Where Are They Now?

Homeowner Update: The Fowler Family

When Scott and Linda Fowler were accepted in HfHEKC's homeownership program in December 2007, they lived in a condemned rental with minimal insulation, drafty windows and faulty wiring that caused four fire scares. Scott and Linda's two children, Ashley and Joel, were 7 and 3 at the time.

The Fowler family realized their dream of homeownership In July of 2009 when they moved into their new townhouse in our Patterson Park development in Redmond. Since then, their family has felt a great amount of relief knowing they now have a place they can call home that is safe, affordable and long term.

Ashley is now 11 years old, enjoys reading, singing and computers. Joel, now 7 years old, loves cars, LEGOs and Transformers. Both children started the new school year with big smiles and enthusiasm. Scott and Linda continue to be active within their church community and their neighborhood.

To see photos from our most recent Home Dedications, click here. Four homes were dedicated in the Magnolia, Issaquah Highlands development on August 27, 2011.

Together We Build Pays Tribute to 9/11

An Interfaith Coalition, Formed Shortly After the September 11^th Attacks, Celebrate their 10^th year Anniversary of Working Together

Together We Build, a group of Christian, Jews and Muslims work together to build homes for low-income families on the Eastside.

Habitat for Humanity of East King County will host the 10^th Annual Together We Build (TWB) project on September 8-10 and September 15-17, 2011 at their Issaquah Highlands development. This is Thursday through Saturday in the two consecutive weeks surrounding the 10^th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, which were the initial motivations behind forming TWB.

TWB is an Interfaith Coalition of Christians, Jews, and Muslims seeking to find common ground and learn from one another as they work together to build houses for low-income families in East King County. They have held an annual event each year in pursuit of their mission to show the world that together, we can build a stronger community.

The group has raised $20,000 to $50,000 each year. A portion of the money is used to cover the costs of food preparation during the build and to pay for their web hosting service. The remainder is sent to Habitat for Humanity to fund their homebuilding projects. Over the last ten years, TWB has contributed a total of $438, 531 to Habitat for Humanity’s affordable home building program, providing the funding equivalent of four houses!

Habitat for Humanity of East King County’s Executive Director, Tom Granger is impressed with TWB’s impact on the community. “This group was formed to help create an understanding between people of different faiths,” he said. “The fact that it has not only survived, but thrived for ten years now is amazing. The leadership with Together We Build should really be commended,” he added.

 “The Interfaith Service is especially meaningful,” said Dave Sanford, a longtime TWB participant and parishioner at Aldersgate United Methodist church in Bellevue. He said it is planned by the various clergy and includes participation from each of the major faith traditions and by the youth in those traditions. “It is quite an experience to see a Muslim Imam offering prayers in Arabic from the pulpit of a Jewish synagogue to a congregation of all faiths,” said Sanford.

“It is our belief that the example of people of many faiths working together sends a lesson for the community. That message honors the victims of 9/11, showing that they were harmed not in the name of religion, but in the perversion of religion.”

This year, the Interfaith Service will be hosted at the IMAN Center located at 515 State Street South in Kirkland on Saturday, September 10, 2011. The program will begin at 5:30 pm, with dinner at 6:30 pm, followed by a Muslim evening prayer at 7:47 pm.

To learn more about Together We Build, visit www.togetherwebuild.org

Construction Update- August

La Fortuna, Renton

Passed pre- housewrap inspection on Tuesday and finished up with the foam in the back, but didn't get to starting the housewrap yet.

Al started plumbing rough-in on Tuesday and has 1 unit laid out, drilled and started gluing waste & vent. Al's boss stopped by on Friday and was interested in getting apprentices out to help Al. Insulation and pre- rock was completed in 2 units by Rafael and Yesenia on Saturday and the tubs were hauled up over the decks for the 2 units Al is working on.

On Saturday we trenched, installed the sleeve, installed the pipe and then backfilled the water supply for the sprinkler room. Forms for the foundation will be set next week and will be poured when LF7's garage slabs are poured.

We finished the footing drains and insulation then sanded the rest of the sewer lines and the foundation is ready for partial backfill, then we will instal the electrical conduits. After the electrical underslab is inspected we can finish backfill and schedule slabs.

Work next week will include; housewrap, windows, pick up framing punchlist, electrical conduits, garage grading, sub- sill installation at heated living areas, and slab prep.

Issaquah Highlands

Buildings 3 & 4: Continued punchlist work. Carpet was installed on Monday and Tuesday. Next week we will give the units a good cleaning and complete final touch ups.

Building 5: Continued framing exterior walls. All exterior walls, minus the stairwell, on 5A are framed. 5B is about 60%.

Next week the framing will continue and we may start setting scaffold around the building for OSB fill in work and installing hold down straps.

Construction Update - July 2011

Issaquah Highlands – 3 Duplexes
Building 3: Built and laminated kitchen countertops, cut wood back splash, exterior paint prep on front porches, continued interior touch ups and hardware

Building 4: Cut wood back splash, continued grading in front, exterior paint prep on front porches, irrigation in front was installed, installed phone conduits

Dedications for these four homes set for Sat. August 27 at 3:00 PM.

