, cars recycled properly can play a big role in reducing carbon emissions in the automotive manufacturing industry because recycling reduces the need to refine new materials.

Sudhanshu learned about Habitat’s Cars for Homes program from an ad on a Metro bus.

“I was commuting here in Seattle when I saw a sticker for an option to donate the car. I knew then and there if I ever parted ways with my Hyundai Tiburon, that’s what I would do. Being able to do that is such a wonderful feeling.”

Habitat’s Cars for Homes program is a win-win for potential homeowners, for the environment and it’s personally gratifying for the donor.  Donating a vehicle – cars, trucks, RVs, vans, SUVs, boats, and motorcycles, running or not – is simple.  Towing is free! And many are tax deductible. Click the link for details and instructions.

Habitat Adds New Roof and New Life to Old Home

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After months of searching for help to repair their home, Carlean and Eddie Green finally found the support they needed through Habitat for Humanity SKKC. Their Skyway home, where they have lived for more than 30 years, was in dire need of repair, especially the leaking roof that posed a threat to the entire house. Despite applying to various organizations that provide assistance to older adults, the Greens either didn’t qualify financially or the necessary funding was unavailable. With time running out, Carlean turned to Habitat for help, following a friend’s recommendation.

What set Habitat apart was their approach. Unlike other organizations, Habitat didn’t require the Greens to have money in the bank or be free of credit card debt. The Habitat team got right to work, understanding the urgency of the situation. In just 15 days, they replaced the roof, gutters, and eaves of the 64-year-old ranch-style home. Eddie, who is retired and disabled, praised the Habitat repair team, highlighting their professionalism and efficiency. They promptly addressed any additional issues they encountered during the repairs, keeping the Greens informed throughout the process. Carlean also commended the team for their politeness and respect.

“They (the Habitat team) got right to work,” Carlean said.

The total cost of the repair project, including the brand-new roof, was estimated at $17,000 by Eddie.

“We didn’t have to pay a cent,” Eddie said. 

Thanks to Habitat’s assistance, Carlean can now care for her six-month-old grandson while his mother works, free from the anxiety caused by the deteriorating condition of their home.

If given the opportunity to express his gratitude to the Habitat team, Eddie would offer his heartfelt thanks and a warm hug. For him, Habitat for Humanity is at the top of his list, representing a beacon of hope and a source of immense support in their time of need.

The Greens’ experience with Habitat for Humanity SKKC serves as a powerful testament to the organization’s mission and impact. By providing affordable housing solutions and critical home repairs, Habitat ensures that families like the Greens can continue to live in safe and sustainable homes. Their work goes beyond construction; it builds communities, preserves legacies, and transforms lives.

Habitat’s commitment to serving those in need, regardless of their financial circumstances, is truly commendable. Through their efforts, families can maintain the stability and security they deserve, creating a brighter future for themselves and the generations to come.

Carlean and Eddie Green’s story is a reminder of the profound impact that organizations like Habitat for Humanity have on individuals and communities. Their dedication to providing shelter and restoring homes not only improves living conditions but also instills hope, dignity, and a sense of belonging. It is through the unwavering support of organizations like Habitat that dreams are preserved, families are empowered, and communities thrive.

Tyler Town Welcomes New Habitat Homeowners

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“For me, it’s about realizing the American Dream,” said Marian Hom as she accepted the keys to her new Habitat home at Tyler Town in North Bend. Along with her partner Tim Martin, and six other families, Marian’s dream came true on Saturday, April 15 at the Tyler Town Dedication ceremony. Just 18 months ago, Habitat for Humanity SKKC Board members, staff, and local North Bend officials broke ground at Tyler Town, which Habitat volunteers and the qualifying families then worked together to complete.

In this region where the median home price is $1.2 million, seven families whose dream of homeownership seemed unattainable, moved into their 1,250 sq. ft., three bedrooms, 1.5 bath homes with the promise of long-term financial stability, independence, and equity-building that homeownership provides. This was made possible through the generosity of the late George J. Krsak whose family who donated Tyler Town’s land to Habitat for Humanity three years ago. 

George J. Krsak grew up in the small town of Tyler, WA, outside Spokane, hence the Tyler Town name for Habitat’s development.  He and his wife Rita Horan raised their family on the values of commitment to community. At the Dedication Ceremony, George Krsak’s daughter Mimi reflected on her father’s life as the sixth of seven children in an immigrant farming family. “The people of the town of Tyler helped each other. They birthed their babies at home. They educated their children. They shared what food they had. They cared for the sick and they buried their dead.”

The bequest of the Krsak land has already infused Tyler Town with that spirit of community. Mimi Krsak went on to say “Our family is proud to share our heritage with these seven families. And we wish you joy and the peace that comes with family and neighborly solidarity. Stay together, love and forgive each other. Believe in the best for all as you have been given. Someday it will be your turn to give. May the circle of kinship ever increase.”

