Habitat for Humanity Seattle-King and Kittitas Counties welcomed over 750 guests last week at the 2023 Beyond the Build luncheon! And because of our generous donors, we were able to earn the entire Challenge Match, made by our wonderful partners, and raised more than $1.7 million, and counting to combat our region’s affordable housing crisis.
Thank you to those who were able to gather and join us at the new Seattle Convention Center. We loved seeing everyone’s enthusiasm and hope you came away inspired by the shared stories from our Homeowner partners, guest speakers, and Majora Carter the award-winning author of Reclaiming Your Community: You Don’t Have to Move out of Your Neighborhood to Live in a Better One.
Habitat’s Community Leader of the Year, The Seattle Office of Housing, was recognized for their commitment and long-standing support. And Gary Fallon was acknowledged as Habitat’s Volunteer of the Year for his service to our projects.
We hope everyone who attended the event enjoyed the experience.
On behalf of Habitat for Humanity Seattle-King & Kittitas County and all the Habitat Partner Families in our community, thank you for your support!
We are just a few days away from this year’s Beyond Build Luncheon, which was recently featured on KIRO 7 (click the link). This special occasion serves as a celebration of our achievements, a reflection on the past, and an opportunity to honor and express gratitude to our dedicated supporters. Join us as we gather to commemorate our shared commitment to affordable housing and look ahead to the future of our mission.
Be sure to watch the KIRO 7 clip, which includes an interview with keynote speaker Majora Carter.
Looking Back on Our Journey: The Beyond Build Luncheon allows us to pause and reflect on the incredible journey we have undertaken. Together with our passionate volunteers, generous donors, and resilient homeowners, we have made a significant impact on the communities we serve. This event is a moment to acknowledge the progress we have made in creating affordable housing opportunities and transforming lives.
Honoring Our Supporters: One of the highlights of the Beyond Build Luncheon, as mentioned by KIRO 7, is the opportunity to express our deepest gratitude to our supporters. Their unwavering dedication and invaluable contributions have been instrumental in driving our mission forward. From individuals to corporate partners, volunteers, and community organizations, we will take this moment to recognize their commitment to our cause.
A Look Ahead: The Beyond Build Luncheon is not just about celebrating our accomplishments; it also serves as a platform to share our vision for the future. We will discuss our strategic plans, innovative programs, and upcoming projects aimed at further expanding affordable housing opportunities in our region. Together, we can make a difference and create lasting change in the lives of families in need.
Community Impact and Engagement: Throughout the event, featured on KIRO 7, we will showcase inspiring stories of the families we have helped and the transformative power of affordable homeownership. Our speakers will share their personal experiences, shedding light on the profound impact that safe, decent, and affordable housing has on individuals, families, and entire communities.
Join Us at the Beyond Build Luncheon: We invite you to join us at the Beyond Build Luncheon on Thursday (more details in the link). It is an incredible opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals, engage in meaningful conversations, and be part of a movement that is shaping the future of affordable housing. Your presence and support, alongside KIRO 7, will play a vital role in furthering our mission and making homeownership dreams a reality for deserving families.
As we gather at the Beyond Build Luncheon, we celebrate the milestones we have achieved and express our gratitude to the supporters who have helped us along the way. Together, we can continue to build a brighter future and provide hope and stability to those in need. Join us at this remarkable event, and let’s create lasting change one home at a time.
“Owning a home is everybody’s dream,” Habitat SKKC homeowner LeChelle Lucas.
Hear more from Lucas during this KING 5 report on the implementation of HB 1474, which was recently signed into law. This law provides funding from the $100 homebuyer fee, establishing a covenant homeownership account and program to provide down payment and closing-costs assistance to first-time homebuyers who have been affected by the state’s discriminatory housing policies.
Learn how to engage your community and congregation to address the affordable housing crisis. Join us on Tuesday, June 27th at 2 p.m. PT for a FREE Live Webinar:
“Accelerate Your Community Engagement, Activate Your Congregation While Addressing the Affordable Housing Crisis”
Register nowto join Dr. Jim O’Farrell, Associate Faculty at City University of Seattle, Jess Blanch, AIA, Senior Program Director with Enterprise Community Partners and Rev. Kristin Joyner, Pastor of Community Engagement, Bothell United Methodist Church, for an insightful on-line live seminar to help you understand how you can enhance your community engagement and congregation excitement about solutions to the housing crisis..
During the webinar, you will gain insights into engaging your congregation and community in helping to address the affordable housing crisis here in the Puget Sound area.
This is the second webinar hosted by Dr. Jim O’Farrell, Jess Blanch, AIA, and Rev. Kristin Joyner. The group previouslygot together for an insightful on-line live seminar to help you understand how you can enhance your community engagement and congregation excitement about solutions to the housing crisis.
By watching the above webinar, you will gain insights into engaging your congregation and community in helping to address the affordable housing crisis here in the Puget Sound area. Here are some facts:
Fact 1: The median home price in King County, Washington, USA was $925,000 in December 2022, making it difficult for many low- and middle-income families to afford to purchase a home.
Fact 2: A recently published report by the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NHLIC) says that the hourly wage required to afford a 2-bedroom apartment in the Seattle Metro area is $39.31. https://nlihc.org/oor/state/wa
If you’re committed to engaging your congregation in working to help solve the affordable housing crisis but are unsure of how to get started, this webinar is a must-watch.
You’ll learn:
· Tips for engaging your congregation and community with regards to helping with the affordable housing crisis
· Various opportunities unique to faith based communities when it comes to affordable housing solutions (e.g., partnering with Habitat for Humanity, Enterprise Community Partners)
· Best practices for accelerating your initiatives for affordable housing projects
According to Ryan Donohue, there is only one way to solve the shortage of affordable homes in Washington: widescale zoning reform that legalizes multifamily housing without onerous parking mandates, and an influx of public funding to match.
“If we don’t solve both of these problems, we will never be able to solve the housing crisis,” explained Donohue, the Chief Advocacy Officer for Habitat for Humanity Seattle-King & Kittitas Counties (“Habitat SKKC”), Washington’s largest Habitat for Humanity chapter.
All across Washington state, people need more homes of all kinds. One million more, the Department of Commerce estimated, by 2044. But local exclusionary zoning laws adopted by city and county governments between 1920 and 1980 have restricted homebuilders’ ability to meet demand. Bans on apartment buildings, townhomes, and duplexes, combined with costly parking mandates, have contributed to Washington having the fifth worst undersupply of housing in the United States.
