By Max Broennle | FāVS News Reporter
Habitat for Humanity Spokane has secured more than $6.5 million in state funds to expand affordable housing in the region.
“There’s a couple different ways that we can utilize those funds. The largest contract that we received in this last round is for down payment assistance and that’s at $2.26 million,” Michelle Girardot, CEO of the Spokane branch of Habitat for Humanity, said.
Girardot began as an Americorps volunteer 16 years ago. Before joining Habitat, she was a teacher. During that time, Girardot noticed how stable housing affects students’ ability to learn and decided to help students by working toward providing families with access to housing.
“The other ways that we can use housing trust fund dollars is through Sticks and Bricks. So that [would be] $800,000 for our Spokane Valley project that will support about eight homes,” Girardot said. “The other contract … is $1.2 million. That’s for our next phase in Erie Heights with our Highland Village development.”
Lobbying effort pays off
Habitat received $4.2 million from the Washington State Housing Trust Fund and $2.3 million through the Connecting Housing and Infrastructure Program after traveling to Olympia, Washington, and Washington, D.C., to advocate and lobby on behalf of lower income families.
Dana Le Roy, Habitat’s director of Governmental Affairs said Habitat travels to Olympia once a year to advocate for affordable homeownership, and this year’s trip centered on securing housing trust fund dollars.
“We were advocating for issues specific to low income housing and affordable housing in Spokane,” Le Roy said.
The funds will help support more than 100 permanently affordable homeownership units across Spokane County and move Habitat projects closer to construction and sale, according to a press release.
A place for everyone
Habitat for Humanity is a worldwide organization that works with local communities to build, fund and refurbish housing to create, “a world where everyone has a decent place to live,” according to their website.
Habitat has been working to help low income families access and improve housing for the last 39 years. In Spokane, they are focusing on building additional houses and finding paths for people to afford them.
Their team relies heavily on local volunteers and donations. They are hosting their annual fundraising luncheon on May 7 at the Spokane Convention Center.
As a faith-based organization, they serve the mission of “seeking to put God’s love into action,” according to their mission statement.
“Habitat was founded on a sort of a radical interracial Christian commune in America’s Georgia during the civil rights era,” Le Roy said. “That narrative of radical inclusivity is something that’s always drawn me to Habitat, and that’s something that continues to be a meaningful part of the work for me, personally.”
Faith, inclusivity drive the mission
On their website, Habitat for Humanity remains true to that message for their supporters — including a disclaimer for volunteers saying “all are welcome.”
“We’re trying to build the kingdom of God here on Earth. And there’s no particular faith that needs to tie into that. That’s just the faith of humanity,” Girardot said.
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