Friend of Housing Award Recipients

Award recipients are nominated annually by their peers and colleagues working in the public, private and independent sectors of the affordable housing industry.  Honorees are selected for their leadership and exceptional contribution to provide safe, decent and affordable housing.

2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997 | 1996 | 1995 | 1994

Washington State Housing Finance Commission Honors Affordable Housing Advocates (PDF)

2007 Individual Achievement Awards

Maureen Kostyak, Seattle Office of Housing

Media Release (PDF)  Ms. Kostyack has played a major role in shaping the housing agenda in Olympia since the early 1990's. One of her great successes was the creation of the Washington Families Fund by the Washington Legislature. She was the visionary who saw the need for a fund to support social services connected to affordable housing.

She found a legislative sponsor and helped obtain the first $2 million to go into the fund in 2004. This was soon augmented by private donations to reach a total of $5 million to start the program. An expert in housing policy, she has helped to ground advocacy discussions in a clear legal and political context. For over 20 years she has walked the delicate balance of being an effective housing advocate within government, for a long time working for King County and most recently for the Seattle Office of Housing. She has steadily educated policy makers and elected officials about housing needs. She has patiently explained the ramifications of policy, the good, and the bad. She has created advocacy opportunities so that others could make their case. She has also educated advocates on the techniques that are effective in government circles.

Finding a strong local source for housing funding has long been one of Ms. Kostyack’s personal passions. She first advocated for local funding through the Real Estate Excise Tax, making affordable housing production an eligible use.

Although this success was short lived, the concept took root and re-appeared in the form of the first $10 document-recording fee included in HB2060 in 2002. The concept was carried on when the legislature passed the second recording fee in 2005 with HB2163, establishing a Homeless Housing Program. And, this past legislative session the concept of local funding was carried further with the passage of HB1359. Among others, local governments across the state owe a debt of gratitude to Ms. Kostyack’s policy skills, perseverance and gentle powers of persuasion.

Ms. Kostyack is now in her second year as the State Legislative Chair of the Washington Low Income Housing Alliance and has served on the board of the Alliance for many years.

Melinda Szatlocky of Port Angeles

Media Release (PDF)  Ms. Szatlocky has been a pioneer and an advocate for affordable housing on the Olympic Peninsula for several years. She began working in Clallam County as a Vista Volunteer in 1997 for Serenity House of Clallam County. From the outset, Ms. Szatlocky was a team builder and community organizer. She helped the community establish transitional housing center: Evergreen Family Village. Later she supervised construction of the Commons, which now serves as the service center for the local homeless provider, and an activities center and a daycare center for the residents at Evergreen Family Village.  That was just the beginning of her Olympic feats. Ms Szatlocky joined the staff of the Housing Authority of the County of Clallam in 1999. According to the Executive Director of the Housing Authority Pamela Tietz, “Melinda takes great ideas and turns them into reality. Without her, we never would have been able to start so many wonderful programs: Family Self-Sufficiency, Mutual Self-Help Housing, Home Maintenance 101, First-Time Homebuyers, Down-Payment Assistance, and Section 8 to Homeownership.”

Ms. Tietz also went on to say that Ms. Szatlocky has the tenacity to convince the community to give their money and time to get the job done.”  Over 20 families have used the Section 8 to Homeownership program in Clallam County thanks to her work and assistance. She has assisted families using the USDA self-help housing program and personally conducted countless counseling sessions and homebuyer education seminars. She even arranges post-homeownership classes on home repair and maintenance, in addition to moving families to self-sufficiency.

She was instrumental in obtaining Housing Trust Fund money for down payment assistance for Clallam County. Ms. Szatlocky donates countless hours of her own personal time to affordable housing issues and has been actively involved in forming Homeward Bound, the first Community Land Trust in Clallam and Jefferson Counties.

Besides those Olympic feats, Ms. Szatlocky has been asked to speak and share her knowledge on affordable housing and Section 8 to Homeownership by several agencies and organizations. HUD often calls upon her to share her expertise in this area with other housing authorities. There are very few socially active people on the Olympic Peninsula who do not know her name. She is truly dedicated to helping others find affordable housing, becoming self-sufficient and building their future.

Ishbel Dickens of Columbia Legal Services, Seattle

Media Release (PDF)  Hundreds, if not thousands, of manufactured home owners throughout Washington state have benefited from Ms. Dickens’ leadership and expertise. She has helped many form home owners' associations, educated others about their rights and responsibilities under the Mobile Home Landlord Tenant Act, and helped others preserve their manufactured housing communities - all the while maintaining a sense of professionalism, integrity, and compassionate understanding towards her clients.

She has been the subject of a documentary. She has written articles for legal journals. And she has been recognized with two different awards: In 2002 she was the UW Law School Charles Z. Smith Public Service Award recipient, and she also received the 1999 Seattle Human Services Coalition Excellence in Advocacy Award.

“I will not say this is Ishbel’s crowning achievement, because Ishbel will have many more. But, I will say that the recently-passed House Bill 1461 is another feather we can put in Ishbel’s cap” said Housing Finance Commissioner Mario Villanueva who presented Ms. Dickens with her Friend of Housing for Individual Achievement award.  This legislation allows park residents to call on the Attorney General's office to resolve disputes concerning violations of the manufactured housing landlord-tenant act. It has been hailed as a nationwide model for manufactured housing landlord-tenant legislation.  It comes on the heels of six years of hard work on the part of Ms. Dickens and other legal service and housing advocates.

Ms. Dickens advocacy began 20 years ago as an activist volunteer, collecting signatures to stop Costco from purchasing a mobile home park in North Seattle. She went on to work for the Low Income Housing Institute where she learned about affordable and manufactured housing issues. She then obtained a Juris Doctor from the University of Washington Law School while continuing being an activist and advocate on mobile home issues across the state.

The nonprofit Columbia Legal Services, specializing in manufactured and mobile home park preservation issues, brought her on board, and she has never stop advocating and traveling nationwide to speak on manufactured housing issues. In his nominating letter Representative Brian Sullivan wrote, “I have known Ishbel for several years but came to really appreciate her passion for helping manufactured home owners as she worked both in front of, and behind the scenes, to help preserve two manufactured housing communities in Lynnwood last year. Ishbel was instrumental in securing the purchase of these parks by the Housing Authority of Snohomish County.”

  Pam Blanton, King County Developmental Disabilities Division

Media Release (PDF)  “In her 15 years at King County, Ms. Blanton has been a tireless advocate for people with housing needs,” said Deputy Commissioner Will Graham (who also serves as Assistant Director for Washington State Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development’s Housing Services unit. “In all of her work, Ms. Blanton has shown a talent for translating complex government regulations into simple programs that work for the people that she helps.”

She has accomplished her work first as King County's Relocation Specialist, and for the past five years, as the King County Developmental Disabilities Division Housing Coordinator. When Pam started this job, people with developmental disabilities or DD were not accessing the new influx of Section 8 vouchers available for people with disabilities through the King County Housing Authority. No one understood how to assist them in accessing vouchers and this population was losing out.

Ms. Blanton took on the challenge. She became an interpreter of Section 8 regulations, and then translated that information for parents and state case managers, assisting them to fill out and submit the required paperwork. She then advocated for peoples' needs, tracked the voucher process, and made sure that people did not lose their vouchers. She became an expert in using the tools of reasonable accommodation to provide exceptions to the rules that would allow people with DD to have equal access to housing.

Since 2001, Pam has helped over 450 people with DD receive vouchers and live independently. Her leadership has opened the doors for people with DD to live in a variety of housing situations in the community. Her contribution has given the opportunity for many to experience new living situations. She has helped to provide them a future of independence.

