Upcoming Family Information Meeting

Learn how Habitat for Humanity makes homeownership possible for deserving

 low income families.

Attend a Family Information Meeting

December 1, 6:00 - 7:00pm at Snoqualmie Library, 7824 Center Blvd SE., Snoqualmie
December 3, 12:00 - 1:00pm at Renton Highlands Library, 2902 NE 12th St., Renton
December 5, 7:00 - 8:00 pm at Renton Library, 100 Mill Avenue South, Renton
December 6, 6:00 - 7:00 pm at Habitat Office, 16315 NE 87th St., Suite B-5, Redmond

In your current living situation...

• Do you and your family live in overcrowded, expensive or substandard housing?
• Can yo uafford $800-950 per month for housing (mortgage, HOA dues and taxes)?
• Have you lived or worked in King County for at least one year?
• Are you willing to put in 500 hours of "sweat equity" on your home or the home of a neighbor?
• Are you looking for a "hand-up," not a hand-out?

Questions? Call Stephanie at 425-869-6007 or visit www.habitatekc.org

*One unit will be ADA accessible. People with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Guatemala Global Village Trip: Journal Entries

Sunday, October 9

Bienvenidos! or in the Kaqchiquel dialect, "UTz XIX PICHIK" (We're happy that you came and that you are well).
The Global Village trip to San Lucas Toliman, Guatemala has begun. Thirteen intrepid          Habi-trekkers have set out on an adventure to explore, build and impact the lives of deserving Guatemalan families for the better.- Tom Granger

                           

                       

Monday, October 10

First day of building! Made rebar, holes in U-blocks, mixed cement for footings, chipped a rock that was too high and hauled dirt in bags for the floor. Made good progress for the day under the guidance of Martin, the mason-the "Maestro" or the "Jeffe" - Boss.- Dave Thompson

                                     Tuesday, October 11

Today was considerably easier than yesterday. Hauled a lot of blocks around, but with block lines it was not as difficult. Ellie had to talk Martin into letting us lay blocks, but so far seems pleased with the work.- Sean ("newbie" - one of four)

Wednesday, October 12

Rain, Rain, Go Away!

Tropical storm E12 has invaded Guatemala. Not sure what the build site looks like as the heavy rain and wind makes the drive too treacherous. The wind smashed a couple of doors and woke a few people up, but the major effect is people standing around looking for something to do.

I anticipate our build site will be fine if and when we get back to it, but radar says the rain will be around at least another day. The poverty is everywhere and our effect is a small step in a long journey. Habitat is having a huge effect in Guatemala, but the need is even greater. We can only take the next step and hope others will too.- John B.

                                                                            Thursday, October 13

Rain is the theme, but we somehow seem to keep making progress on our site. The Guatemalans' hard work, calm presence and desire to improve their lives and that of their children has been inspiring.
All and all it has been a wonderful (even if wet) experience. - Jim W.




Friday, October 14

The morning was our usual 7am gathering on the large patio for our breakfast. The house is really taking shape- looks like a house. There are seven courses of blocks, eight in some places and the windows are beginning to take shape.

Judy and I took a walk with the children and meandered around a "neighborhood" of very basic swellings. I estimate that we saw about 50 young kids in the area. The homes all had outdoor showers sponsored by U.S. A.I.D (US Aid for International Development).

The dedication was lovely. Tom and Peter represented the teams beautifully in what they said to the families. The masons also spoke and I guess it was a culmination of the week's experience, but when Senor Martin spoke I was in tears.

The passion for service in this group of people is inspiring. I think it is safe to say that we really made a difference this week.
Thanks, Dave, Judy, Tom M., Tom E., Peter, Jim, Sean, Keith, Ray, John, Jack and of course my Tom for making this week such a memorable experience.- Nancy G.

Sunday, October 16

Already feeling like I've stepped back through the looking glass. Did it really happen? What stood out for me?

