volunteer

How Faith Communities Can Help Tackle the Housing Crisis

Posted on

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 now to 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 previously got 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

KING 5: Women Build kicks off for Habitat SKKC

Posted on

Linda Hoffner, a senior property manager at Wright-Runstad and an ardent supporter of Habitat SKKC, joined KING 5 on Sunday morning to promote Women Build. Click the link to watch the video.

Women Build provides a space where women can come together to learn construction skills while making a meaningful impact in their community. The initiative aims to empower women to break down gender barriers in the construction industry and take on leadership roles in the workforce.

Women volunteers, both experienced and novice, are given the opportunity to learn a wide range of construction skills, including framing, roofing, siding, and finishing work.

In addition to providing an opportunity to learn valuable skills, Women Build also creates a supportive community of women who are passionate about giving back to their community. Women who have participated in the initiative have reported feeling more empowered, confident, and connected to others.

The impact of Women Build extends beyond the women who participate in the program. The homes built by Habitat SKKC are sold to families in need at an affordable price, providing stable and safe housing to those who might not otherwise be able to afford it. The initiative also helps to strengthen communities by creating more affordable housing options and by bringing together individuals from different backgrounds to work towards a common goal.

Volunteer Energy Powers Habitat for Humanity SKKC’s Success

Posted on

At our Volunteer & Donor Appreciation Night at Lagunitas Brewing Company in Ballard in December, Habitat for Humanity SKKC celebrated the volunteers, donors and advocates who form the engine that drives our affiliate’s success. Because of the contributions made in 2022 by Habitat volunteers, donors, and advocates, 50 King and Kittitas County families who couldn’t otherwise own their own homes are eligible for homeownership in 2023. And that’s only the beginning.

In more than 30,000 hours of donated time and work, our volunteers were able to build, renovate, and repair 74 homes last year. Volunteers who staffed Habitat stores sold over 400,000 items the proceeds of which provide financial support to augment all that hard work. The hours and results testify to the joy of working with others to create safe, affordable homes for people from all walks of life.

And some volunteers received special recognition for going above and beyond in 2022 – the following individuals were recognized as Habitat “All Stars.”

  • Mary Castillo – Habitat Stores Volunteer of the Year
  • Nancy Blase – Homeowner Services Volunteer of the Year
  • Beverly Skeffington, Diane Lampe, Terie McCunn – Construction Volunteers of the Year
  • Gary Fallon – 2022 Habitat SKC Volunteer of the Year

At the event, Habitat inaugurated the Manny Weiser Volunteer Service Award named in memory of long-time volunteer Manny and the incredible dedication and supportive attitude he brought to the work site every day. The first winners of this award for exceptional service are an itinerant team of young adults from Christian Public Service. This group travels the country fulfilling six-month service terms at places like hospitals and nursing homes. Habitat has benefited from their help and expertise on our build sites twice a week for many years.  

If these people and their accomplishments inspire you, now is the perfect time to reach out and reap the joy of volunteering. Simply email volunteer@habitatskc.org to learn more, and with luck, Habitat will be celebrating your impacts in the years ahead!

AT&T Donates $10,000 to Habitat for Humanity SKC After Completing Monthlong Employee Volunteer Effort

Posted on

AT&T presented a contribution of $10,000 to Habitat for Humanity Seattle-King County on Wednesday, September 28 as 18 local AT&T employee volunteers worked with future residents to build housing at Highland Terrace in the Delridge neighborhood of Seattle. The six permanently affordable homes at Highland Terrace are expected to be ready in the summer of 2023.  The project will offer families earning less than 80% of Area Media Income two and three-bedroom units with easy access to nearby parks, schools, and transit. 

“We are delighted that AT&T has chosen to partner with Habitat for Humanity Seattle-King County on its month-long volunteer effort and are very grateful for the donation,” said Brett D’Antonio, CEO, Habitat for Humanity Seattle-King & Kittitas Counties. “It will take private, public, and non-profit sectors coming together to address our region’s housing affordability crisis and AT&T has proven to be a leader in the effort.”

The monthlong employee volunteer effort is a part of the AT&T Believes Washington initiative.  AT&T Believes is a company-wide, localized effort to combine employees’ passions and volunteerism with AT&T’s resources and relationships. 30 area AT&T employees volunteered with Habitat for Humanity of Seattle-King & Kittitas Counties on four different dates and locations in September, including at Highland Terrace, the North Bend Tyler Town construction site, and the Habitat for Humanity Stores in Bellevue and Southcenter. 

“AT&T employees jumped at the chance to volunteer with Habitat for Humanity of Seattle-King and Kittitas Counties,” said Carl Gipson, State President, AT&T Washington.  “These homes will be a source of security and peace of mind for their owners.  It was uplifting for our volunteers to work side-by-side with families to help build their future home.”

Habitat for Humanity Seattle–King & Kittitas Counties focuses its mission on building, repairing, and preserving permanently affordable housing and believes everyone deserves a decent, safe, and affordable place to live. With a current pipeline of 270+ homes in various phases of planning and construction, Habitat SKC is on track to surpass its ambitious goal of building and selling 1,000 cumulative housing solutions to low-income community members by 2025.

If your company would like to make a contribution and/or is interested in volunteering with Habitat for Humanity SKC, please contact Angela Appleton at angela.appleton@habitatskc.org