Krsak’s wish for the new homeowners in Tyler Town mirrors the hope Habitat for Humanity Seattle-King & Kittitas Counties places into every home it builds. Habitat CEO Brett D’Antonio put it this way, “Tyler Town exemplifies what is possible with a real estate donation. By donating this land, the Krsak family transformed what was once a single-home property into homes for seven families who can now thrive and contribute to this area of high opportunity. A gift of real estate provides tax benefits to the donor, while helping transform the lives of local families with safe, decent, affordable housing.”

In conveying his deep gratitude to the Krsak family, Brett D’Antonio said, “Tyler Town is one of 14 projects Habitat has under construction or in the permitting stage, totaling more than 260 homes, from North Bend, to Burien, in Seattle, Renton, Ellensburg, Bothell, and Bellevue. The pipeline is a mix of family sized homes as well as one- and two-bedroom condos. Habitat staff members are working on several additional projects that will likely be announced by year’s end.”

At the Dedication, Habitat board member and North Bend resident, Jonathan Pearlstein expressed the reality of the work Habitat does, “We all hear and read a lot about the nationwide crisis of lack of affordable homes. We don’t have to travel anywhere to witness it. The crisis is right here in our town. Well, many of you here today have picked up hammers and struck your blows against the crisis right on this very site.”

Along with Pearlstein, the new homeowners were welcomed by North Bend’s mayor Bob McFarland who expressed pride in his community’s support for their new neighbors. U.S. Representative Kim Schrier praised Habitat for its commitment to providing affordable homeownership as “…the key to stability and safety.”

If you are interested in speaking with Habitat for Humanity SKKC about land donation, please contact Chief Development Officer Amy Farrier at amy.farrier@habitatskc.org 

Habitat’s Capitol View Community Houses Women-Led Families

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For 16 years, women from all walks of life, corporate and independent businesses and organizations have worked with Habitat for Humanity Seattle-King & Kittitas Counties to fund projects, build homes, and revitalize neighborhoods via the Women Build program.  Over the course of three weeks this year, from April 29 through May 13, working side-by-side with our homeowners and volunteers, women will once again empower one another and help to address the affordable housing crisis.  

Habitat’s recently dedicated community in Capitol Hill – Capitol View – is another in the growing list of examples of how women are supporting women to obtain safe, affordable housing in the region. Nine of the 13 new homes in the Capitol View development are now owned by women-led families.  For a virtual tour of the Capitol View development, follow this link: Capitol View Virtual Tour

Meet the Vo Family

When Willa Vo and her family accepted the keys to their Capitol View home on March 4, it was the reward for six years of hard work.  Willa and her family landed in Seattle from Vietnam, when housing prices were two-thirds below today’s.  Willa, her mother Truc, and sister Thalia worked hard and saved. Still, area home prices outpaced their efforts, making a market home purchase impossible. But Habitat’s Capitol View development revived their hopes for homeownership. “Habitat for Humanity helped me have a home with an affordable price,” says Willa. Today, she and her Mom have shorter commutes to their work in an Amazon fulfillment warehouse.  Thalia is a full time UW student, and they all pursue their love of exploring the region with the free time they’ve gained.  “We have our own completely-new-home, and the affordable mortgage allows us to save for our next dream – opening a restaurant.”

Veronica Fleming Helps Others with Housing

Veronica Fleming moved from Atlanta to Seattle in summer 2021 with a freshly earned bachelor’s degree in psychology and a new job as a Housing Social Worker. She quickly fell in love with the city, especially Capitol Hill. However, when she arrived in Seattle, she learned homeownership was beyond her financial reach…until she found Habitat. Today, Veronica enjoys her own home in the Capitol View development. From her work with housing, she’s keenly aware of the important role housing stability plays in the stability of life overall. She already enjoys the reduction in anxiety that comes with permanent, stable, affordable housing and the welcome impact it’s having on her mental health. “Owning my own home brings me stability, not just rent stability but consistency and lack of fear of leases ending.” And Veronica now has easy access to all there is to discover in and around the city from her Capitol Hill home.

Resilience is Becauley Elsie’s Super Power

Becaley Elsie could be a poster child for resilience.  She came to Seattle from Phoenix, AZ  to work with a theater group. When that opportunity evaporated, she found herself homeless and jobless for a short time, but she was already in love with the city and determined to stay. She found a job as a commercial bus driver while completing her sweat equity hours and preparing to move into her new Capitol View home.  Becauley and her four ‘cat daughters’ accepted the keys to their new home on March 4, delighted for the space to “chase anything that moves,” and the room to host her beloved nephew when he visits. Today she’s concentrating her efforts on a career in podcasting, art, stand-up, and running workshops to heal trauma, while pursuing her passion for small theater. She specializes in the healing process and hopes to expand her reach to help more people. She’s happy to be living in the city where she’s close to the arts and diversity. With her Habitat home, Becauley happily declares, “I am breaking a generational cycle of never owning a home.”

These women and the others currently housed in the Capitol View community have benefited directly from the efforts of other women through Women Build.  This year’s two-week event culminates with a Women of Impact Build on May 6, where volunteers come together to build new affordable homes for hardworking, low-income families at a local project.

It’s not too late to sign up for a spot at Women Build – click here for more information: Habitat for Humaniity SKKC Women Build