Colleagues

Thanks to Sharon Lee for printing my remarks, for Michael Mirra for reading them for me, to Sharon and Michael for accepting the award, and to those of you who sent nomination letters...

In the housing world, this is a great honor.

Maureen

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Low Income Housing Institute <info@lihi.org>
Date: Fri, Oct 7, 2022, 9:40 AM
Subject: Margaret Levy Award to Maureen Howard, LIHI Honored at Historic Seattle event, Heron Apartments
To: <maureenhowardconsulting@gmail.com>

Affordable Housing Lifetime Achievement Award to Maureen Howard

Sharon Lee, LIHI Executive Director, and Michael Mirra, former Tacoma Housing Authority Executive Director, were proud to accept the Margaret M. Sevy Affordable Housing Lifetime Achievement Award on behalf of Maureen Howard, a long time housing hero and advocate. The award ceremony was sponsored by the Washington State Housing Finance Commission at the Housing Washington Conference on October 2nd at the Spokane Convention Center.

Ms. Howard has worked tirelessly to end homelessness in Pierce County, connecting with elected officials, public agencies, community stakeholders, and housing advocates. Here is Maureen Howards speech, delivered by Michael Mirra:

"Grace and peace to each of you. Grace for the housing and

homelessness work we all do; Peace for what we all want for the people,

the communities, this beloved country of ours, this world in which we live.

I became an advocate for the child who asked “Lady, how long is my

family allowed to stay?” For the woman who said “I was not raised to live

without a home.” For the man who told me “before I tell you that I have no

choices, I will tell you that this street IS my choice.”

I remained an advocate for the women who built their homes from the

African sun baked bricks they had made and the men who took computer

packing crates to use as building materials.

I anchored my advocacy in a right to housing and a firm belief that housing

ends homelessness; that whether rented or owned, the housing was

permanent, affordable, safe, and appropriate.

I returned to advocacy when tenants were legally evicted and I found a

huge group of people working to help those without homes. Plus they had

a weekly meeting and a listserv of 700 people - every organizer’s dream.

I tried always to listen, to learn, to figure out a solution that met the need,

and to tell the truth.

I was lucky. People helped me, taught me, gave me a platform.

Tonight’s award belongs to all of us. If you are already an advocate, be

bolder, smarter. If you are not yet an advocate, become one.

1. Know your values

2. Show up

3. Tell the truth

4. Listen, learn, reflect

5. Find a solution

6. Share what you know

7. Commit for the long haul

8. Be kind

Grace and peace to each of you and for those in Camp Hope, safe shelter

and permanent housing. Thank you."

"Ms. Howard spent countless hours in pursuit of her mission. She deserves to be recognized for her long-term dedication and legacy in fighting for housing justice," said Sharon Lee, LIHI Executive Director.

LIHI honored with Outstanding Stewardship Award for the Frye Hotel

From left: Sharon Lee, LIHI Executive Director, Jill Davies, Asset Manager, and Brad Reuling, Construction Project Manager

LIHI was honored at Historic Seattle’s recent Preservation Celebration for an Outstanding Stewardship Award for its rehabilitation work on the Frye Hotel. This multi-year project included: major masonry repair and cleaning; seismic work; window rehab and replacement; electrical plumbing and HVAC upgrades; and improvements to the residential units. Construction costs were approximately $35 million. The project team included Environmental Works, Walsh Construction, and Pioneer Masonry.

LIHI to Purchase Heron Apartments

The Low Income Housing Institute (LIHI) is pleased to announce the purchase of the Heron Apartments located at 1624 E. 32nd St. in Tacoma. This is a newly constructed apartment building that contains 82 studio and one-bedroom apartments. The apartment building is scheduled to be acquired on October 25, 2022.

“Adding more deeply affordable housing in Tacoma is a priority given the housing crisis. We are thrilled that the City of Tacoma awarded LIHI $3 million. This helped leverage $21.3 million from the State Department of Commerce to purchase the Heron Apartments,” said Sharon Lee, LIHI Executive Director. KeyBank is providing an acquisition bridge loan. 50 apartments will provide supportive housing for formerly homeless people and 32 apartments will provide affordable workforce housing. The building's acquisition cost is $22.5 million.

Governor Inslee and the State Legislature established the Rapid Capital Housing Acquisition Program in 2021 to address the housing and homelessness crisis during the pandemic. The rapid acquisition concept is to add housing units and shelter beds quickly by acquiring buildings that are vacant or newly constructed, or purchasing hotels that could be converted into low income and homeless housing. The budget for this statewide program in 2022 is $144 million.

Last year with financing from the City of Tacoma, City of Lakewood, Pierce County and the State’s Rapid Capital Housing Acquisition program, LIHI acquired Aspen Court (former Comfort Inn), to provide bridge housing for homeless singles and couples.

Housing for All!

Sharon Lee

Executive Director

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Low Income Housing Institute | 1253 S Jackson Street , Suite A , Seattle, WA 98144

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