The Live and Silent Auctions raised over $53,000!

Highlights:

• Eric Clapton autographed guitar went for $3,200
• Autographed Seahawks Doug Baldwin Jersey went for $850
• A Dozen Fine Wines went for $1,250
• Golf for Four at Snoqualmie Ridge went for $600
• One Week Stay at Santa Fe Dream Home went for $2,800
• Two Nights in Walla Walla Inn at Abeja went for $1,300
• James Brown autographed guitar went for $1,400
• Tuscany, Italy Vacation Villa went for $3,600
• Dinner at Canlis went for $550
• Two Club Level Seahawks Vs. NY Giants Game tickets went for $750

Sharon Lee Honored for 20 Years at Helm 

LIHI Co-Founder and House Speaker Frank Chopp honors Sharon

Frank Chopp and the LIHI Board surprised Sharon with a tribute to her 20 years as executive director at LIHI.  Said Frank Chopp, "If there is one thing I have learned it is 'Don't say no to Sharon!' because eventually she will wear you down and you'll say yes."  Frank went on to say, "From something as simple as providing a dignified place for homeless people to shower and do their laundry to construction projects that help low-income families buy their first home, Sharon Lee and LIHI are fulfilling their mission to be a catalyst for change. LIHI Changes Lives!"

Sharon with son Christopher Lee and Jennifer Seamons of Co-Presenting Sponsor KeyBank

Sally Kinney (R) displays Housing Hero award presented by Sharon Lee (L)

LIHI was pleased to honor Sally Kinney as a Housing Hero. She was a champion of McDermott Place and the North helpline Food Bank being located in Lake City. She is outspoken on the need to end homelessness in Seattle. Sally participates in the Lake City, University District, and Ballard task forces on homelessness. She is a member of the Homeless Remembrance Project and Women in Black, and is a Board member of Seattle King County Coalition on Homelessness, and past co-chair of Interfaith Task Force on Homelessness. She works with her congregation, Temple Beth Am, on projects related to poverty and homelessness, including Mary's Place shelter and Homeless to Renter. Most recently she championed the Ballard Urban Rest Stop and the need for more housing and services in neighborhoods throughout Seattle.

Fred Wacker

Fred Wacker (L) and Val Archer (R), Tuskegee Airman

LIHI honored Housing Hero Fred Wacker, Director of The Home Depot Foundation, for his 30 years of involvement in affordable housing and community development. Fred has tirelessly championed the Foundation's mission to ensure that every veteran has a safe place to call home, including being instrumental in developing their current phenomenal 5 year, $80 million commitment to building or rehab 10,000 housing units for veterans.

 

Fred Wacker has overseen over $700,000 in awards to LIHI, including:  

• Building community space with an office for a vet case manager at Cate Apartments and Fleetwood Apartments.
• Building an outdoor community gathering area and gardens at McDermott Place.
• Installing community gardens at Arion Court, Cate Apartments, and Gossett Place.
• Constructing sturdy sleeping structures, tent platforms, and making improvements at Nickelsville.
• Grants for building housing for homeless and low-income veterans at Ernestine Anderson Place and Bellevue Apartments.
• Making repairs to the homes of low-income veterans in the Central Area and Rainier Valley. 

Over 250 Home Depot Volunteers have donated thousands of hours to help complete many of the projects listed above. 

  

Tom Mathews   

 

Sharon Lee (R) presents historic paper to Beatle's fan Tom Mathews (L)

 

LIHI was thrilled to present the 2014 Housing Hero Award to Tom Mathews, Executive Vice President of Walsh Construction Co. In the construction business since 1977, Tom has worked on such notable projects as the first phases of the Microsoft Campus, the iconic Washington Mutual Tower, and the 47-story Wells Fargo Center.

 

Tom and Walsh have partnered with many non-profits and housing authorities.  LIHI, Walsh, Tom, and Sharon have teamed up on 11 projects. The most recent project is the about-to-open Cheryl Chow Court in Ballard. Others include LIHI showcases: Ernestine Anderson Place, Gossett Place, McDermott Place, Tyree Scott Apartments, Meadowbrook View Apartments, Lakeview Apartments, and Aki Kurose Village, our very first collaboration in 1998.

 

Thank you Tom and Walsh for helping us make so much beautiful affordable housing! 

Resident Speakers

A moving speech by Dorcia (L) and a powerful poem by August (R) were a highlight of the night

Dorcia's Story

First of all I would like to express my sincere thanks to you all for being here today.

On this important day, for this event, I am here to express my personal experience surviving the hardship of raising a safe and happy family. I have been through rough times, struggling to get stable housing to keep my beautiful daughters safe.

Three years ago my husband became disabled as a result of a work injury and could no longer do the kind of work he had done all his life. I went to work as an in-home care giver for the elderly; unfortunately this job did not pay much.

Eventually we lost our home and found ourselves at the YWCA shelter where we stayed for one year. This program had a one-year limit, so even though we were not able to find stable housing we had to leave.

We moved to Nickesvile to find shelter where we could stay together as a family. This is when we met Sharon Lee and Charese Jones. Working with them we found new housing where we live now in the Lakeview Apartments.

It is not easy raising children, but I am proud of my girls and how they are doing. My youngest daughter Deshani is now in the 2nd grade and my oldest Derika is in 10th grade. I was determined to make sure they stayed in school even though we were staying in shelter. They are beautiful and smart girls.

Deshani stayed positive through our whole struggle and she stayed close to her family and I am proud of her strength. Derika was a leader, she tried to guide us to finding resources and finding new ways to deal with our struggle. I am proud of her resiliency.

I am just so thankful we made it through. We would like to thank all of you that helped us get to this safe and happy home. I, myself and my family, would be very happy to help to do whatever it takes to help others.  

I still work as a caregiver helping those in need. My oldest daughter Derika now volunteers at a summer camp for children who have disabilities and she is working part-time with the center for wooden boats. We feel dedicated to giving back because we are so thankful for having gotten an opportunity for a better life.

I am here today speaking out and seeking your help for all those people out there who are still sacrificing, still struggling and still waiting to find their safe and happy home. Please join me in giving back anyway that you can. I am grateful for all that I have and ask your help in proving more housing for the people who need it most.