King 5 was on the scene to document our latest home dedication at our Yarrow Cottages project. Click the link to watch the video.
KING 5: Four Seattle Families Move into Affordable Housing
Family Story
Celebrating National Homeownership Month in June
Recent research from Habitat International confirms the benefits of homeownership to families and society as a whole. Habitat for Humanity Seattle-King & Kittitas Counties is celebrating those benefits with National Homeownership Month in June.
Among the findings is that social and civic engagement are essential to representation in the democratic process, and both are heavily influenced by access to — or lack of — affordable housing. Homeownership and the stability it provides to low-income families improves life satisfaction, increases civic participation and affects positive educational and health outcomes for families.
Habitat homeowner Makio Pastolero started by volunteering at Habitat’s Tyler Town North Bend community. He worked there every Saturday for a year and learned a lot in the process.
His fellow volunteers encouraged Makio to apply for a Tyler Town home as his family grew and, in 2023, he acquired a 3-bedroom home with a yard for himself, his wife and baby girl.
“When we moved in,” he says, “it really felt more like our home, because I remember laying the floor, caulking the windows, building the deck, and painting. I would not have done it any other way. Now, I have a passion for maintaining my home and my community.”
Habitat homeowner Iulia Zabadov credits her education to the financial stability that owning her Snoqualmie Habitat home gave her. Iulia earned a BA in Business Administration and is now employed by Bellevue College. She was able to go to school while working full time, because she had plenty of neighborhood support. Iulia says the help she received from her neighbors was a “safe haven” for herself and her children. “It is a wonderful neighborhood for them to grow up in.” Her son Nicolae is studying electrical engineering at Bellevue College, and daughter Vera is in high school.
Habitat research also found that homeownership can mitigate some racial gaps in civic engagement. When levels of education, income and employment are equal, Black populations are equally civically engaged compared with their white counterparts.
Habitat SKKC is an active member of the Black Homeowners Initiative (BHI) with its mission to create more Black homeowners in our region, and a partnership with African Community Housing & Development (ACHD) to build and steward 65 new, permanently affordable homes across three sites on Martin Luther King Way S. in Seattle’s Rainier Valley.
Habitat homeowner Treaous Florence-Moreland (Tea) feels the stability of homeownership has helped her children’s education, as well as her financial situation. With a stable location, Tea’s children were able to live close to their schools, friends, and family; a few of them have attended Seattle Central Community College. Tea herself has attended UW classes, growing her career from medical assistant to administration at the Medical Center. Now, she’s looking ahead to retirement with a sense of security.
Habitat for Humanity affiliates share the same vision: a world where everyone has a safe, decent, and affordable place to live. National Homeownership Month is an opportunity to support that mission and to amplify the message that homeownership is good for everybody.
How to Celebrate Homeownership Month this June
Anyone can contribute to Habitat SKKC’s celebration of National Homeownership Month. Here’s how:
- Spread the word! Choose your favorite Habitat homeowner story and post it on your personal social media platform. https://www.habitatskc.org/who-we-are/success-stories/
- Volunteer on a Habitat build, home repair, or in our Stores during the month of June. https://www.habitatskc.org/how-to-help/volunteer/
- Re-post homeownership facts, news, and stories from Habitat SKKCs social media feeds during #HomeownershipMonth.
- Sign up to our Advocacy Action Alerts and read the latest legislative recap to learn how we are advocating for affordable housing efforts.
- Support Habitat’s mission in your community with a monetary donation, or donate to or shop at one of our area stores: https://www.habitatskc.org/how-to-help/donate/
Habitat Celebrates 17 Years of Women Building for Women
This year’s Women Build program will offer multiple points of participation for individuals, friendship teams, and women from area organizations to fund projects, build affordable homes, and revitalize neighborhoods. From April 27 to May 18, area women will be empowered to help move Habitat’s mission forward by doing everything from working in Habitat stores to joining construction and repair teams on site.
The purpose of Women Build is to honor the central role that women play to empower one another, make an impact, and change lives. The bonus for participants is to learn and share skills, support local women homeowners, and to build up King County, together.
In the program’s 17 years, women from all walks of life have given back to their communities and enriched their own lives while making a real difference in the lives of our region’s hard-working, low-income families. Women Build volunteers are empowered to help ensure affordable housing continues to be built. This program gives women the satisfaction that comes with giving hands-up help to other women and their families.
This year’s co-sponsor for Women Build is Prime Electric, inspired by Lisa K who participated in past Women Build events, “I have been telling everyone that my experience on the Habitat for Humanity Women Build far exceeded my expectations and was
truly one of the most empowering experiences of my life! Truly.”
April 27 – May 18, 2024
- Women of Impact Build: May 4
- Group Builds: April 29 – May 11
- Individual Builds: May 13-18
(Individual volunteers will be asked to donate $150 to take part in a Women Build day)
To sign up individually or for your organization, go to Habitat Women Build.
To take advantage of corporate sponsorship opportunities, get in touch with alex.wyatt@habitatskc.org
Habitat Repairs Bring Health and Safety to a Federal Way Couple
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
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.