Representative Eric Pettigrew of Seattle

Media Release (PDF) Rep. Pettigrew was the prime sponsor of HB 1401, which provides $1 million of state funds for the creation of the Affordable Housing Land Acquisition Program. Mr. Miloscia was a co-sponsor of this legislation. This is to be a revolving fund for nonprofit affordable housing developers to purchase land and “bank it” for up to five years at low carrying costs for future affordable housing development.

Such a land acquisition program has been needed for several years as the price of available land continues to skyrocket across the state. Rep. Pettigrew was also successful in obtaining $200,000 in the Community, Trade and Economic Development budget for technical assistance and capacity building for the growing number of Community Land Trusts in Washington state. He was responsible for an additional appropriation of $150,000 for pre- and post-purchase counseling for first-time homebuyers, particularly programs counseling minority households. Affordable housing assistance increased by $1.35 million as a result of his work.

Nola Renz, Executive Director, Helping Hand House, Puyallup

Media Release (PDF)  Nola Renz has led Helping Hand House to become one of the most dynamic responders to homelessness in the state. She has guided this nonprofit agency to become the primary provider of emergency and transitional housing, and homeless prevention in East Pierce County. Her personal compassion for homeless households shows in her organization’s successes. Helping Hand House has 368 stories to tell from last year alone.

Here is just one:
When Tina first entered Helping Hand House she had lost almost everything that was important in her life: her home, her car, and worst of all, her family. Child Protective Services had just taken her three sons. Drug and alcohol abuse had taken their toll. Tina had many obstacles facing her. Through the Helping Hand House program, Tina met weekly with a case manager who provided her with the tools she needed to overcome those obstacles. However, it was Tina who had to get the work done. She took the bus to all her appointments, including her Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous meetings. She found a job and began putting money into a savings account. After five months, Tina had saved enough money to get a car and an apartment. She now has her children back and is on her way to becoming a manager at the business where she works.

368 families who were either homeless or facing homelessness found help. Some were assisted through their homeless prevention program so they could stay in their homes. Some homeless families were moved into one of the 41-housing units Helping Hand House provides; units that bring with them supportive services and case management. They changed their lives. They rebuilt their hope for the future. On average, 75% of the families graduating from Helping Hand House programs find and maintain stable and permanent housing. As the focus shifts away from emergency and transitional housing to permanent supportive housing, Ms. Renz have taken the lead. Her organization is currently partnering with Tacoma Housing Authority, Bates Technical College, the Sumner and Tacoma School districts, and the Pierce County Department of Health to provide 30 units of permanent supportive housing: 15 units each in Tacoma and Sumner. Helping Hand House is also purchasing another 15 units of permanent supportive housing to open in 2008.

Under Ms. Renz’s leadership, Helping Hand House has developed a dedicated staff that is constantly enhancing service delivery by constantly learning. In 2005 the Business Examiner ranked Helping Hand House as number 4 in “Top Places to Work.” Ms.Renz credits this simple value statement with their success: “provide an environment based on compassion, honesty, respect, good stewardship, and professionalism through positive and caring relationships.”

In addition to her full-time job, Ms. Renz serves as president of the Washington State Homeless Coalition, a post she has held for the past two years and has just been reelected to another two-year term.

2007 Organizational Achievement Awards

GreenStone Homes of Liberty Lake, Spokane area

Photo: Jim Frank, President and Founder

Media Release (PDF)  Mr. Frank is a for-profit builder who, along with his staff, has selflessly shared his knowledge with Spokane’s nonprofit housing community for many years,” said Housing Finance Commission Ray Rieckers (also Director of Housing Opportunities for Spokane Neighborhood Action Programs) in presenting the award to Mr. Frank. When Community Frameworks (then called Northwest Regional Facilitators) was having trouble finding developed building lots on which to site their HomeStart Program’s self-help housing, they asked Mr. Frank and Greenstone Homes for assistance.

He suggested they buy raw land. He helped them find a 10-acre parcel in Spokane Valley and through his company issued a zero-interest loan to purchase the land. Mr. Frank and his staff then provided advice and expertise on the land’s development. The company ultimately decided to jointly develop the property, which resulted in the Dishman Commons subdivision containing 51 single-family homes and 36 condominiums. This is the first mixed-income development of its kind in the Spokane area and serves as the model of a nonprofit organization partnering with a for-profit developer. Community Frameworks’ HomeStart Program has since gone on to develop 129 more building lots for self-help (formerly referred to as sweat equity) future homeowners.

Another example of Greenstone Homes’ philanthropic activity involves Mr. Frank’s assistance to Habitat-Spokane in their search for buildable lots. He dedicated staff time to help them find sites and analyze site issues. Habitat-Spokane has now completed 180 homes in the county. They are on pace today to complete 20 homes a year. In their nominating letter Habitat Spokane wrote, “Our current success directly reflects the huge amount of support and assistance received from Jim Frank and Greenstone Homes.”

His company provided loans, expertise, and has constantly encouraged community support for this and other nonprofits as he actively serves on local planning bodies including the Spokane GMA Housing Element Task Force.

Next Step Housing of Yakima

Photo: John Mifsud, Executive Director

Media Release (PDF)  “Next Step Housing is all about providing that next step into the future for many residents of the Yakima Valley,” said Commissioner Mario Villanueva. “Over the last 17 years, this nonprofit organization has become a national award winner in special needs and clean and sober low-income housing and our state is proud to now also honor them.” In 1991, in Yakima, members of the community saw the need to address homelessness and its inherent issues; Next Step Housing responded and through that decade an d into this century, they have achieved remarkable results.

In 2007, they began work on Pear Tree Place, a planned 26-unit development in Yakima that will contain 11 three-bedroom town homes. These will be Alcohol and Drug Free units dedicated to large families. As extensive as this list is for a relatively young organization, Next Step not only provides counseling services, it hires from its resident pool. Single parents are given the opportunity to manage the affordable housing communities in which they live.

The following gives the history of Next Step Housing projects—all successes. In 1997, they purchased Chambers House and Denney House, two cooperatively run homes providing 17 units of transitional housing for adults in early recovery. In collaboration with Community Development Services Incorporated, Next Step Housing won the 1997 National Tax Credit Housing Coalition Award for Excellence! for designing the Yakima Housing Authority’s Families for Self Sufficiency Program and creating on-site case management services for the 120-unit Cornerstone Cooperative Apartments.

In 1999, they purchased Clean House Apartments, 21 clean and sober studio units with 6 units set aside for adults with developmental disabilities. In 2000, they purchased Lamplighter Apartments, a 16-unit building consisting of 12 one-bedroom and 4 two-bedroom units with four-units set-a-side for adults living with developmental disabilities.

In 2003, they purchased Sommerset Apartments. This property has 20 one bedroom, 20 two-bedroom, and 5 studio units of permanent housing and two commercial units. Eleven of the apartment homes are reserved for homeless households living with disabilities. The Sommerset is the largest, affordable Alcohol and Drug Free Community in Washington state. This community also has on site case-management services for residents and their families. They also won the Northwest Affordable Housing Management Association 2004 Community of Quality Award in two categories: Exemplary Family Development and Outstanding Turnaround of a Troubled Property. Next Step is also dedicated to creating housing and communities where children can grow up free of substance abuse. During 2006, Next Step housed 246 people in 179 households, 167 of which were under 30% of area median income. The majority had substance abuse issues. Sixty-two percent were formerly homeless. Over 18 percent were either developmentally disabled or chronically mentally ill. In addition, 63% are still housed, 27% found permanent housing and 20% found employment while housed.

