April 25, 11:30 am – 1:00 pm
Spokane Convention Center; 334 W. Spokane Falls Blvd
SPOKANE, Wash. – Habitat for Humanity-Spokane’s annual Hope Builders Luncheon is Thursday, April 25, 2019 and will feature keynote speaker Mandy Manning, the 2018 National Teacher of Year. The goal of the luncheon is to raise critical funds to support Habitat-Spokane’s mission and to raise awareness around the significant need for safe, healthy and affordable homeownership opportunities for families that need it most.
“The Hope Builders luncheon is an opportunity to invest in our community,” said Michelle Girardot, CEO of Habitat for Humanity-Spokane. “When you give to Habitat-Spokane, you help families achieve the strength, stability and self-reliance they need to build better lives for themselves.”
The biggest issues in the Spokane housing market today are limited inventory and rising rental and home costs. In 2017, there was a 2.4% vacancy rate for rental properties in Spokane, nearly half the rate of 2005. In addition, the monthly supply of homes for sale has significantly decreased every year since 2014. Habitat provides a solution to that crisis through its homeownership program.
Families and individuals in need of a safe and affordable place to call home partner with Habitat for Humanity. They complete hundreds of hours of sweat equity building their own home and the homes of their neighbors. They take financial workshops and classes and then purchase their home and pay an affordable mortgage.
“We are able to help families achieve the dream of homeownership by providing them with an opportunity to purchase a home that they help build at an affordable cost,” added Girardot. “Right now, in Spokane County, many renters are spending 50% or more of their income on rent, forcing our neighbors to choose between other essential needs like groceries and electricity. With financial support, we can help more families in Spokane County.”
What will truly be an inspiring event, Habitat-Spokane is excited to welcome keynote speaker Mandy Manning, the 2018 National Teacher of the Year and English teacher at Ferris High School. Manning will share her personal experience as an educator, highlighting the negative effects unstable housing has on educational outcomes. She will give testament to the positive impacts a stable home can have on the lives of students.
According to the Joint Center for Housing Studies, children of homeowners are 25% more likely to graduate from high school and 116% more likely to graduate from college compared with families who do not own their homes.
“Because of the stability and affordability of our Habitat home, my husband, myself and three of our children were able to attend college,” said Amy, a Habitat homeowner. “Because we’ve had an affordable mortgage, we’ve been able to put money towards other things like education.”
Doors open at 11:30 am on April 25 and the program begins at noon. In addition to keynote speaker Mandy manning, attendees of the luncheon will hear powerful testimony from current Habitat homeowners and how their Habitat homes have changed their lives. Attendees will also hear from hopeful future homeowners.
All money raised during the luncheon will be used to help build affordable, safe and decent homes for qualified families in Spokane County.
“Getting our home will be like a miracle for our family,” says Mary, a future Habitat homeowner. “It will be an answer to our prayers.”
You are invited to attend the annual Hope Builders luncheon, April 25, at the Spokane Convention Center. Join the greater Habitat community as we fund the mission and build the foundation for the future of Habitat in Spokane County. Seating is limited and filling up fast! To reserve your seat, visit: https://habitat-spokane.org/hope-builders-luncheon/ or call (509) 534-2552. There is no admission fee to attend the Hope Builders luncheon but attendees will be asked to make a donation in support of Habitat’s mission.
Sponsorship for the Hope Builders luncheon is generously provided by Banner Bank, SRM, Inlander, and Regence.