On behalf of everyone at Habitat EKC, thank you for your interest and support in 2008. With your help, fifteen families were able to celebrate the holidays in their new Habitat homes in 2008! Before you ring in the new year, please consider making a gift to Habitat EKC. Your gift will ensure the continued growth of your community for years to come. Please donate by midnight of December 31st to deduct your gift from your 2008 tax return. Click here to donate now.
HFH EKC is hosting a Volunteer Information Meeting, January 7th in Issaquah. Come learn about Habitat for Humanity EKC, its many volunteer opportunities and ask any questions you may have. Curious about how you, your family, friends or organization can get involved with us? Get your feat wet, or get involved in a new way, and join us! We will begin construction on new Habitat homes in Issaquah in 2009 and are looking forward to meeting more of Issaquah’s community.
Unlike some other organizations you can still get involved without attending this meeting. You’re welcome to sign up to volunteer on our construction site through our online volunteer calendar or contact a Volunteer Coordinator directly.
WHEN: January 7th 2009, 6:30pm-7:30pm WHERE: Public Meeting Room 2A/B,
Issaquah Library Admin. Service Center (behind Target) 960 Newport Way NEIssaquah, WA
MYTH:Habitat for Humanity gives houses away to poor people. FACT: Habitat for Humanity of East King County provides homeownership opportunities to deserving families unable to obtain conventional house financing—generally, those whose income is less than 50 percent of the area's median income. Partner Families must complete 500 hours of sweat equity before purchasing their homes and attend education courses focused on budgeting, credit repair, home maintenance, and disaster preparedness. Habitat for Humanity provides a "hand up, not a hand out" to families in need of decent, affordable housing and sells homes on zero-interest loans. Habitat is able to keep construction costs down through volunteer labor and donations. MYTH: You have to be Christian to become a Habitat homeowner. FACT: Habitat for Humanity is a Christian organization, however, homeowners are chosen without regard to race, religion or ethnic group. Habitat also welcomes volunteers from all faiths, or no faith, who actively embrace Habitat's goal of eliminating poverty housing from the world. Habitat for Humanity of East King County homeowners come from all backgrounds and walks of life. Habitat for Humanity does not discriminate against families on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, marital or familial status, age or disability. In fact, diversity is celebrated!
MYTH:Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter founded Habitat for Humanity. FACT: Habitat was started in 1976 in Americus, Ga., by Millard Fullerand his wife Linda. President Carter and his wife Rosalynn (who live eight miles from Americus, in Plains, Ga.), have been longtime Habitat supporters and volunteers who help bring national attention to the organization's home-building work. Each year, they lead the Jimmy Carter Work Project to help build houses and raise awareness of the need for affordable housing. MYTH: Habitat for Humanity International dictates policy and practices for every local Habitat organization. FACT: Habitat operates through locally governed affiliates with a strong emphasis on grassroots organizations and local autonomy. Habitat affiliates are independent, nonprofit organizations that operate within specific service areas in a covenant relationship with Habitat for Humanity International.
MYTH: Habitat houses reduce property values in a neighborhood. FACT: Low-cost housing studies in the United States and Canada show affordable housing has no adverse effect on other neighborhood property values. In fact, Habitat houses have increased property values and local government tax income.
- Interested applicant families attend a free Family Information Meeting to learn more about Habitat for Humanity and the homeownership program.
- Applicants who meet basic qualifications for Habitat for Humanity of East King County's homeownership program (need for decent, affordable housing, ability to pay, and willingness to partner) complete a lengthy application packet and submit it the the organization for review by the Family Services Manager and the Family Selection Committee Chairperson.
- Applicants who complete their application packet in its entirety are interviewed in their home by two Family Selection Committee volunteers. An evaluation of the applicant family's current living situation is conducted at the home visit.
- Applicants meeting the "need for decent, affordable housing" criteria are then interviewed a second time by two different volunteers at the Habitat for Humanity office in Redmond. A financial analysis (created by the Habitat for Humanity's Financial Review Team) is discussed with the family at the office meeting.
- The Family Selection Committee meets to determine which families are suited for homeownership based on their interview scores, their ability to pay a mortgage, and their willingness to partner and complete 500 hours of sweat equity. Families are chosen for the home sizes available in a current build cycle.
- Selected families are presented to the Habitat for Humanity of East King County board of directors by the Family Services Manager and the Family Selection Committee Chairperson.
- After families are approved by the board, the Family Services Manager notifies the applicants and schedules them for an orientation meeting.
Families not selected for homeownership are encouraged to reapply in the future.
To see a list of upcoming Family Information Meetings, visit http://habitatekc.org/homeowners/homeownership.html
To see application guidelines, visit http://habitatekc.org/homeowners/index.html
NOTICE: The Federal Equal Credit Opportunity Act prohibits creditors from discriminating against credit applicants on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, age (provided the applicant has the capacity to enter into a binding contract): because all or part of the applicant’s income derives from any public assistance program; or because the applicant has in good faith exercised any right under the Consumer Credit Protection Act. The federal agency that administers compliance with this law concerning this credit is the Federal Trade Commission, Washington, DC 20580.
Office and Construction Sites Closed for Volunteers Saturday, December 20, 2008
The Habitat EKC office and construction sites will be closed to volunteers tomorrow, Saturday Dec. 20, due to inclement weather and road conditions. Volunteers that have signed up for Saturday should stay home, warm and safe!
We apologize for any inconvenience. We hope that you will sign up for another upcoming event on our online volunteer calendar.
You may continue to check Recent News at http://www.habitatekc.org/ or via telephone at our Site Status Hotline for recent updates on site closures at 425.869,6007 ext 242.
