WHAT: South Puget Sound Habitat for Humanity “Wall Raising” for Ahmed and Townes Family Home
WHEN: Friday, November 10, 2017 at 2:30 pm
WHERE: 4405 37th Ave. SE, Lacey WA
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Shawna Dutton, South Puget Sound Habitat for Humanity
shawna@spshabitat.org, 360-859-4842
Travis Joseph, President, American Forest Resource Council
tjoseph@amforest.org, 503-222-9505
Forest Products Industry, SPS Habitat for Humanity Partner to Make Dream of Homeownership Come True for Local Family
Olympia, WA – The Ahmed and Townes Family, representatives from the local forest products industry, South Puget Sound Habitat for Humanity, and Washington state’s Commissioner of Public Lands, Hilary Franz, will gather on Friday, November 10, at 2:30 pm at 4405 37th Ave. SE, Lacey to begin construction of a two-story, three-bedroom home for a deserving family in the Deyoe Vista neighborhood.
An affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, South Puget Sound Habitat (SPS) for Humanity is dedicated to the principle that everyone in our community deserves a safe, decent, and affordable place to live. “South Puget Sound Habitat for Humanity can be summed up by the statement “We build”, but what we build is so much more than housing. We build strength, stability and self-reliance through our affordable homeownership program. But we can’t do it alone and we truly believe that SPS Habitat is an expression of our community’s generosity, compassion and commitment to positive change, an expression best exemplified by organizations like American Forest Resource Council” said Shawna Dutton, South Puget Sound Habitat for Humanity Interim Operations Manager.
The Ahmed and Townes Family home will be sponsored by the American Forest Resource Council (AFRC), a non-profit trade association based out of Portland with an office in Olympia. AFRC represents lumber manufacturers and forest landowners in five western states, with operations throughout Washington state. AFRC and its members will provide locally-manufactured lumber and wood products, volunteer hours, and cash donations to build a home for the Ahmed and Townes Family.
“This project embodies what the forest products industry is all about,” said Travis Joseph, president of AFRC. “We work in the woods, care for our public lands, and make local, renewable products every Washingtonian depends on every day – including the lumber for our homes. Our members care deeply about the communities in which they live, work, and play and this project is another reminder of that commitment. We are honored and thrilled to be using our members’ local products and expertise – and tapping into their passion for and commitment to rural communities – to build a home for Sharaf, Kayleigh, and their two kids Auriaunna and Bilal.”
In partnership with SPS Habitat, the Ahmed and Townes Family will complete over 400 hours of volunteer “sweat equity” including helping with the construction of other Habitat homes at Deyoe Vista, homeowner education courses, and building their own home. When the house and the program requirements are completed, the Ahmed and Townes Family will purchase their home with an affordable Habitat mortgage that sets the monthly mortgage payment at no more than 30% of their combined income at the time of sale.
The Wall Raising event will include remarks by SPS Habitat Board President, Craig Haines; SPS Habitat Interim Operations Manager Shawna Dutton, AFRC President Travis Joseph, and Commissioner Franz. In addition to introducing the Ahmed and Townes Family, attendees will be also invited to raise the very first wall of the new home. The home is expected to be completed in the Spring of 2018.
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About the American Forest Resource Council
AFRC is a regional trade association whose purpose is to advocate for sustained yield timber harvests on public timberlands throughout the West to enhance forest health and resistance to fire, insects, and disease. AFRC does this by promoting active management to attain productive public forests, protect adjoining private forests, and assure community stability. It works to improve federal and state laws, regulations, policies and decisions regarding access to and management of public forest lands and protection of all forest lands. The ultimate goal of AFRC’s programs and initiatives is to advance its members’ ability to practice socially and scientifically responsible forestry on both public and private forest lands.
About South Puget Sound Habitat for Humanity
South Puget Sound Habitat for Humanity is a local affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International. Founded in 1989, SPS Habitat serves the very-low income families whose dream is to own their own homes and self determine their own futures. Working with donors and volunteers, SPS Habitat develops and builds affordable housing communities in Thurston County. To date we have completed four developments and 54 houses with an addition 8 currently under construction at Deyoe Vista, a thirty-three single family home development in Lacey. A Christian-based ecumenical (all-inclusive), non-profit organization South Puget Sound Habitat for Humanity is welcoming to people of any or no faith.