Rep. Mike Steele receives Habitat for Humanity Golden

CHELAN - On June 8 Habitat for Humanity presented Representative

Rep. Mike Steele of Chelan, with the Habitat Golden Hammer Award for Advocacy in Affordable Homeownership. This award is reserved for leaders who create the most significant opportunities to reduce poverty through more affordable homeownership units. This is one of nine presented to lawmakers for their record investment in affordable homeownership efforts in the Capital Budget.

Representative Steele serves as the Ranking Minority Member of the Capital

Budget. Habitat for Humanity and other affordable housing agencies rely on this fund to provide more units. Representative Steele was instrumental in an investment of $34 million dollars for future homes for the biennium. These funds are provided to agencies like Habitat for Humanity who compete through the Department of Commerce's Housing Trust Fund later this summer.

Representative Steele serves the 12th District, which includes Chelan and Douglas Counties, as well as parts of Grant and Okanogan where four of the 27 Habitat Affiliates across the State are located. Habitat Affiliates build simple, decent homes that are sold to qualifying buyer who's incomes are low. Habitat for Humanity of Washington State's mission is advocacy and capacity by working with lawmakers to communicate the need, and seek investments that help low-income families gain independence and build wealth. Having enough affordable housing is essential to  the economy and vitality of a community.

"Habitat and others like us use state funding to change the lives of families, and stabilize the economy in communities across our state. We will partner with families who will own their Habitat home, and no longer need their section 8 voucher or other housing subsidy which frees up a rental unit for another family", says Michone Preston, CEO of Habitat Washington. Preston states that "this investment in the Housing Trust Fund will provide 500 additional Courtesy Habitat for Humanity of Washington State

Habitat for Humanity of Washington State recently presented Rep. Mike Steele with their Golden Hammer Award. Left to right are: Diane Leigh (Board Member of Lake Chelan Valley Habitat), Michelle Fanton, new Executive Director of Lake Chelan Habitat, Rep. Mike Steele, Adan Espino, Habitat Washington’s Lobbyist and Loni Rahm, outgoing Executive Director of Lake Chelan Valley Habitat for Humanity.