2006

Nora Gibson, Executive Director, ElderHealth Northwest

Nora Gibsonis a tireless advocate for older adults, and on a mission to transform the long-term care system. Her most recent efforts have focused on building innovative residences for one of our society’s most vulnerable populations: low-income elders with Alzheimer’s disease. A social worker who joined ElderHealth Northwest in the late 1970s, Ms. Gibson supervises programs that provide activities, meals, skilled nursing, rehabilitative therapies, and personal care services during the day for elders and disabled adults who live at home. Under Ms. Gibson’s direction, ElderHealth has become the largest provider in the state of adult day services at care centers throughout King and Snohomish counties. The organization today provides geriatric care management; a volunteer program that allows community members to “adopt” a grandparent; and operates small assisted-living homes. In 2001, ElderHealth embarked on a new mission to build a new model of residential care for physically and cognitively frail older adults who can no longer live at home. What makes this remarkable is that no other assisted living residences in King County cares for highly demented people on Medicaid. As a key member of the Washington Pioneer Network and an impassioned pioneer of culture change in long-term care, Ms. Gibson spearheaded a housing program of residential care in May 2004 with the opening of Buchanan Place, located next to ElderHealth’s Columbia City adult day health center.

Christine Robison

Christine Robison is known as an expert in assisting first-time homebuyers to understand and access education and funding available to them through state and local programs. Because of her depth of knowledge about the home purchasing process and first-time homebuyer programs, Ms. Robinson, a residential loan officer at Umpqua Bank, has helped countless new homebuyers to enter the market successfully where many of these families otherwise would never have been able to purchase a home. For many years, she has provided her exceptional work through the Home Ownership Center of Vancouver, Wash., as a lender and counselor and is at present a member of the Home Ownership Center Board of Directors. She was a founding member of the First Home Loan Advisory Committee and continues as an active member.  She also volunteers for additional committee work as needed and often staffs the Home Ownership Center booth at home-buying fairs after hours and on weekends.

Lisa Byers

Lisa Byers personifies the dedication to equality and social justice that has been the hallmark of affordable housing success in Washington state. Ms. Byers’s 12-year tenure as OPAL Community Land Trust’s executive director makes her the longest serving CLT employee in the Northwest, and her expertise has guided and inspired the newer CLTs that followed her leadership. She is frequently asked to advise the nascent CLT initiatives around the country, and at the national CLT conference presented earlier this year in Boulder, Colorado, Ms. Byers was elected by her peers to serve as the president of the board of the National CLT Network. Locally, she co-founded the Northwest Community Land Trust Coalition whose mission is to support, coordinate and enhance the activities of the CLTs in the Pacific Northwest.

Lynn Davison

Lynn Davison has been a statewide leader among low-income housing and homeless advocates in the state of Washington for many years.  As executive director of Common Ground, she has directly and through effective management of her staff provided invaluable technical assistance and support on dozens of projects statewide to provide housing and services to extremely low-income and homeless families and individuals. She has served on numerous boards including the Washington Low Income Housing Alliance, the Affordable Housing Advisory Board and the Washington Families Fund Steering Committee. Recently the Washington State Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development contracted with Ms. Davison to facilitate the newly appointed Governor's Interagency Council on Homelessness. Many involved in the affordable housing industry consider her extensive knowledge of housing and services, coupled with her mediation and partnership-building skills, as unequaled in this state.

Washington Senator Darlene Fairley

State Senator Darlene Fairley of Lake Forest Park has served in the Washington State Senate for twelve years, representing the 32nd Legislative District, which includes the cities of Shoreline, Lake Forest Park, Kenmore, Woodway, and portions of Kirkland and Edmonds. She currently serves as the Chair of the Senate Financial Institutions, Housing, and Consumer Protection Committee where her extraordinary dedication and commitment to affordable housing, ending homelessness, consumer advocacy, and serving those in need has been particularly apparent. Senator Fairley has a long record of international and community service, having served as a nurse and community development worker in Vietnam through the International Voluntary Service and Catholic Relief Services in 1969 and 1970. She founded, and to this day continues to help administer, the operations of the Cuc (pron: kook) Family Medical Clinic in Vietnam. Her involvement in human services and victim’s rights efforts in King and Snohomish Counties has also been widespread and lengthy. She has had a significant responsibility in the beneficial outcome on housing, budget, and policy issues in recent years.  She was particularly successful in shepherding House Bills 2163, to end homelessness; and 2418, which added $21 Million to the Housing Trust Fund, through the Senate in the last two years, and helping to double that fund from $50 million to $100 million during her career.  In addition, she has sponsored legislation attempting to protect and promote the rights of mobile home park tenants in landlord-tenant disputes. Another major piece of legislation on which she was the primary sponsor, the so-called “slumlord accountability act”, provides relocation assistance to tenants whose landlords knowingly allow their dwellings to violate the state's basic health and safety standards.  This law, enacted just last year, has already been used a number of times to require landlords to pay for relocation of tenants who were living in dramatically substandard conditions. In addition, Senator Fairley continues to be an active voice in leadership on the need for responsible lending policy toward low-income persons, sponsoring a number of pieces of legislation to better regulate the state’s payday lending industry. Finally, her work and persistence last year raised Washington State Housing Finance Commission’s debt limit from $3 billion to $4.5 billion.  The Commission was dangerously close to hitting its legislated debt ceiling.  Had this ceiling not been raised, the Commission would have had to cease issuing bonds for first-time homebuyers and affordable multifamily housing.

Spokane Service Team Educational Service District 101

Spokane Service Team Educational Service District 101 (SST) is an AmeriCorps national service program that engages young adults, 18-25, in the construction and rehabilitation of housing for low-income residents, as well as improvement projects for agencies that serve the economically disadvantaged. Since its inception 12 years ago, SST has worked with 33 community partners to complete more than 260 affordable housing and non-profit capital improvement projects benefiting hundreds of the lowest-income people in Spokane’s city and county neighborhoods. Last year alone, SST built two new four-bedroom homes for developmentally disabled adults, rehabilitated five vacant homes, and renovated or maintained 29 multi-family properties. In addition to the 196 county residents benefiting from these projects, SST also supported countless other economically disadvantaged people residing in the community through work on three capital improvement projects. SST provides the community’s most vulnerable unemployed and underemployed young adults with hands-on building construction skills training, apprenticeships, and transitional education into the construction workforce, as well as AmeriCorps national services, in the development of housing for low-income families and developmentally disabled adults.

Real Change

Real Change is a passionate organization based in Seattle that champions the needs of homeless people through advocacy and local program activities. Since its inception in 1994, Real Change has proved to be a vital vehicle for social change. One of its most visible enterprises recently became the only weekly street newspaper in the nation. (It has just expanded its circulation to the eastern and southern areas of King County.) This community urban-issues focused newspaper, Real Change, employs more than 750 people who live in poverty annually. Also this year, the organization effectively worked to insure that the Seattle Downtown Housing Density Plan and Re-zone benefited very low-income people; and added more capacity to its First Things First movement for social justice that focuses on building public awareness, understanding and action around issues of poverty and homelessness. The culmination of this movement in 2006 was a petition to the Seattle City Council to demand more affordable housing alternatives in downtown amidst rapid upscale urban development and gentrification.

