Community Collaborations

Habitat Repairs Bring Health and Safety to a Federal Way Couple

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Love brought Annama Joseph to the United States from India 34 years ago.  She came here to marry Varghese, a U.S. veteran and fellow Indian immigrant.  They lived happily in their Federal Way home for 20 years and raised two daughters there.  But, as their fortunes changed, they struggled financially.  

Annama was seriously injured in her job as a nursing assistant when a violent patient kicked her in the face and neck.  The injuries were so severe, she was rendered unable to work and has been receiving a disability pension since 2015.  At about the same time, her husband Varghese was declared disabled due to a neurological disorder.  Their income plummeted, making home maintenance a low priority.

For years they had undetectable leaks in their bathroom that caused mold to grow in the house.  Both Annama and Vhalise suffered regular respiratory illnesses.  In addition, the insulation in their attic and crawlspace had disintegrated causing their utility bills to be extraordinarily high. Despite assessments by several professionals, the sources of their problems were not detected until a Habitat repairs crew got inside their home.

“In about one month,” Annama says, “the Habitat people finished all the repairs.”

The couple received a completely new bathroom, including added grab bars and a new shower door.  The mold was eradicated, and so were their respiratory problems.  Outside, the crew replaced the corroded gutters and the rotting deck. 

Insulation was added to the attic and crawlspace, too.  “Our utility bill is 50% lower now than it was before the repairs,” Annama declares. She adds that the bill has remained low through the winter, even though her pain requires extra warmth. “My disability is progressing, so it’s important that I stay warm.”

She raves about the Habitat crew. “They did a very, very good job. And they are very nice people. They helped us so much. They are great people, all very special in my life.”

If you know someone in need of critical repairs in your community, please visit: Home Repairs – Habitat for Humanity Seattle-King & Kittitas Counties (habitatskc.org)

2024 Beyond the Build Breaks Records

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This year’s Beyond the Build Luncheon was beyond successful, thanks to the 1,400 plus attendees who donated more than $2 Million to tackle the affordable housing crisis in our region. And thanks to our special guest Seahawks Legend, Bobby Wagner. Not only did Bobby charm and entertain the many fans in attendance but set the philanthropy bar high with his own outstanding giving record. 

Each dollar raised at the luncheon will go directly toward funding vital housing, creating tangible and lasting change in the lives of those we serve. Luncheon attendees learned firsthand from Habitat homeowners and home repairs recipients just how powerful a stable home can be. These include stories of how careers were made possible and educational goals were achieved, how improved living situations resulted in better health outcomes, and how families were made whole for generations.

Luminaries from the Habitat SKKC community shared the stage with Bobby as they were recognized for their outsized feats in support of our mission to provide affordable housing for everyone. 

Habitat’s Community Leader of the Year honoree, Amazon, was recognized for their commitment and support of affordable housing in our region. Mike O’Leary was recognized as our Volunteer of the Year, Linda Hoffner as our Resource Development Volunteer of the Year, LeChelle Lucas as our Advocacy Volunteer of the Year, Mikhail Popko Nikolayovich as our Repairs Volunteer of the Year, and Lorraine Yerger as our Manny Weiser Volunteer Service Award Recipient. 

This year’s Habitat SKKC Beyond the Build luncheon brought new committed donors and fresh energy to every element of our battle to assure that everyone has a safe place to live.  

Click here for event photos 

Click here to watch Habitat’s Community Impact video.

Habitat SKKC makes a splash in the other Washington for Habitat on the Hill 2024 

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Habitat for Humanity’s Habitat on the Hill 2024 kicked off Feb. 5 as a celebration of the Cost of Home Campaign’s successful five-year run. This is Habitat’s biggest advocacy event of the year, and our affiliate was proudly represented by our CEO Brett D’Antonio, Chief Development Officer, Amy Farrier, and two of our three Advocacy Team members, Chief Advocacy Officer, Ryan Donohue, and Advocacy and Policy Manager, Cliff Cawthon.

This year Habitat on the Hill included more than 400 attendees who converged on Washington D.C. to advocate for affordable homeownership and policies that support the entire housing continuum. The halls of the House of Representatives and the Senate buildings were flooded by Habitat advocates. Our Seattle-King & Kittitas County staff members were particularly active in meeting with the staff members of Representatives Jayapal, Smith, DelBene, Schrier, and Senators Murray and Cantwell. We shared stories about homeowners and repair recipients whose lives were changed by Habitat. 

