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A Safer, More Accessible Home: Mike and Janice S.’s Repair Story 

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Longtime married couple Mike and Janice grew up in Seattle and began dating in high school. They live in Kent, where they have been in their home since 1976. They have two children, a son and a daughter. Their son currently lives at home with them, and their daughter and her husband live close by. 

Throughout their working years, Mike worked as a welder. He also enjoyed hunting, a lifelong interest, and spent much of his free time outdoors. Today, he enjoys growing vegetables in their garden, raising chickens, and spending time outside.  

Janice, who has been diagnosed with MS, is wheelchair bound, which means that important improvements were needed to make their home to be more accessible for her. Although they had long been aware of Habitat for Humanity and remembered Jimmy Carter’s involvement with the organization, they did not know they could receive assistance themselves. Their case manager connected them with Habitat’s repair program. 

During their repair project, Habitat SKKC completed several improvements to their home, including installing new flooring, replacing round door handles with lever handles, completing trim work in the bedroom, and installing grab bars in the shower. The team also provided Mike and Janice with information about other programs that might be able to assist them with future repair needs.  

The recently completed repairs have already made a difference in their daily lives. Mike explained that standard door handles can be difficult to use because he has arthritis and Janice is in a wheelchair. The new door handles are easier for them to operate. The new flooring has also improved Janice’s mobility throughout the home. Mike noted that the lift used to move Janice from bed now glides smoothly across the floor, making daily caregiving easier. 

They expressed appreciation for the Habitat team, noting that staff pointed out additional issues, offered guidance on future assistance, and connected them with resources for further repairs. They felt supported throughout the process and were grateful not only for the completed work but also for the information and encouragement they received. 

Looking ahead, they hope to stay connected with Habitat and would welcome the opportunity to work with the organization again if future needs arise. The repairs have improved both their physical comfort and peace of mind, and they expect the changes to continue benefiting their quality of life. 

This project was made possible by the generous support of the 2026 Lowe’s Repair Grant.

Second Annual A Full House for Habitat Gala Raises $300,000!

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Habitat SKKC hosted our most successful fundraising event to date in Kittitas County with the second annual A Full House for Habitat Gala. Thanks to our event sponsors, Tucci & Sons, Suncadia, and Legends Casino, and the generous support of event attendees, we raised $300,000 to build and preserve affordable housing in our community!  

Held at White Barn Retreats in Cle Elum, A Full House for Habitat Gala happened on a stunning fall evening filled with generosity, connection, and community. Attendees enjoyed a silent auction, yard games, live music, a dessert dash, and more. John Curley energized the room during the live auction, helping secure critical funds for Habitat’s mission. Every detail of the event reflected the character and generosity of Kittitas County. 

But the most meaningful moments were the stories. A local surgeon shared why he chooses to volunteer his time with Habitat and what service to his community means to him. We also heard from a current Habitat homeowner who spoke about what having a safe, stable home has meant for herself, her sister, and her son with autism. 

Kittitas Area Director Stephanie Bohman summed it up perfectly, “Those stories brought the evening back to why we build. A Habitat home is more than a house. It is a solid foundation from which families can build stability, opportunity, and belonging—and from which generations can write the next chapters of their lives.”

 The gala provided the perfect setting for celebrating an important milestone: This year, we completed the final phase of our 18-home Stuart Meadows neighborhood. This Saturday, October 3, we’ll welcome another six families to their homes. We have closed the chapter on this Kittitas County development and are excited to turn the page to the next two: Willow Street (Ellensburg) and Floral Avenue (Cle Elum). 

The gala was an opportunity to take a break from the important work of building affordable housing to do something else important: Gather in community. Throughout the year, we see many of our supporters out on our construction sites, in our Ellensburg Store, at City Hall, and at our annual Give & Golf event. They make our work possible by donating resources, time, and voices to affordable homeownership, and for that we are forever grateful. Seeing them at the gala gives us all a chance to reflect on and celebrate our previous year’s accomplishments and dream together about what we’ll accomplish next year. 

Building a Better World Together: Habitat SKKC’s Fall 2026 Women Build 

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The 2026 Fall Women Build, held over two weeks in September, saw over 100 volunteers donate their time and energy into building homes and inspiring other women to work on construction sites. This season’s build took place at Yarrow Townhomes and Riverbend Comunidad in Seattle’s South Park neighborhood, along with volunteer days at the Habitat Stores and Volunteer Workshop.  

Women Build is an affinity build that celebrates women heads of household, who make up 60% of Habitat homeowners. It is also about creating welcoming construction sites where women feel comfortable accessing this industry. Onsite mentorship means that those who have blazed a trail in the construction industry help to lift the next generation.  

Women Build is also about recognizing inequities that still exist in the construction industry, and that meaningful change requires both individual and structural investment. Liz Mathiesen, a former AmeriCorps turned Habitat SKKC staffer on the Construction team, said of her time in the industry, “Construction sites have a reputation for being boys’ clubs, and unfortunately, that reputation has a lot of validity. Women have been historically excluded from the trades—and given that most tools, equipment, and PPE in use today are designed exclusively for men, that history is far from over. As someone who regularly makes do with high-vis vests and work gloves that don’t quite fit, I’m reminded all the time that the construction industry has a long way to go when it comes to including women.” 

This event reflects our commitment to doing the work needed to make construction a more welcoming field to all. Most importantly, Women Build—and particularly the Women of Impact Day—is about the power of gathering in community, as women celebrating and supporting other women.   