Friends of Youth and Hopelink

Friends of Youth and Hopelink have implemented a collaborative initiative in Duvall and the Lower Snoqualmie Valley to meet the needs of homeless and troubled “at risk” youth and their families, as well as homeless families with children and individuals. Their partnership project consists of building the Duvall Community Services Center and Family Housing Project on land owned by Friends of Youth. Hopelink will manage the eight units of permanent housing on the second and third floors of the center, while approximately 4,200 square feet of office space, including a computer lab and meeting rooms, on the first floor will be used by both agencies. The collaboration builds on a strong history of partnership between the two agencies through which they have successfully developed 80 units of transitional housing and a community services complex.

Washington State Housing Finance Commission is a publicly accountable, self-supporting agency dedicated to increasing housing access and affordability and to expanding the availability of quality community services for Washington state residents.

2005

Bill Zeck and Rod Butler of Zeck Butler Architects

Bill Zeck and Rod Butler have devoted the past 21 years to designing and overseeing the construction of affordable housing, and have completed more than 100 projects. They have worked with many partners across Washington including, the Housing Trust Fund, CTED Housing Enhancement, Washington Community Reinvestment Association and Impact Capital as well as numerous not-for-profit organizations to provide livable, efficient and affordable housing. In addition to their professional contributions, Zeck and Butler have also contributed hours of pro bono service to organizations that aim to improve the housing arena.

Enumclaw Housing Task Force

Photo: Laura Curnan and Cindy Proctor

The Enumclaw Housing Task Force was recognized for its determined efforts to successfully acquire and restore several housing units for the purpose of providing transitional and low income housing to those in need. Through a partnership with several public and private organizations, the Housing Task Force raised $2.1 million for the project.  In a city without any prior low-income or transitional housing, the Enumclaw Housing Task Force efforts have helped to fill a vital need.

Intercommunity Mercy Housing (IMH)

Photo: Walter Zisette accepting for IMH presented by Faouzi Sefrioui

Intercommunity Mercy Housing (IMH) of Seattle is a leading national not-for-profit housing developer dedicated to preserving homes, and committed to the idea that affordable housing and supportive programs are key elements to improving the status of residents, transforming neighborhoods and stabilizing lives. They provide affordable homes that are aesthetically pleasing and architecturally sound to low-income families and seniors. This past March, IMH gained the largest rural acquisition in the U.S. to date, with 30 rural rental-housing properties and a total of 926 units throughout 14 counties in the state. IMH also supports the preservation initiative, a national effort to prevent families from becoming homeless by preserving thousands of affordable homes at risk of being converted to market rate housing.

Erin Kelleher, Affordable Community Environments (ACE)

Photo: Richard McIver and Erin Kelleher

 Kelleher is the founding board chair and the executive director of ACE, a not-for-profit organization that provides beautifully designed, sustainable affordable housing communities in the Vancouver and Clark County areas. ACE has developed 114 award-winning affordable housing units to date. Through Kelleher’s efforts, Cascadia Village was completed.  With this project, Kelleher pushed beyond federal regulations to provide housing communities with children’s play areas and housing for people with special needs. Kelleher has professional experience in urban design, site planning, and affordable housing policy and real estate development. She also serves on the Metro Aids Housing Advisory Board, the Metro Title I Planning Council and the SWWA Community Land Trust Board.

The Honorable Mike Lowry

Photo: WSHFC Executive Director Kim Herman presents award to Governor Lowry

Governor and U.S Congressman Mike Lowry is the founder and executive director of Washington Agricultural Family Assistance (WAFA), a non-profit organization that builds affordable housing and enables homeownership for Washington farm workers. Under Lowry’s direction, WAFA recently completed a multi-year endeavor, successfully building five houses for farm worker families in Ephrata. Lowry not only organized and oversaw the project, but he personally assisted the families through the process of becoming successful homeowners, supporting them each step of the way. He sat with the families through their homebuyer education classes, accompanied them to the bank to fill out loan applications and helped them prepare for their open house celebration.  WAFA is planning to build five more homes in Ephrata in the near future.

Rep. Fred Jarret

Photo: Stephen Buxbaum presents award to Rep. Jarret

Representative Fred Jarrett, chair and ranking minority member of the House Capitol Budget Committee, was honored for his leadership in obtaining funding for the state’s housing trust fund.  Eighteen years ago, the Low Income Housing Congress declared that it would take $100 million to fully fund the state’s housing trust fund, an amount that seemed nearly impossible. Today, with the assistance of Rep. Jarrett and other key legislators the fund has reached its goal for the 2005-07 biennium.

Rep. Mark Miloscia and Rep. Timm Ormsby

Photo: Reps. Miloscia and Ormsby

Representative Mark Miloscia was awarded for his leadership and support in the passage of key legislation to improve housing in Washington state.  This year, Miloscia introduced the Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 2163, entitled the Homeless Housing and Assistance Act. This act is intended to help end homelessness by raising $20 million per biennium.  The money will go to local governments to aid in developing programs to end homelessness in their communities and will supplement local anti-homeless initiatives, especially to counties with limited resources and high needs.  Representative Miloscia also spearheaded the passage of House Bill 1640, which gives more rights to tenants in mobile home parks, and Senate Bill 5577, which holds landlords accountable for the costs of relocating families when their homes are uninhabitable because of landlord neglect. 

Representative Timm Ormsby is being honored for his leadership and support of key legislation that benefits the homeless of Washington. He was the prime sponsor of the Homeless Housing and Assistance Act, which is expected to raise $20 million per biennium through the addition of a $10 real estate document-recording fee.  A large portion of the proceeds raised will go to local governments to help develop programs to end homelessness, and the remainder will be disbursed by CTED’s housing division to supplement local anti-homelessness initiatives. "We value people even if they don't have an address, even if they're not able to vote," Ormsby said. "We value people even if they're not able to interact in an extremely meaningful way with the economy, spending a lot of money at the grocery store and the like. They're every bit as human and important as anyone else who's taking in air around here.  I applaud the Housing Finance Commission for sharing that philosophy with me, and I’m deeply honored by this award.” 

Corky Senecal

Corky Senecal, a member of the board of directors of the Washington State Coalition for the Homeless has been a longtime advocate for policies and practices that benefit the homeless of Washington state, and has served as the coalition’s president for four years and previously as legislative chair for two years. Through her efforts the coalition won a lawsuit against the State Department of Social and Health Services resulting in increased funding and programs for homeless families. She also helped gain a state appropriation for the Washington Families Fund, a program that funds supportive services to assist homeless families through the transition to stable environments.  During the 2005 legislative session, she paired with lobbyist Seth Dawson to develop a new program entitled the Homelessness Housing and Assistance Act.  In addition to her services through the coalition, Senecal has lent her expertise to many other organizations such as the State Advisory Council of Homelessness, the Balance of State Continuum of Care Steering Committee, and the Washington Low Income Housing Alliance, to name a few.

2004

Valerie Felt and Karen Miller

Photo: Valerie Felt and Commission Chair Karen Miller

Valerie Felt is a loan originator for Columbia Bank in Longview. She has been involved with the mortgage lending industry for over 20 years. For the last 8 years, she has taught over 80 Commission-sponsored first-time homebuyer seminars. Working with the Longview Housing Authority, Valerie is one of the few loan officers statewide who has experience with the Section 8 Homeownership Voucher Program.

Jon Dieter from the Longview Housing Authority nominated Valerie for this award.  Jon describes Valerie as "one in a million".  "Her heart for first-time homebuyers and her tenacity for getting their loans approved and closed is legendary." Valerie knows how to layer a number of different loan programs to get borrowers into their first homes.  Because she is "one in a million", two other Housing Authorities, Pierce County and Thurston County, have recognized her tenacity and are now working with her in their Section 8 Homeownership Voucher programs.

