Sally Gregg, Habitat EKC Board Vice Chair was recognized by Seattle-King County Association of REALTORS (SKCAR) for her commitment to the Eastside community with the Community Service Award on January 9, 2009 at the annual Installation and Awards Banquet held at the Hyatt Regency in Bellevue. Read more about it in an article in yesterday's Issaquah Press here. Congratulations Sally and thank you for all of the hard work you do for Habitat EKC!

Patterson Park:
HVAC this week.
Electrical signed-off.
Gas, power and other utilities will be hooked up soon.
Sprinkler contractor will be back on Tuesday to put the system on test.
Partial fire safeing inspection scheduled for Monday.
Siding continues.
Work next week will include siding, framing, some limited insulation, and installing the mud rings on the electrical boxes.


Koinonia Ridge:
Unit #10
Sheetrock finish completed.
All walls spray painted, started semi gloss coat in bathrooms.
Continued with some exterior paint, caulk.

Unit #13
Installed T1-11 on second course of siding - 60% complete.

Unit #30
Started electrical rough-in - 60% completed.

Unit #32
Installed back door.
All windows are in.
Plumbing continues.

Unit #41
HVAC 70% complete.
Gas piping installed.
Started installing siding over lower roof 25% completed.
Installed 2 more windows.

Sheds
One shed is roofed, and the other two started.
Siding is nearly completed, doors are ready to install.

Next week interior finish work will begin on Unit #10. We will also continue electrical rough-in on #30 and siding on the others.

As you know, HFHEKC builds homes with low-income families. But did you know we also build strong families and cohesive communities? Part of HFHEKC's mission is to empower families; we believe empowerment comes through education so we provide our Partner Families with life-long learning opportunities like workshops, classes and special events. All Partner Families complete budgeting and credit repair classes before purchasing their homes from Habitat but, until now, we have not had a curriculum for youth and teens on financial literacy. We want all the children in our Habitat families to be well educated and capable of managing money in adulthood. With the help of the Washington Society of CPAs, HFHEKC will offer teens of Habitat families training on budgeting, financial goal setting, credit, loans and savings. For the younger kids -- ages 10-13 -- a volunteer CPA will facilitate the "Feed the Pig" program. These classes are open to all Habitat family children and young adults at no cost. To learn more about HFHEKC's Partner Family education and training program, e-mail Emily Fortman at efortman@habitatekc.org.

Six more deserving families have been selected to partner with Habitat for Humanity of East King County. These six families -- recently selected by the Family Selection Committee and approved by the board -- will begin their sweat equity (the construction of their homes) in February at our Koinonia Ridge development in Snoqualmie.

Welcome Partner Families!

The Issaquah Reporter and the Issaquah Press both did stories on the new Habitat EKC project that will begin in 2009. Ground-breaking is estimated for April and the project should be completed in full by 2012. To see the articles in their entirety click here.

Patterson Park:
HVAC finished!
Fire sprinklers will be inspected next week.
Electrical inspection this week.
Siding continues.
Fire stopping continues.
Next week some trenching for gas, phone and cable begins.

Koinonia Ridge:
Unit #10
Sheetrock is up and first coat of mud is going on Saturday.
Continued with exterior paint.
Completed insulation in crawl space.

Unit #13
Siding and Mechanical rough-in continue

Unit #30
Started electrical process.
Continued caulking/spackling on exterior.
Worked on interior framing punchlist.

Unit s#32/ #33
Continued housewrap and window installation.

Unit #41
HVAC 50% complete.
Wired, insulated and sheetrocked furnace room.

SHEDS
Continued with siding trim.
Completed roof framing.
Started shingles on 6 unit shed.

Next Week:
Continue with exterior paint.
Siding on #13 and #41
Window and door installation on #32 and #33.
Wiring on #30.
Continue work on the homeowner sheds.

After a snowy and cold holiday season, the construction crews, AmeriCorps team and volunteers are back at the work sites with their hammers swinging!

Mike Hammerquist, Construction Supervisor at Patterson Park in Redmond shares his update:

1. Fire sprinklers will be done next week.
2. HVAC will be done on Friday or Monday
3. Electrical is closer. 95% of the wires are pulled in #1- 6 (including low voltage).
4. The week of January 5th will be focused on siding, pick- up framing, and some electrical.

Doug Copley, Construction Supervisor at Koinonia Ridge in Snoqualmie gives us this update:

It was a quiet week at the Ridge with the holidays and everyone still getting back to work. We were also greeted with fresh snow the past two mornings, about an inch each time. But it melts during the day and is only a nuisance rather than causing major delays.

Unit #10:
Installed furnace room door and sided around area.
Installed T1-11 along back of house.
Siding about 95% complete- porch soffits remain.
Ordered material to frame decks.
The week of January 5th we will have HVAC, plumbing, electrical and framing inspections.

Unit #30:
Started siding along south side- 30% completed.
Hardi plank on front- 80% completed.

Unit #41:
Continued with siding on lower level- 75% around house completed.

Unit #33:
Roofing installed on 75% of unit.
Plumbing rough-in complete.

Thank you to all the volunteers who helped, especially with the weather challenges presented! If you are interested in volunteering with Habitat EKC on one of the job sites, explore the Volunteer Calendar here for available dates.

HFH EKC is hosting a Volunteer Information Session, TONIGHT! 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.

January 7th 2009
6:30pm-7:30pm
Issaquah Library Admin. Service Center (behind Target)
Public Meeting Room (2A/B)
960 Newport Way NW
Issaquah, WA

Applicants interested in Issaquah Highlands homes must attend a Family Information Meeting to get an application packet. Meetings have been scheduled beginning January 29, 2009, around the greater Eastside. See our homeowner's page for dates, times and locations. Please contact Emily Fortman with any questions.

Buying a home is a significant milestone in a person's life and being ready for the responsibilities associated with homeownership is vitally important for families who purchase affordable homes through Habitat for Humanity of East King County. If you are interested in applying (or know a family who might qualify), please review the following notes and contact the Family Services Manager at efortman@habitatekc.org for more information on this life-changing opportunity.

1. Review the qualifications for homeownership under the "Own a Home" tab. Qualified applicants meet ALL the criteria listed: need, ability to pay, and willingness to partner.

2. Attend a Family Information Meeting. Meetings for our upcoming Issaquah Highlands development are scheduled. Registration is not required and there is no obligation to attendees.

3. Get your finances in order. Applicant families considered for homeownership have "the ability to pay." This means debt is not excessive, no liens or judgments are pending, no bankrupties in the past year, and income is sufficient to pay a $750-$800 monthly mortgage/HOA dues/taxes payment. Obtaining a free copy of your credit report and reviewing it for inaccuracies is also an important step in securing your financial credibility.

4. Show your willingness to partner. If you choose to apply for homeownership, submit your complete application packet on-time. Deadlines are listed on all application packets when distributed at Info Meetings.

5. Visit a HFHEKC home development in Redmond or Snoqualmie, attend a dedication ceremony or volunteer on our construction sites. These are not requirements for homeownership but they provide applicants with first-hand HFHEKC experience and help folks determine if they are ready for homeownership and partnering with Habitat.

6. Stay in touch. Check in with the Family Services staff and look around the website to learn more about Habitat for Humanity.

Family Information Meetings for HFHEKC's upcoming Carnation development are not yet scheduled. If you are interested in being notified when meetings are scheduled, please e-mail aparsek@habitatekc.org. You are encouraged to check the website often for Carnation-specific updates.