Women of Impact, the premiere event of Women Build held on September 12, saw over 30 volunteers participate in one action-packed day at our Riverbend Comunidad site. The morning kicked off with an orientation, speeches from Habitat SKKC’s CEO Brett D’Antonio and Lily Kim, Principal at Amazon, and safety instructions from Liz Mathiesen.  

Participants also heard from Danacia S., one of Habitat’s homeowners, who discussed what being a first-time homeowner has meant to her: “Homeownership gave me the security I needed to start building a life instead of simply trying to survive. My home has given me a foundation. It has given me a place to heal, a place to create, a place to work, and a place to imagine what comes next.” 

Led by Habitat SKKC staff, volunteers at Women of Impact had a variety of projects to work on at the build site, from framing walls to building planter boxes. The day brought out many groups, from coworkers to friends to a couple of mother-daughter duos, including Habitat SKKC Senior Manager of Repair Kate Lemly and her mom, Kathleen. Kathleen said proudly of her time onsite, “It’s a delight to be anywhere my daughter is. I’m inspired by her leadership.” 

The ability to do hands-on work is a draw for many Women Build participants, but even more so is the opportunity to build camaraderie with the other volunteers.  

At the end of the event, Liz optimistically reflected, “Despite the data bias and stigma of being a woman on the job site, women show up anyway. We have so many wonderful women volunteers who come out during Women Build and work incredibly hard, building useful things with equipment that wasn’t designed with them in mind. I find it so meaningful to work alongside these women and prove that the job site is our space, too. Women Build is always so awesome, so I hope to see more women volunteers out year-round!” 

40th Anniversary Sponsor Feature: Washington Trust Bank 

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Washington Trust Bank, one of Habitat SKKC’s 40th anniversary sponsors, puts relationship-building at the forefront of its work. The company views its role in the community as creating positive change, particularly in housing, and seeks partnerships that align with its commitment to affordable homeownership and support for underserved communities. Founded in 1902, the organization made its way to Western Washington in the late 1990s. Stu Linscott, Regional President adds, “It’s a story of organic growth, one relationship at a time. We’re always looking to find that most impactful place for us to be.” 

Housing has become a particular area of focus because of the ongoing regional housing crisis and the opportunity to help families achieve homeownership and greater stability. Their partnership with Habitat SKKC began after staff from both organizations met at a Federal Home Loan Bank conference in 2023. When Habitat lost access to a previous bank sponsorship due to a merger, Washington Trust Bank stepped in as a sponsor. The relationship quickly expanded beyond sponsorship into commercial lending, grants, volunteerism, and project support. 

The Liberty Commons development became a defining example of the partnership. Washington Trust Bank helped secure a Federal Home Loan Bank grant, provided additional financial support, supplied construction financing, attended the groundbreaking, and sponsored the home dedication.  

“We have seen this project from the dirt up and have been a part of it every step of the way. It shows how much we value our relationships with our customers and ensures that we’re there for them in different aspects. It’s not just banking,” says Christin Malek, Community Development Officer II at Washington Trust Bank. 

Looking ahead, Washington Trust Bank is excited about initiatives that expand access to housing capital and increase housing production. The bank is particularly encouraged by Habitat SKKC’s large-scale multifamily developments. Christin explains, “We love that you continue to try and affect as many families as you can on one property. That goal really does align with our goal of trying to help as many people as we can.”

Volunteer Spotlight: Brian and Renay C

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After retiring and moving to Suncadia in Roslyn, Brian and Renay noticed large amounts of valuable wood being discarded at local construction sites. Rummaging through bins together, they would often look at the wood and wonder why it was being thrown away. With a background in woodworking, they decided to do something about it.  

It was relatively easy to take the salvaged wood and create something useful from it, and that idea grew into making items such as coffee tables and Adirondack chairs that could help support Habitat SKKC. They had previously connected with Habitat staff at the Suncadia owners’ picnic. From there, they started working on the construction sites with the volunteer group Shock and Aww. While volunteering with Habitat, they developed many friendships with fellow volunteers, construction supervisors, and new homeowners. 

Using the funds raised from their woodworking felt like a natural next step in their support of Habitat’s mission. They began taking their creations to markets, where donations for the items raised funds for Habitat.  

Over the years, they created a significant number of pieces. While production has slowed considerably because construction activity in the area has decreased and the supply of suitable wood is not what it once was, Brian estimates that he still produces about 20 pieces a year. During the years when high-quality wood was more plentiful, he made dozens of Adirondack chairs annually. In one particularly successful year, their efforts raised about $12,000 for Habitat. Altogether, they estimate that they have built close to 200 Adirondack chairs. 

Brian describes the inspiration behind their work as “Providence.” After retiring, he found himself with time on his hands, surrounded by wood that was being wasted. He disliked seeing useful materials thrown away and recognized an opportunity to support a mission he believed in. Briand and Renay started a drop site in the Suncadia Waste Yard in 2016 and have been managing it ever since. Every evening, they go out to the waste yard and pull usable lumber out of the dumpsters and place it on the drop site. For the couple, their efforts serve multiple purposes: It keeps discarded construction materials out of the waste stream, transforms those materials into something useful and enjoyable for others, and the funds raised from their creations support Habitat SKKC at the same time. 

Reflecting on how they fit volunteering into their lives, Brian says, “We have time. And we like to spend it on activities with purpose and positive results.” 

As the availability of suitable wood continues to decline, they acknowledge that they are gradually winding down their output. Even so, they remain grateful for the experience. Supporting Habitat has given them purpose and a feeling that they are contributing positively to their community.