If you are scheduled to volunteer on a Habitat for Humanity of East King County construction site in the coming week, please contact our office at 425-869-6007 before heading out.
Inclement weather may impact the work schedule and ability for staff and AmeriCorps to reach Redmond and Snoqualmie sites.
For more information on winter storms and local weather forecasts, visit www.noaa.gov.
Habitat EKC Begins Inaugural Partnership with VISTA
Habitat EKC is pleased to welcome its very first VISTA member to the office, Tom Wood. VISTA, Volunteers in Service to America, is an AmeriCorps program which is designed specifically to fight poverty. VISTA members commit to serve full-time for a year at a nonprofit organization or local government agency.
Tom joins us from Berkeley, California where he has been working toward a Masters in History at Graduate Theological University. He completed his undergraduate degree at Pacific Lutheran University with a double major in History and Religion. He became interested in VISTA because he was at a point in his life where he could give back to the community. Tom says, "I really wanted to spend the time I'm taking off from school to contribute to something bigger than myself and perhaps explore some possible venues for latter in life."
Tom will help the construction department build effective tools to streamline procurement, budgeting and scheduling processes, as well as further development of our GREEN building program. He also enjoys good BBQ, home-brewing his own beer and speaks a little German (badly, he wants you to know) from time to time.
At the Patterson Park project siding continues; about 65% is completed. The fire sprinklers are about 90% complete and will be done this week.
HVAC will start Monday and should be done by Christmas.
Electrical Wiring is about 70% complete with low-voltage to follow.
Work the week of December 15th will include pick up framing, pre- rock, siding, electrical and some digging.
At Koinonia Ridge loose ends are being taken care of by the HVAC contractor as well as issues with plumbing and the remodel. Unit #10- Continued with siding. Electrical is at about 95% complete. Plumbing is scheduled to be inspected Tuesday or Wednesday. All painting over roof was completed and scaffold removed, roofing is all installed.
Unit #13 - A small crew is working on siding installation. The plumbing is complete.
Unit #30 - Rough plumbing is 90% complete. HVAC should be complete by Monday. 70% of siding is complete. Insulation was delivered and wiring will start after Christmas
Unit #32 - The roof ridge cap is completed and only pipe flashings remain. The unit passed exterior sheathing inspection and the house wrap started.
Unit #33 – The unit passed roof nailing and exterior sheathing inspections. Tar paper is on the roof and metal has been ordered. The house wrap is 50% completed and window installation has begun.
Unit #41- The plumbing is complete and there will be a possible inspection next week. HVAC will start after the holidays.
Unit #24 - Carpet and appliances were installed in the unit. The crew worked on punchlist and touch ups to the unit. The McKenzie/Munro family will move in this weekend.
Sheds- A youth group volunteered on Thursday and helped to stand and side the remaining two sheds, while several other regular volunteers built the trusses and framed the roof of the existing shed. Volunteers will continue with siding trim and hanging doors on Thursdays until the 6-unit sheds are complete.
Next week the focus will be on completing Unit #10 siding and mechanical inspections and getting the remaining houses dried in with house wrap and windows.
Habitat EKC now has a brand new Facebook Fan Page! If you already have a Facebook account click here to become a fan! If not, it's the perfect time for you to join Facebook.
The Habitat EKC Fan Page is a place for you to see pictures and video of related Habitat news and add your own. You can also start or respond to a discussion topic, post a notice or just write a general comment to Habitat. We hope you'll join us!
Sweat equity is the unpaid labor invested by partner families in the Habitat for Humanity homeownership program. Partner families are required to complete 500 hours of sweat equity before buying their home from Habitat for Humanity of East King County. Sweat equity reduces the monetary cost of Habitat houses and increases the personal stake of partner families in their homes. It also fosters partnership between partner families and Habitat for Humanity volunteers, staff, and AmeriCorps members. Sweat equity is a key principle of our organization and is important in building partnerships across economic, racial and national divisions.
Even in hard times, real estate group finds creative way to give back!
Keller Williams Kirkland hosted the Eastside Real Estate Panel event to benefit Habitat EKC on November 17th at the Bellevue Club.220 guests attended the event which raised over $3,000 for Habitat through donations and raffle tickets!Board member Johnson Marshall gave a heartfelt speech on behalf of Habitat and presented an informational video to the crowd.Special thanks to Sally Gregg for facilitating the partnership between the two organizations.Also thanks to George Charles and Sheryl Russell of Keller Williams Kirkland for including Habitat in their event.A huge success for all involved!
December 2008 - January 2009. This year we would like to do our best to create warm, cozy, muddy and fulfilling volunteer experiences on the construction sites! We are looking for groups of volunteers to join us for holiday work parties. During the winter months we see a drop in the number of volunteers on the construction site. These are understandably hectic times as holidays, vacations and rainy weather approach. However, the Habitat staff and Americorps are still out there building decent affordable housing rain or shine and we would love to have you at the job site to participate in a unique and rewarding experience. It's a great way to spend time together and give back without having to spend money!
As they say, it’s always better to give than to receive, so come out andhelp build a home to make a family’s holiday dreams come true. Ask your friends to join you for a day of volunteering! Please click here to contact our Volunteer Coordinator to create your very own holiday volunteer experience. You can view what is available on our volunteer calendar here. December dates are now dates are open to the public, so hurry!
HFH EKC is hosting a Volunteer Information Meeting, January 7th in Issaquah. Come learn about Habitat for Humanity EKC, its many volunteer opportunities and ask any questions you may have. Curious about how you, your family, friends or organization can get involved with us? Get your feat wet, or get involved in a new way, and join us! We will begin construction on new Habitat homes in Issaquah in 2009 and are looking forward to meeting more of Issaquah’s community.