Work continues on the last duplex:
Building 5: Framed landing on 5B, prep in front for setting post and beams, framing materials for next floor were delivered.

Next week we will continue with interior finish work, building block walls and taking care of exterior grading issues on 3 & 4. Framing will continue on building 5.


La Fortuna, Renton –multifamily buildings
Building #5 – six townhouses
We finished the fire rock and firing strips above the roofs and will be ready for the roof to be stocked on Tuesday. Framing punch list work continues and might wrap up next week.

Windows were delivered on Friday and secured in the back of a garage. Installation will begin after housewrap is completed.

Building #7- five townhouses
Complete Concrete worked on the footings and they passed their inspection on Thursday and poured on Friday. They will start the walls on Monday and hope to pour late in the week. The sewer and water sleeves were installed by volunteers before the pour.

Work next week will include; framing punch-list, exterior foam board, housewrap, windows, and wetlands mitigation.

Construction Update May 16, 2011

La Fortuna, Renton
Habitat EKC and SKC welcome 45 additional AmeriCorps from all over the country for the AmeriCorps Build-a-Thon this week!

Unit #1

Needs guardrails and sub- floor can start.

Some sheetrock backers and party wall blocking still is needed.

Unit #2
Stairs in, guardrails up, floor sheeted, exterior plates cut and laid out. Ready to frame.

Unit #3 Joists in and rim joists 90% complete.

Unit #4 Guardrails up, floor sheeted, lines snapped, and stair landing in with the stair jacks cut.

Unit #5 Rim board, sheetrock backers, and blocking done. Ready for subfloor.

Unit # 6 Guardrails up, floor sheeted, stairs in, lines snapped, and exterior plates started.

Work this week:
Guardrails, stairs, floor sheeting, plus exterior, party, and interior walls.
Some site work: erosion control, street sweeping, and wetlands mitigation tasks.

Magnolia Village, Issaquah

Building 3:
Sheet rock finish complete.
Interior painting started in bathrooms and laundry room.

Exterior painting continued on the front.

Utility trenching continued.

Building 4:
Completed tile underlayment for both units.

Started setting tile in bathrooms and laundry.
Continued mill work  caulking.

Continued exterior painting on the front.

Building 5:
Completed interior walls of main floor.

Installed tie plates.

Worked on fire blocking and cabinet blocking.

Worked on installing 2x2's on concrete walls.

Habitat for Humanity EKC to Host 2011 AmeriCorps Build!

During the week of May 16 - 20, 2011, Habitat EKC, in partnership with Habitat for Humanity of Seattle/South King County, will be hosting 62 Habitat AmeriCorps from across the nation for the 2011 AmeriCorps Build!

The event will take place during National AmeriCorps Week, through which the Corporation for National and Community Service highlights work done by members in communities across the country.

AmeriCorps team members will be working on new construction at East King County’s La Fortuna site in Renton and South King County’s Rainier Vista site in Seattle. In addition to new construction, affiliates will be doing work with our new program called the Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative. It is expected that this event will impact the lives of up to 80 families. We’re looking forward to sharing work and meals with fellow AmeriCorps members, getting to know the Renton homeowners and neighbors better, and making significant progress in home construction.

Though split into two worksites, all participants will be staying together at a Hostel in Seattle’s International District with plenty of free time to explore Seattle’s sights, enjoy the cuisine, and breathe in the mountain air. We hope it will be a time to have fun and share with one another about our lives as Habitat for Humanity AmeriCorps members.

We’re thankful for all of those involved in the planning stages, for their time and dedication, and are looking forward to enjoying a fun-filled, exciting week!

Construction Update May 9, 2011

La Fortuna, Renton

Unit #1

Floor joists 100% complete.

Rim joists 40% complete, and ready for blocking.

Unit #2

Floor framing, guardrails, and sheeting 100% complete.

Unit #3

Floor joists 75% complete.

Unit #4

Floor joists 100% complete.

Rim joists 80% complete.

Unit #5

Floor joists 100% complete. 

Rim joists started.

Unit #6

Floor and rim joists 100% complete.

Blocking 90% complete.

Work this week:

Rim joists and blocking

Sub- floor sheeting.

Prep for the Americorps Build.

Magnolia Village, Issaquah Highlands

Good week in Issaquah. The Women Build was very productive with about 46 volunteers along with AmeriCorps and staff who participated.

Building 3:
Sheet rock finish is nearly complete. Should be primed and textured by Wednesday
Garage doors were installed

Building 4:
Continued tile underlayment in the kitchens and entry, 75% complete
Tile layout started.
Started installing interior doors and mill work.
Doors- 75% complete, mill work 40% complete.
Started interior caulking and mill work paint prep.
Continued exterior painting on the front of the building.

Building 5:
Framed party walls- passed inspection.
Exterior walls- 80% complete
Started framing interior walls- 90% framed, 50% stood.
Removed guard rails and started filling in OSB.

Work this week:
Interior work on Building 4.
Begin rotating AmeriCorps to Renton for AC build prep.