In her work, Valerie is passionate about helping families with disabilities. With her help and encouragement, homebuyers who never thought they'd own their own homes have used the Commission's House Key and HomeChoice Programs to become homeowners. She has helped them overcome obstacles when other lenders would have given up.

Because of Valerie's dedication to make housing affordable in Washington State, hundreds of low-to-moderate income first-time homebuyers will continue to discover the joys of obtaining their very own homes.

Paul Purcell and Ray Rieckers

Photo: Paul Purcell and WSHFC Commissioner Ray Rieckers

Paul Purcell has worked in affordable housing for 22 years. For 17 years he was the head of Housing Development for Catholic Community Services and the Archdiocesan Housing Authority. In 1998 he founded Beacon Development Group. Beacon's mission is to provide development, consulting, and planning services for non-profit and church-based affordable housing. As President of Beacon Development Group, Paul has supported the development of over 40 affordable housing projects in Washington State. The projects have ranged in size, varied from new construction to historic rehab, and have included a variety of special needs housing groups.  Homestead Capital, in their nomination, says, "Paul is exceptionally dedicated to serving those in need and building affordable housing that is of the highest quality.  His work is directly responsible for the development of exceptional quality affordable housing for farm workers in the Yakima Valley, Sedro Wooley and Bellingham." Paul was also nominated by Kathy Pittis.

John Hickman, of the Archdiocesan Housing Authority, says that Paul "is a voice for equitable processes and policies to ensure funds are used for those people who need them most." 

One of the projects that Paul recently completed working with the Archdiocesan Housing Authority, is Traugott Terrace in downtown Seattle. Traugott Terrace is 50 units of "clean and sober" housing and is also remarkable because it adheres to the Silver level of the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED Green Rating System. It was the first affordable housing project in Seattle to be built under the city's sustainable building guidelines.

The Honorable John Spellman

Governor John Spellman and WSHFC Executive Director Kim Herman 

It's not a stretch to say that without Governor John Spellman, the Washington State Housing Finance Commission would not exist. Nor would 105,000 affordable housing units, nor would $11 billion in economic impact from housing-related activities. All of that happened, in large part, because Governor Spellman had the vision to see that creating a housing finance agency in Washington not only made good economic sense, but was also the right thing to do.  When Governor Spellman was elected in 1980, he brought a passion for affordable housing and a record to match. In 1965, he ran for mayor of Seattle on the issue of open housing. As King County's first executive, he addressed housing issues in the wake of the "Boeing Bust" of the 1970’s. He also worked closely with builders and developers to create affordable housing, and appointed members to the county housing authority. When he arrived at the governor's mansion, John Spellman was greeted with a one-two punch of a state fiscal crisis and the worst national economic climate since the Great Depression.  In response, Governor Spellman and his staff were able to revive the idea of a state housing finance agency, even though it had already died many deaths in Olympia. They went straight to the legislation's main opponents - the very lenders who are our indispensable partners today - and sought their help in crafting a bill that provided huge public benefit while still allowing lenders to do what they do best. This was public-private partnership before that phrase was a cliché, and tens of thousands of Washington residents still benefit from that collaboration every day.

Tom Lattimore

Photo: Tom Lattimore and WSHFC Commissioner Ray Rieckers

Tom Lattimore has been one of the most effective behind-the-scenes advocates for affordable housing in the state.  In addition to being a very articulate spokesperson for housing issues, he has also lifted the Impact Capital office from a Seattle-only operation to a statewide operation, including offices in Seattle and Spokane.

He successfully merged a number of lending and granting entities into a single entity, Impact Capital, raising nearly $20 million for housing investment statewide. Impact Capital is a Treasury Department-approved Community Development Financial Institution and makes loans to non-profit sponsors of affordable housing and other needed community facilities.  They offer construction loans, bridge lending to equity or permanent financing, and other innovative lending programs; loans that no private lending institutions would likely make.

Despite the odds, due to its underwriting criteria, the loan portfolio has had no defaulted loans to date.  Through its lending and capacity programs, Impact Capital has some remarkable accomplishments: It has investments.  It financed more than 10,000 units of affordable housing.  It has financed more than 1 million sq ft of commercial and community facility space.  It has trained 750 community development professionals in real estate and organizational management.  It has provided $200 million in total investments to its affiliates.  It has leveraged $900 million in additional project financing through.  LISC and Impact Capital would not have accomplished these magnificent feats without Tom's very capable and committed leadership.

Anne and Rick Steves

Photo: Anne Steves, Rick Steves, and Karen Miller

Rick Steves and Anne Steves were nominated for their efforts in housing homeless mothers and their children since the late 1980's in their community of Edmonds.  Their generosity of heart and commitment to provide safe comfortable housing for families is worthy of this recognition.  Rick Steves is best known as a travel guru who started a small company in Edmonds in 1978, "Europe Through the Back Door."  However, Rick and Anne began their less known first housing venture by purchasing a run-down duplex adjacent to their church.  They then offered it to Pathways for Women, a local nonprofit that houses homeless women and children, for management.  By the mid-1990's they had purchased eight units in four duplexes for housing homeless single mothers and their children.  They faced no end of problems in rehabbing some of the properties to make them livable.

The Steves also provided all the cash, which is now upward of a million dollars.  They partnered with Trinity Way who is providing substantial and essential services and Pathways for Women, who has since joined forces with the YWCA, to put together a dedicated team composed of the South Snohomish Alliance for Housing, the Edmonds Rotary Club, and others who wish to see this housing venture become a success.

The issue of homelessness strikes a personal chord with Rick Steves.  He could not imagine the weight of having no money, no roof over your head, or job, and the responsibility of small children to care for.  As business people, the Steves' feel it is a responsibility to make a real commitment to their community.  It is his hope that a project like this will inspire other business people to think creatively about making a real difference. Rick and Anne get a great sense of pleasure in knowing that they are housing people and working with charities whose passions match theirs.  Rick says, "This isn't altruism...it's just being awake".

Washington Growers League

Photo: Representatives of the Washington Growers League and Stephen Buxbaum

The Washington Growers League assists growers, packers, processors, and other employers in dealing with all agricultural labor-related issues.  The League represents members’ interests with regard to such issues as immigration, farm worker housing, farm worker occupational safety and health, wage and hour laws, regulation, and seasonal unemployment, among others.  In recent years, the Washington Growers League has become an increasingly important and effective player to help increase the supply of seasonal farm worker housing in Washington State.

In 2003, the Wenatchee area experienced a critical housing shortage during cherry harvest season that resulted in hundreds of families camping illegally and in unsafe conditions on public lands.  In response to this housing crisis, and recognizing that many farmers cannot afford to develop and sustain on-farm housing for their seasonal workers, the League began to study the feasibility of developing grower-sponsored housing for seasonal workers.  Under a grant from the Federal Home Loan Bank, the League is examining potential housing sites, project designs, and is working with area growers to develop a model that provides a more permanent solution to the need for migrant housing each year.

They are also part of a local emergency housing committee that planned for the 2004 harvest and the emergency housing needs of migrant workers.  The group included growers, housing organizations, social service providers, advocates, state and local officials.  Throughout the 2004 season, whenever anyone needed help, help was provided.

For many years, the League has partnered with the Office of Rural and Farmworker Housing to actively support a variety of affordable housing initiatives and has worked to secure appropriations and other incentives for farm worker housing.  They have also provided leadership in educating agricultural employers to the benefits of good quality, affordable housing.