Habitat’s national priorities were headlined by H.R. 3940/ S. 679, the Neighborhood Homes Investment Act, which is a major bipartisan piece of legislation that will create the first Federal Tax credit to support affordable homeownership by covering the first 35 percent of development costs for home construction and its services projects which are priced at 80 percent of the national median housing price. This tax credit will significantly reduce the cost of building affordable homes for families in need. 

Habitat is also advocating for key investments in local projects, such as our new Columbia City developments in Seattle, our Miller’s Crossing development in Burien, and Stuart Meadows in Ellensburg! We teamed up with advocates from Habitat for Humanity International to advocate for national investments in affordable housing through the Self-Help Housing Opportunity Program (SHOP), the Home Improvement Program (HOME), and the US Department of Agriculture’s 502 Direct Loan Program. These key investments will accelerate the work that our affiliate and others in Washington State and throughout the country do every single day. 

Our delegation made a significant splash as we shared our noteworthy 2023 legislative victory with the Washington State Covenant Homeownership Account Act, presented by our Advocacy and Policy Manager, Cliff Cawthon. It was a first-in-the-nation achievement that will provide downpayment assistance and support for Washingtonians who were discriminated against in the housing market. We also had our new Advocate Training Program featured at the poster exhibit. Our new Advocate Training program trains homeowners, advocates, and repair clients on how to advocate for affordable housing and homeownership.

In our Washington, the work continues! To learn more about our Statewide advocacy and Local-County advocacy click here. Be sure to join our ongoing advocacy campaigns and support affordable housing by visiting our Action Center here. Together, we can build a world where everyone has a safe, decent, and affordable place to live!

Business Wire: T-Mobile Donates $50,000 to Local Nonprofits, Including Habitat for Humanity SKKC’s Home Repairs Program

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T-Mobile has announced a $50,000 donation to five nonprofit organizations in Hawaii and Washington, including Habitat for Humanity Seattle-King & Kittitas Counties (SKKC), which received $10,000.

The money heading to Habitat for Humanity SKKC will benefit our Home Repairs program. Click the link for more information.

“We are very grateful to T-Mobile for its generous $10,000 donation, which has been applied to our Repairs program,” Habitat SKKC CEO Brett D’Antonio said. “This donation has filled the gap in funding for one critical structural repair that needed to be addressed urgently and has provided the homeowner with some peace of mind of remaining safely in her home for many years to come.”

T-Mobile employees in Hawaii and Washington played a pivotal role in selecting these organizations as part of the company’s Difference Maker Award. Launched last year, this quarterly recognition program applauds top-performing business areas and allows winning employees to present checks and dedicate a day of service at each organization. This marks the program’s third quarterly recognition.

Jon Freier, President, T-Mobile Consumer Group, expressed his appreciation, stating, “The Difference Maker Award puts a spotlight on our teammates’ standout contributions while also empowering them to further the causes closest to their hearts. T-Mobile and these five organizations are all better for their outstanding efforts.”

T-Mobile’s commitment to organizations like ours aligns with its dedication to community well-being and highlights the impactful role businesses can play in addressing local needs. Through strategic partnerships and employee-driven initiatives, T-Mobile continues to make a positive difference in communities it serves.

2024 Beyond the Build Luncheon Speaker: Bobby Wagner

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We are pleased to announce Entrepreneur, Investor, Philanthropist and Seattle Seahawks Linebacker Bobby Wagner as our speaker for the 2024 Beyond the Build Luncheon. The event attended by nearly 1,000 Habitat for Humanity SKKC volunteers and supporters will take place in the ballroom of the Summit Building at the Seattle Convention Center on Wednesday, March 27.

Born in Los Angeles and raised in Ontario, CA, Bobby Wagner was drafted 47th overall in the 2012 NFL draft by the Seattle Seahawks. Quickly excelling on the field, Bobby won a Super Bowl in 2013, and throughout his career, has earned nine Pro-Bowl selections, six First-Team All-Pros, and a 2010 NFL All-Decade Team. He currently leads all active players in total tackles with 1691.

Beyond the field, Bobby is an Entrepreneur, Investor, and Philanthropist. Bobby’s passion to promote stroke education and assist stroke patients has led to a partnership with the American Heart & Stroke Association, as well as the creation of the Phenia Mae Fund in partnership with Virginia Mason Franciscan Health, Cedar Sinai, and Kaiser Permanente.

Additionally, Bobby has worked closely with several organizations, such as the Boys and Girls Club of King County and HBCUs, to advocate for health and wellness, education and child development. Due to his great work on and off the field, Bobby was nominated for the 2023 Walter Payton Man of the Year, his second nomination in his career.

To register for the event, become a sponsor or Table Captain, please visit: Habitatlunch.org.