#1- Clive. Clive Rainey is an amazing guy to meet. Not only is his history with Habitat unmatched, but he is a wealth of informationand stories and he lives out his Christan faith better than anyone else I know.
#2- Esvin. "Pedrooo!" "Esvinnn!" At first I thought homewoner Esvin was gently poking fun at me and maybe he was, but as the week went on I think a real mutual affection developed and when he said to me "siempre mi amigo, Pedro" at the closing ceremony I was deeply touched.
#3- The Team. I was a newcomer to a team that already knew each other and worked well together. Yet they made me feel welcome from the start.
#4- Ellie and Jamil. What a great duo! When Clive left us, Jamil stepped in. He's got personality, charm, a smile that makes all the chicas want to flirt with him and he's also a smart, caring individual who has chosen this life of service when his talents would bring him sucess in more individually rewarding pursuits. Ellie  has a good heart and I hope she decides to stay in this kind of work.
#5- Rain, rain and more rain.
#6- The work.
#7- Guatemala and its people. A land of contrasts.  In Guatemala City one can see wealth and new development on the same block with decay and squalor. Why do we in the U.S. have an embarassment of riches while Guatemala struggles? It's not because we are superior people for I have met Guatemalans and they are as kind, hard-working, as loving of their families, as talented as we are. Habitat is in the right place. A secure, stable roof over one's head makes a big difference.
I am thankful for such a great experience.- Pete S.

Construction Update- September

La Fortuna, Renton

September 17, 2011-

Al had a group of plumbers and apprentices out today and wrapped up # 3& 4 and started #5. I got a picture of them loading the tools into the union's community outreach van at the end of the day. They made great progress and seemed to have a good time doing it. They are now able to track their hours volunteering towards their license.

LF5- We got the fire sprinkler control room formed and poured with LF7's slabs. We had 2 training days on housewrap and windows for the Americorps.

#1 & 5 plumbing layed out and drilled. Housewrap and windows started.

#2,3,4, & 6 plumbing ready to be tested and inspected. Housewrap and windows started.

LF7- All slabs poured in 2 days by HTI Polymer. Lumber onsite. Hardware for mudsills onsite and the balance ordered for Tuesday delivery.

Work next week will include; housewrap, windows, mudsills, and stick framing garage walls and fire rooms.

September 10, 2011- We were able to maintain progress with sub- contractors and the Americorps that Issaquah could spare during TWB.

LF5-

Al has finished the waste and vent in one unit and started drilling a second. GMI has drilled 4 units and is set to start waste and vent on Tuesday. Plumbing could be ready for inspection early next week on all units.

Housewrap was started on 1 Sept with the Americorps welcome All- Staff build and will continue for another week, or so. The multi- family nature of the Renton buildings will require the completing of the weatherproofing design and an inspection before we can begin siding. Window prep and installation will begin next week. Exterior paint is on hand and siding pre- paint will begin on the next volunteer day scheduled.

LF7-

Backfill and final grading are complete. Underslab insulation is complete. We will need to re- chalk some slab grade lines and roll out the plastic moisture barrier on Tuesday to be ready for the pour day scheduled with HTI Polymer on Wednesday.

Lumber is scheduled to arrive on Thursday and hardware will be scheduled for next week. Strongwalls and mud sill could potentially start late next week.

Work next week will include; housewrap, windows, mud sills, Strong-walls, and wetland mitigation.

Issaquah Highlands
September 17, 2011- Great progress this week thanks to all of the handy TWB volunteers. Wall sheathing passed inspection on Tuesday and Wednesday we had a housewrap, windows and siding training with the AmeriCorps. During TWB we were able to install housewrap up to the top of the building and flash all window openings. Windows were installed and trimmed out on the main floor. Belly bands are up on the 1st and 2nd floors, starting at the back and moving around toward the front. Hardie plank siding is complete over the garage door openings and started moving around on the north and south sides, as well as the main floor on the back of 5A. Pre- painting continued on Saturday, a bit more than half of the siding now has one coat.

Dave Sanford lead a small crew of volunteers on our ABWK project in Sammamish. Volunteers loaded a dumpster with roofing debris after a professional crew completed the removal of the old roof and installation of the new one on Friday and Saturday. 

Trusses are scheduled for delivery on Tuesday. They will be installed by  a contractor during the week. Siding will continue based on the progess of the contractor working above.

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.