Dear friends of Habitat,
To say the last 15 months have been challenging would be an understatement. The global pandemic made turned our operations entirely upside down. When Habitat for Humanity-Spokane first shut down in March 2020, we had no idea how we would be able to continue serving this powerful mission.
We had to say goodbye to volunteers on our job sites and Habitat Store just when we had the momentum to partner with more families. We knew that the families we serve, some of the most vulnerable in our community, were going to struggle the most– especially those awaiting the keys to strength, stability, and self-reliance through affordable homeownership.
Connecting volunteers and donors to our mission and meeting future homeowners are the lifeblood of everything Habitat stands for. Swinging a hammer alongside community members from all walks of life is how Habitat puts its faith into action.
But, little did we know the Habititus runs deep in this organization of volunteers, homeowners, staff, and donors. Habititus happens when you step onto the job site, when you lend a hand to a neighbor, when you use your voice to advocate for affordable housing. It’s when your heart is changed forever because you helped another family become empowered through Habitat’s mission. When you use your time and talent to build the kingdom of God here on earth by breaking down barriers and building up our brothers and sisters, that is Habititus.
We have found other ways to spread the mission of Habitat and had to transform our operations to be innovative and creative. The team at Habitat was quickly able to adapt to safety protocol to stop the spread of Covid-19 but keep the mission moving forward.
I am beyond proud of the work that volunteers, staff, donors, and future homeowners have completed during these last 15 months. Through balancing working from home and their own family lives to their “never give up and always keep the faith” attitudes. While you may not have witnessed all of this, I can assure you this organization has moved mountains to keep building a world where everyone has a decent place to call home.
Today, as our State of Washington reopens, it is also the last day of our fiscal year. Today, we are closing the books and tying up loose ends to launch into a strong recovery for the first quarter of the next fiscal year.
I want to share some of the successes that your time, talent, and treasure have committed to—even when you’ve not been physically here to see the fruits of your labor in real-time.
In the last 15 months:
- Partnered with 50 families that are now buyer-ready and awaiting land assignment
- 1.8% Mortgage delinquency rate—the lowest in Habitat-Spokane history
- Passed 1590 in the City of Spokane to help fund programs like Habitat’s
- 13 families have successfully paid off their Habitat mortgages
- 10 homes closed
- Broke ground in Highland Village, Airway Heights
- Rehabbed 7 units within the City of Spokane
- Launched new shared equity programming to keep the Cost of Home affordable
- The Habitat Store has had its most successful year on record, hitting 110% over budget
- Fundraising: Successfully raised 52% more than the past fiscal year in individual, government, sponsorship, and events
Habitat for Humanity staff has done a phenomenal job in one of the most challenging times in Habitat-Spokane’s history. Because of the support of donors, volunteers, and the generosity of the Spokane community, Habitat staff members were able to shine in their own commitments to this mission, which is both heroic and admirable.
Habitat staff will be off the week after Independence Day to spend time with their loved ones and recharge.
Habitat for Humanity met the moment time and time again, and we celebrate you in making that a reality.
God bless,
Michelle M. Girardot
Chief Executive Officer
Habitat for Humanity-Spokane