HomeStreet Community Housing Awards

2008 Winners

The HomeStreet Community Housing Awards provide seven $10,000 grants to nonprofit organizations whose mission focuses wholly or in part on meeting housing-related needs for people with low to moderate incomes. This includes organizations that provide transitional housing or affordable rental housing, or help people move along the path toward homeownership.

The 2008 HomeStreet Community Housing Award recipients are:

Puget Sound Region

• Operation Nightwatch:  Operation Nightwatch responds to the emergency needs of poor and homeless people late at night in downtown Seattle.  The organization also provides permanent apartments for seniors.  The award will help cover the cost of providing safe, secure housing for very low-income seniors.
  
  
• Seattle Central Community College Foundation (SCCCF):  The SCCCF partners with Casey Family Programs to support the College Success Program.  The program focuses on reducing the barriers to education that confront youth who were formerly in foster care but, at age 18, are no longer eligible for state support.  One of the primary issues for these youth is housing.  The award will be used to support the placement and subsidization of students in permanent housing for the 2008 school year.
  
  
• Senior Services of Snohomish County:  Senior Services provides a range of services in Snohomish County including housing, nutrition, transportation and social services.  This award will support the Minor Home Repair program, which assists hundreds of seniors with repairs that increase their health and safety while allowing them to live independently in their own homes.
  
  
• The Tronie Foundation:  The Tronie Foundation in Olympia works with victims of human trafficking by providing safe housing and equipping them with skills for a positive future.  The award will support Nell’s House, one of the first shelters in the U.S. to focus on victims of international human trafficking.  Nell’s House provides safety and security, basic needs such as food and clothing, social support, and access to services to help move survivors to healing and hope.

Oregon and Southwest Washington

• Portland Community Land Trust:  Portland Community Land Trust (PCLT) provides opportunities for homeownership to people of low and moderate income through the creation of affordable housing and the stewardship of land.  A land trust keeps down the cost of a home by permanently restricting the resale price formula, while still allowing a homeowner to make a fair return on their investment.  The award will be used to fund staff to support PCLT’s outreach initiatives and homeowner support.
  
  
• Willamette West Habitat for Humanity:  Habitat for Humanity provides decent, affordable homes for low-income families.  The Willamette West affiliate will apply this award to the renovation of an existing home which is being purchased for a new Habitat family.  The house needs new floors, paint, appliances, fixtures and minor landscaping.

Hawaii

• Hale Mahaolu Akahi, Inc.:  Hale Mahaolu develops and manages affordable rental housing in Maui County, in addition to providing support services for their residents.  The award will be used to upgrade and renovate their 40-year-old rental units to make them safe and accessible for seniors.

At HomeStreet Bank, we believe everyone should have a place to call home.  Each year HomeStreet donates at least two percent of its pre-tax profits to the community.  We also create active partnerships with community organizations to help individuals and families achieve the security of a home and homeownership opportunities.  This award program recognizes organizations that provide services to meet these goals.

Click here to see a list of past HomeStreet Community Housing Awards winners.