 The Homeownership Center of Tacoma

Photo: Gary Andrew and Stephen Buxbaum

The Homeownership Center of Tacoma has been one of the most important entities in the turnaround of the Tacoma Hilltop.  The efforts of Executive Director Gary Andrew and his staff have resulted in 118 new houses in the Hilltop.  These homes were built on vacant lots that had been used as dumping grounds for drug paraphernalia and gang hangouts.  For every house that the Homeownership Center of Tacoma has built, many others on the block have been improved.  The neighbors finally had an incentive to clean up their yards, improve their houses, and paint their exteriors.

The staff at the Homeownership Center of Tacoma works with potential buyers, often times for months, to help them clear up credit issues, save money, and resolve other issues that prevent them from purchasing their own homes.  The Center's record of only one foreclosure speaks volumes about the efforts and caring nature of the staff.  In addition, Tina La Bouve' and Christina Jarman, work closely with applicants to achieve their dreams of becoming homeowners.  Tim Kropf works with the contractors to ensure that each new house is a high-quality dwelling that will provide a safe and comfortable home for its new owners.

The Center is producing 15 to 20 new homes each year and positively influencing the rapidly improving Hilltop neighborhood.

State Senator Bill Finkbeiner, a Republican from the 45th Legislative district, won a major victory this past legislative session in the effort to increase the availability of affordable housing in Washington State with passage of Senate Bill 5536, to improve the condominium liability insurance market.  According to the office of Financial Management, from 1990 to 2000, Washington grew by nearly 436,000 households.  During that time, only 218,103 single-family units were built.  At the same time the number of permits issued for new multi-family housing (condos and apartments) as a percentage of the total new housing permits in the greater Seattle area dropped from 53 percent in 1998 to just 36 percent.  The drop in multi-family construction has been attributed directly to the lack of affordable condominium construction liability insurance.  Builders can't get the liability insurance they need because personal injury attorneys have targeted Washington State as a rich environment for condo liability lawsuits.

Senate Bill 5536, sponsored by Senator Finkbeiner and supported by the Washington Low Income Housing Alliance, reforms condominium liability laws to end the "gotcha" game and allow honest condominium builders to work with owners to solve problems - without the huge lawsuits and settlements that send our liability insurance market into crisis.

This measure will go a long way in improving the condominium liability market and it will allow builders to start providing more affordable housing for Washington families so every family has a shot at the American dream of home ownership."  

Bob Drewel

Photo: Karen Miller and Bob Drewel

Bob Drewel completed his twelve-year tenure as Snohomish County Executive in December of 2003.  During Bob's years of service he was a genuine friend of housing.  Bob demonstrated his commitment to housing by making it the responsibility of one of his County Executive Directors, who was able to focus County Executive attention on housing issues at all levels in the county.  Bob pushed for and secured a floor on the percentage of Community Development Block Grant dollars spent on housing.  He was an early and strong supporter of the creation of the Housing Consortium of Everett and Snohomish County.  The Consortium is made up of non-profit and public housing providers and their service partners. 

Bob directly pursued housing resources from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development resulting in the provision of hundreds of welfare-to-work vouchers for Everett and Snohomish County.  Under Bob's leadership the County funded the first SnoHome Loan program to assist first time homebuyers.  Bob made the Gates Foundation-funded Sound Families Program success a high priority for the County.  This leadership resulted in some of the most successful partnerships in the program.

Bob carries this interest in housing to his new position as Executive Director of the Puget Sound Regional Council.  He is an advocate for defending the integrity of the Section 8 voucher program.  Bob sees housing, including assisted housing, as an important issue to be addressed in any economic development strategy.

The Honorable Gary Locke

Governor Gary Locke was nominated for this award because of his commitment over the past eight years to bettering the quality of life for all who live in Washington state.  Today the Commission would like to highlight one of his most unsung, but important accomplishments -- Governor Locke's dedicated work on farmworker housing.  In this arena, there is no quick fix or easy answer.  Farmworker housing has been a significant problem in our state.  In 1998, amidst turbulent hearings and a flurry of media coverage, Governor Locke vetoed a Senate bill at the request of farmworker advocates.  This bill would have established lower building codes for farmworker housing; however, he promised he would not let this issue die with his veto.

True to his word, he declared farmworker housing as our state’s number one housing priority.  He created a cabinet level task force led by Rich Nafziger, charged with designing a long-term comprehensive strategy to improve housing conditions for farmworkers.

Over the next several months, an agreement was negotiated between government, growers, and advocates.  Governor Locke agreed to find additional money for farmworker housing in return for the advocates agreeing to accept tent camps meeting OSHA standards for up to 28 days during the cherry harvest.  This was an unprecedented break in the 20-year paradigm that state money would not be spent on tents as temporary housing.

In 1999, at Governor Locke's request, the state earmarked $4 million of the Housing Trust Fund annually for farmworker housing.  As a result, Washington is now a leader in providing housing for migrant and seasonal farmworkers.

Great progress has been made due to Governor Locke's innovative leadership in relation to farmworker housing.  His constant dedication and vision in housing have positively affected countless lives in our state at a very basic level.

2003

Tonkin, Hoyne, Lokan

Les Tonkin, Barry Hoyne and Kim Lokan have a long history of working with nonprofit organizations, housing authorities and developers across the state to build affordable, high-quality, and well-designed projects.  Four affordable housing developments designed by this firm have already been opened so far this year — the Charlestown Apartments in Seattle and three developments for agricultural workers in Mattawa, Othello and Woodland. Today, Tonkin, Hoyne, Lokan are designing the new Rainier Vista garden community for the Seattle Housing Authority, slated for opening in 2005. They have completed over 30 projects throughout Washington.  Paul Purcell of Beacon Development Group nominated this firm for the Friend of Housing award, saying that the three firm partners are always willing to do whatever it takes to get applications, cost estimates and other project tasks done efficiently. He lauds Tonkin, Hoyne and Lokan for being creative, caring and committed in their efforts to create affordable housing. 

Mario Villanueva

Photo: Kim Herman and Mario Villanueva

Mario Villanueva has been director of the Diocese of Yakima Housing Services for three years. This organization helps meet the need for affordable housing in the seven-county area of the Diocese. It builds affordable homes and rental housing, including agricultural worker housing. Mario has dedicated the past 14 years to working as a housing planner, program manager and development coordinator.  John Young is the executive director of Catholic Charities and recruited Mario as director of housing services a few years ago. In a letter nominating Mario for the Friend of Housing award, John talks generously about the many significant contributions Mario has made.

In John’s words: “Mario is one of the most committed, hard-working and selfless people I have known. He has passion for the work and a love for those who benefit from it. He was born in farmworker housing in Central Washington and knows the struggles farmworkers have in finding a decent place to live. Mario does this work because it is needed, and because he feels called to do it. There will be much more heard from this nonprofit agency under Mario’s leadership.”

Kay Cram

Photo: Bob McVicars and Kay Cram

Kay Cram, Board President of Spokane Homeownership Resource Center, is a loan originator for Action Mortgage here in Spokane and has been involved with the mortgage lending industry since 1992. A few years ago she completed the Housing Finance Commission’s Home Buyer Education Instructor and HomeChoice Lender trainings. Since then, Kay has served as a volunteer to instruct more than 30 first-time homebuyer seminars at the Spokane Homeownership Resource Center, SHORC, and other programs in Spokane and Colville.  Kay was nominated for this award by SHORC’s executive director, Janice Roseleip, who says she herself has learned a great deal from Kay. She describes Kay as energetic, enthusiastic, patient, and someone who gives back to her community with generosity, cheer and good humor.

