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Quarterly News
Here is your quarterly update on Habitat for Humanity of Snohomish County for April to June 2019.
Homeowners selected for Gold Bar 2 home
Michael and Vickie will become Habitat homeowners at the Gold Bar 2 home. The foundation is complete and we are currently in the framing stages of the home construction. Today our construction team raised the first four walls of the Gold Bar home.
Michael and Vickie have dreamed of owning a home for more than 20 years, but every time they thought they were ready to purchase a home, a new financial obstacle came up: a job loss as a result of a store closure, payments for medical expenses that caused their credit to sink, and caretaking for various family members. Something was constantly preventing the couple from achieving their dream. 

Since 2000, the couple had been looking into all their options for buying a home. They looked at various housing organizations and down payment assistance programs, but never fit into the specific criteria each program required. They spent hours searching rural towns in Washington they had never heard of, hoping to find a more affordable area.
Vickie and Michael sign their partnership agreement at the Habitat Snohomish office June 26, 2019.
“I was signing up for everything I could sign up for,” Vickie said.
They took courses on home buying and financial preparation and attended several homeowner meetings at Habitat for Humanity of Snohomish County.  Earlier this year, they were finally chosen as the next partner family. When Pat, a Habitat volunteer, called Michael and Vickie to give them the news they were “in a daze” for about a week. 

Michael and Vickie were so used to something else happening as they got close to home ownership that they were waiting for the other shoe to drop. “And then”, Vickie said, “we got out there [on the build site] and we were going home like, ‘we got a house.’”
The couple has lived in their small 2-bedroom apartment for 25 years and, as time went on, neighbors came and went. Now the neighborhood has a drug and cleanliness problem. Because of this safety concern, Michael and Vickie’s grandchild has only been to their home for a few minutes at a time.

“I wanted him to have a yard and I wanted to be able to take him in the summer for a week. We just want to spend some more time with him and we have another grandchild on the way,” Vickie said. Once they move into their Habitat home and their grandson can stay with them, Michael and his grandson will go fishing and do other outdoor activities together. 

Michael and Vickie’s home in Gold Bar is scheduled for completion December 21, 2019. They hope to complete their 500 hours of sweat equity and purchase their home just before Christmas. 
Gold Bar 2 construction update
Volunteers complete framing for the first four walls at the Gold Bar 2 build site Wednesday, June 26.

Build days are still available and individuals can register to volunteer on the build site on our volunteer calendar.
Thank you to our Gold Bar 2 Home Sponsors!
In June, Wells Fargo Foundation presented Habitat Snohomish with a $15,000 sponsorship designated to support our Veterans Build project in Gold Bar. Since 2014, Wells Fargo has financially supported the construction of three homes and generously contributed over $40,000. In addition, more than 30 employees from various local branches have volunteered on the build projects in Gold Bar and Everett. We are grateful for their impactful support and faithful generosity.



Coastal Community Bank contributed a $2,500 sponsorship toward the Veterans Build in Gold Bar. Along with their financial donation, more than 25 staff members offered their time and talent at the build site on two separate occasions this month. Coastal Community has been an annual partner since 2014, donating more than $5,500 toward event and build sponsorships. We greatly appreciate their generosity and faithful commitment to our organization. 
First Habitat Snohomish Women Build is a success!
Thank you to all the volunteers who participated in our first ever Women Build June 14 and 15! We had a productive weekend digging down in the dirt, removing the wooden framing used to pour the concrete foundation and installing drain pipes. Special thanks to our sponsor Energy Exteriors for supporting our mission. Thank you to Sprouts in Mill Creek, The Sisters in Everett, Seattle Pops, and Collins Family Orchards for providing lunch to fuel our volunteers.
Thank you to our Veterans Build Memorial Day event participants!
Our Veterans Committee hosted a Memorial Day weekend event at the build site in Gold Bar. Nearly 40 veterans, volunteers and local community members spent a day in the rain serving our community. Congresswoman Suzan DelBene shared her words of support for our Veterans Build program. Read more about the event in The Everett Herald .
Third Habitat Store opens Tuesday in Smokey Point
The third Habitat Store in Snohomish County will accept donations beginning Tuesday, July 2 and open for sales to the public at later date to be announced. If you have items around the house you no longer need, please consider donating to the Habitat Store! Donation drop-offs are accepted Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Smokey Point Habitat Store. If you need to schedule a pick-up, please contact our material donations desk at 425-405-7770 or use this form . 

The Smokey Point Store needs volunteers! If you’re interested in becoming a volunteer at this location, we’d greatly appreciate your support as we get this store up and running. If you have not previously volunteered with us, you’ll need to register for a volunteer orientation at habitatsnohomish.org/volunteer . Orientations are available at each of our locations: Smokey Point, Everett and Lynnwood. Existing volunteers may now sign up for shifts at the Smokey Point Store on the volunteer calendar. 

Mark your calendar for our Grand Opening event at the Smokey Point Habitat Store Saturday, September 7. This event will include free food, beverages, kids activities and giveaways. 
Save the date for Raise the Roof!
Volunteer, table captain and sponsor opportunities are available, and we would be delighted to have your participation.  For more information, please contact us here  or 425-258-6289. 
Join us at your local farmers market this summer!
Habitat Snohomish is coming to your local farmers market! Look for us at the Edmonds market on July 20 and Everett market on July 28 and August 25. Stop by our booth to learn more about our upcoming projects and how you can get involved.
This newsletter highlights just a few of the various programs where Habitat Snohomish invests time and resources. Our Everett and Gold Bar build projects and third Habitat Store opening in Smokey Point provide an opportunity for the local community to serve. If you're a current partner, we greatly thank you for your generosity and impact!

If you are not currently a partner and you believe in our service and mission, we invite you to learn more about the various ways you too can become a partner. Your contribution, whether big or small, brings our mission to life and helps a family's dream of homeownership become a reality.
Vickie and Michael install rebar in their home at Gold Bar on June 1, 2019.
Ways you can partner:
  • Donate lunches for our volunteers on the build site
  • Donate items to the Habitat Store
  • Sign up to volunteer, our biggest needs are:
  • at the Smokey Point Store
  • on our donations truck Thursdays and Fridays
  • at the build site this Saturday, June 29
  • Ask your company to become a build sponsor and sign up for a group build day
  • Forward this newsletter to a friend
Women from Snohomish County come together for an all women build event June 14 and 15 at the Gold Bar 2 site. This photo was taken at the June 15 build day.