In her work, Kay is consistently a top producer of the Commission’s House Key loans and is passionate about helping families with disabilities. With her help and encouragement, homebuyers who never thought they’d own their own home have gained the knowledge and skills needed to succeed. She has helped them overcome obstacles when other lenders would have given up. One grateful homebuyer called her an “angel.”
 

Henry Beauchamp

Photo: Karen Miller, Henry Beauchamp

The Opportunities Industrialization Center of Washington nomination was submitted by Ned Palmer, Senior Vice President of Bank of America in Seattle. In his nomination, he tells the story of how these two organizations helped save a 237-bed skilled nursing facility in Seattle’s Central area. 

The abbreviated story: Earlier this year HUD was foreclosing on a mortgage extended to the Leon Sullivan Health Care Center in Seattle. In April, the Opportunities Industrialization Center of Washington — OIC for short — was licensed to take over operation of the skilled nursing facility. But days before the license was received, the health care center’s Medicare-Medicaid certification was terminated.

OIC Executive Director Henry Beauchamp and his staff jumped into action. They applied for recertification, invested about 800-thousand dollars ($800,000) to correct deficiencies identified by inspectors, and sought financing to purchase the building. When their funding fell through, the Housing Finance Commission offered money from its Program Improvement Fund and also asked Bank of America to help. 

The bank put together a team consisting of Health-care Financing.  Specialists Dan Dreyzin and Nancy Nuerenberg in Seattle and Senior Client Manager Matt Duffy in Yakima. Even though the bank had no prior relationship with OIC, they worked furiously for an entire weekend to arrange funding and avoid foreclosure. 

The saving of the Leon Sullivan Health Care Center is an excellent example of how a partnership involving a nonprofit owner/borrower and public and private funding sources can work. The preservation of this important community facility could not have been achieved without the parties’ willingness to think outside the box, make unconventional financial commitments, and work long and hard hours.
 

Susan Duren

Photo: Bob McVicars, Susan Duren

Susan Duren, Vice President, Washington Community Reinvestment Association, Seattle, has personally originated over $160-million dollars in loans to build more than 65-hundred affordable housing units in Washington.

You can imagine how impressed we were. Susan joined the Washington Community Reinvestment Association in 1992 and has since become one of the most experienced and successful community development and affordable housing lenders in the state. But that’s not the limit of her dedication. She also serves on several related boards and committees including the Office of Rural and Farmworker Housing, the Seattle-King County Housing Development Consortium, the Impact Capital Regional Lending Group and the King County Housing Opportunity Fund Review Committee.

In addition, she provides technical assistance to the Housing Trust Fund, has helped to develop programs with the Housing Finance Commission, and is a popular speaker on affordable housing issues.
 

Judy Dailey

Photo: Kim Herman, Judy Dailey

Judy Dailey, now retired Vice President and Community Investment Officer, Federal Home Loan Bank of Seattle   

Several pages of accolades supporting Judy Dailey’s nomination for a Friend of Housing award arrived at the Commission and once we read them we understood why. In his letter of nomination, Vancouver Housing Authority CEO Kurt Creager named Judy as THE person within the Federal Home Loan Bank of Seattle to whom affordable housing practitioners from throughout the West turned when they needed help with increasingly complex affordable housing deals.  As the bank’s Vice President and Community Investment Officer, Judy directed the bank’s Community Lending Programs throughout the 1990s and launched a number of the bank’s programs. These included the Affordable Housing Program, the Community Investment Fund, a first-time homebuyers’ grant program, predevelopment revolving funds for affordable housing and economic development projects, and the Economic Development Fund.

Judy made a number of FHA programs work for the Seattle bank and also led programs to support housing on Native lands. She pushed for regulations to make programs more effective, flexible and economical. She served on several related boards and committees including the Washington Community Reinvestment Association Board, the Rural Community Assistance Corporation Board, and the Central Puget Sound Real Estate Research Committee.

In his letter, Kurt Creager wrote: “Judy inspired others to achieve their full potential and, in the process, improved the lives of tens of thousands of people across the West.”
 

Senator Joseph Zarelli

Photo: Senator Zarelli, Kim Herman

State Senator Joseph Zarelli is a Republican representing the 18th Legislative District,  which covers parts of Clark, Cowlitz and Lewis counties. Among other positions, Senator Zarelli is vice chair of the Senate’s Economic Development Committee and vice chair of the Ways & Means Capital Budget Subcommittee. He also sits on the Financial Services, Insurance and Housing Committee.

Senator Zarelli was very supportive of the Trust Fund when he was the ranking Republican on the Ways and Means Capital Budget Subcommittee. He worked closely with the subcommittee Chair, Senator Darlene Fairley, to make sure that we preserved and expanded the Housing Trust Fund. When he became Chair of that committee he and Representative Hans Dunshee together expanded the Trust Fund.

Washington State Representative Hans Dunshee is a Democrat and has represented the 44th District in Southwest Snohomish County for five terms.  When not serving as a state representative, Hans is a small business owner.

As former Chair of the House Local Government Committee and now as the presiding Chair of the House Capital Budget Committee, Representative Dunshee is a rock on housing issues. He makes sure that the Housing Trust Fund is a top priority during every Capital Budget discussion.

The Housing Trust Fund was established by the state Legislature in the mid-1980s to fill the gap created by the federal government’s withdrawal from housing finance at a time when homelessness was growing across the nation. It funds affordable housing for people with low incomes and special needs. Administered by the state Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development, the Fund works in partnership with private lenders, the Housing Finance Commission, other state agencies, local governments, and community-based housing developers.

During the 2003 Legislative session, Representative Dunshee made sure to keep on the table a two-million-dollar increase ($2,000,000) in the Trust Fund, bringing it to 80 million dollars ($80,000,000). That was a major achievement given that so many other programs serving low-income families were slashed to the bone. The Capital Budget and the Housing Trust Fund in particular are among the few shining lights remaining from the 2003 Legislative session, and they shine in large part because of Representative Dunshee’s hard work.
 

2002

Margaret Maxwell

Photo: Kim Herman, Margaret Maxwell, Karen Miller

Margaret Maxwell, Director of the Washington State Coalition for the Homeless, was awarded for being a tireless advocate for ending homelessness, including organizing an annual conference on homelessness, helping to pass the Homeless Families Plan, and her leadership around emerging issues and social services.
 

Compass Center

Photo: Karen Miller and a representative from the Compass Center

The Compass Center was chosen for being a mainstay provider of shelter and transitional housing in Seattle for more than 80 years.

When its building was damaged in the Nisqually earthquake, the center committed itself to raising $2.8 million to replace 78 shelter units, and also add new shelter space and 23 units of permanent low-income studio rental housing.

Don Brewer

Photo: Kim Herman, Don Brewer, Karen Miller

Don Brewer, Senior Vice President, Key Bank, was recognized for being a leader in affordable housing lending.

He serves on numerous boards of directors, where he is known for focusing the direction of the groups to achieve common goals. He was an instrumental leader among Seattle banks in supporting the recently passed Seattle Housing Levy.

Benson East Tenants Association

Photo: Kim Herman, Representatives of Benson East Tenants Association, and Karen Miller

Benson East Tenants Association of Kent, Washington, was awarded for its successful creation of the first tenant-controlled rental-housing complex in the Pacific Northwest. Members of the association communicated across language and cultural differences to preserve 32 affordable housing units.

Rep. James Dunn

Photo: Kim Herman, Rep. and Mrs. James Dunn, Karen Miller

Washington State Representative James Dunn (R - 17th District), awarded for his leadership in spearheading legislation (HB 2060) to fund resources for affordable housing, including for extremely low-income families, for farmworkers and for people with developmental disabilities. HB 2060 is considered the most important piece of legislation to pass in 20 years.

Norman and Stella Chivers, Parkview Services

Photo: Kim Herman, Stella Chivers, Norman Chivers

Norman and Stella Chivers, founders of Parkview Services, were chosen for developing the first affordable housing option for people with developmental disabilities.

Their mission, to provide a family with a community-based alternative to institutionalizing their child, started with one house in 1967. Today Parkview Services, a non-profit organization, has 30 homes.

2001

South King County Multi-Service Center

Ms. Dini Duclos, Executive Director
Beginning in 1971, the South King County Multi-Service Center offered a basic housing voucher system to provide emergency shelter for South King County individuals suddenly in need of housing. In 1988, the agency began a dramatic expansion of their services by adding transitional housing units to the program and offering case management services. Since then, the agency has grown to be one of the largest nonprofit providers of emergency, transitional and low-income rental housing units in South King County.

David Cheal

Counsel, Senate Services, Washington State Senate
Labor, Commerce and Financial Institutions.
David has dealt with housing issues for more than 15 years.  He has been instrumental in helping to obtain the passage of important housing legislation through the Washington State Senate.  He has helped obtain the authority to do nursing homes and nonprofit facilities; increase the bond cap category for housing; and, twice helped the Commission increase its debt limit. Dave has also worked aggressively on legislation to improve the Housing Trust Fund.  He worked on the efforts to get the property tax exemption for nonprofits in the state.  He has conducted a number of studies on behalf of the Legislature, which have resulted in improved housing programs in the state.  His continuing efforts that have helped pass amendments and new bills to benefit the citizens of Washington.

Heyward Watson, Director

Fannie Mae, Washington State Partnership Office
Heyward worked over 24 years in mortgage banking in positions including loan officer and vice president in charge of construction lending.  He was instrumental in introducing a series of new innovative programs, including the Housing Finance Homebuyer Education Program. He also helped introduce the Lender Certification Training a solution in response to a need to assist loan officers to better understand Commission programs. Heyward become deputy of the Neighborhood Office Fannie Mae’s Partnership Office in Seattle and Director in 1999.   In just a few years after joining the Seattle Partnership Office, the office became recognized as one of the most effective offices in the U.S.  Heyward was also directly responsible for increases in the bond cap and tax credits through efforts with the legislators.  He has also been effective in gaining Fannie Mae’s support in bringing resources into Seattle to benefit nonprofits and public agencies throughout the area.

Ken Katahira

Development Director, Interim Community Development Association
Ken Katahira has been a tireless activist in Seattle’s International District for more than 15 years.  He has worked on several projects; perhaps the most noteworthy was the Oak Tin Family Association.  Most of the Family Association-owned buildings across the nation are very old.  As far as available records show, the Oak Tin was the first Family Association property actually to became involved in a rehabilitation project specifically as developed as low-income housing.  This was a landmark project.  Ken has been very active in housing policy discussions in Seattle and at the state level.   He cares a great deal about the International District and particularly the senior residents. He works very closely with people throughout the community to make sure that appropriate housing is developed. 

Jose Hidalgo

Loan Officer, Seattle Mortgage Company
Jose Hidalgo is dedicated to pursuing solutions that help newly arrived and people of color own their own home. Jose has been responsible for adapting Seattle Mortgage's many affordable housing programs for previously underrepresented populations. Jose's efforts included providing translations for non-English speaking populations. He has reached out to diverse communities and promoted strategic alliances with national housing programs that recognize diverse communities. Jose offers first time homebuyer education classes every month at the El Centro de Rasa, a community based Chicano- Latino Civil Rights organization that seeks to help people of color to empower themselves.

Senator Lisa Brown

Washington State Legislature, Spokane’s Third District
Senator Lisa Brown from Spokane has been a long-time supporter of affordable housing programs in Washington.  As Chair of Senate Ways and Means, during the 2000 legislative session, she brought forward for hearing bills providing funds for housing projects and changing the property tax exemption for very low-income households.  In addition, in response to the unstable energy market and the impact of 18-36% price increases on energy costs in different parts of the state, promoted an increase in the low-income energy assistance budget during the session.  Following the earthquake last year, she made sure that, during the emergency consideration of earthquake assistance, the low income energy assistance package was not forgotten, so that people who might have been impacted by both rapidly increasing energy costs and the earthquake got assistance.  
 

2000

Washington Trust

Majken Ryherd

Siobhan Ring, the Tenants Union

Office of Rural and Farmworker Housing

Don Hines, Tacoma Redevelopment Authority

Jack Gallagher, Fannie Mae
 

1999

Peggy Burrell, Spokane Neighborhood Action Programs (SNAP)

Columbia Legal Services

Dorothy Lengyel, HomeSight

Torris McCall, US Bank

Kathy Roseth, Executive Director; Lutheran Alliance To Create Housing (LATCH)

Brian Royer, Royer & Association

Yakima Valley Partners/Habitat for Humanity
 

1998

Joe Diehl, Executive Director; Washington Council of Affordable Rural Housing

Ron Simms, King County Executive

Carla Okigwe, Executive Director; Housing Development Consortium of Seattle-King County

Rose Ann Lindsey, Loan officer; INB Mortgage

Betsy Palma, La Clinica Self-Help Housing Program

Guillermo Castanada, La Clinica Self-Help Housing Program

Jon Gould; Children’s Alliance

Spokane Neighborhood Action Programs (SNAP)

State Representative Phyllis Gutierrez-Kenny
 

1997

Bob Boyer, Washington Trust Bank

Cheryl Cervantes

Michael Dotson, Seafirst Bank

Helen Dunlap

El Patio Apartments; a nonprofit project

State Senator Rosa Franklin

Mark Kantor

Doris Morgan, Holly Park Community Council

Northwest Regional Facilitators

State Senator Shirley Winsley
 

1996

Pam Alden, Continental Mortgage

Mary Jo Harvey

High Point Resident Initiative Association

David Mandley

Steve Maloney, Mellon Mortgage

John McEvoy

Phoebe Nelson

Okanogan County Community Action Council

Kenny Pitman

State Representative Renee Radcliff

State Senator Margarita Prentice

Michael Ryherd

Nancy Smith

State Representative Mary Skinner

Harry Thomas
 

1995

Sandy Bishop, Lopez Island Community Land Trust

Alberta Canada, Executive Director, Martin Luther King Housing Development Association

Kurt Creager, Executive Director, Vancouver Housing Authority

Skip Chilberg, Chair, Washington State Housing Finance Commission

Deborah Davis, Housing Chief, Rural, Economic, and Community Development Service

Sharon Lee, Executive Director, Low-Income Housing Institute

Danielle Pensley, VISTA volunteer with Housing Hope

Andrew Reid, Executive Director, Spokane Low-Income Housing Consortium

Judy Reed, Executive Director, Washington Community Reinvestment Association

Neil Treitman, CEO/Developer, Community Development Services

Dave Voss, loan officer, Continental Bank
 

1994

Len Brannen

Brooke Creswell, ORFH

Diana Goodwin Shavey

Dick Maison, West One Bank/Yakima Valley Bank

Norm McLoughlin, Kitsap Co. Consolidated Housing Authority

Jeff Robinson, CTED, Housing Trust Fund

Alan Schulkin

U.S. Bank

Ken Mayhew, Washington Mutual

Please contact Bill Wortley at 206-297-4409 for more information about Friend of Housing. 

This page was last modified on 04/14/2008.