Homes First! Annual Impact Report

ANNUAL I M PAC T REPORT 2015

MISSION Homes First! creates safe, healthy, and affordable rental homes for those who need it most.

VISION We believe everyone needs to be in a home to build a successful life and a successful community.

VALUES BEGIN AT HOME Success: People who live in a home do better at work and are more engaged with the world around them.

Education: Children in stable homes learn and achieve more in school. A home helps level the playing field. Children deserve a chance to succeed in school and in life, which all begins with their family being able to afford a decent place to live.

Good Health: Healthy habits are more accessible when you live in a stable, affordable home. Children get the healthy start they need.

Public Safety: When people have a home they can count on, a stronger sense of community keeps streets, neighborhoods, and communities safer.

A Strong Economy: At all income levels, people living in a home can afford more. Local job growth and a strong economy start at home.

It should be possible for all people to afford housing and still have enough money for the basics like groceries, gas, and childcare.

It’s better for society, the environment, and families if people can afford to live close to where they work. You need to start at home to realize the promise of a vibrant community.

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HOMES FIRST!

A TRANSFORMATIVE YEAR

There was huge growth and productive change at Homes First! during 2015. More properties were purchased than in any other year since our beginning in 1990. This means together we made a huge impact for even more people, people who now live in safe and affordable housing.

A reinvigorated board and the new direction that comes from fresh ways to approach challenges has driven this success for our neighbors with the most need.

Through developing our strategic business plan, we charted a course for sustainable and healthy growth for our 25 year old organization. The process allowed us to recognize our strengths and the places where we have room to grow. Homes First! has been a vital resource to our community and changed many lives for the better. Including the lives of the five homeless veterans who now share a safe, healthy and affordable home through our partnership with Catholic Community Services.

Our focus in our 25th year was on how our partnerships have helped build a stronger community. Together with YOUR support, we built hope, community and lives. We are grateful to all of our partners, donors, volunteers and staff who helped make 2015 a successful year for our tenants who now enjoy a safe, healthy, and affordable rental home.

We are grateful for the support we receive from our community, and that we are able to pass it on and make Thurston County a great place for us all to live.

Trudy Soucoup Executive Director

Russ Carstensen Board President

ANNUAL IMPACT REPORT 2015

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ACCOMPLISHMENTS Together with our partners, donors, volunteers and staff we made a BIG impact in our community. With the addition of 11 new housing units, 31 additional people found a place to call home and now have hope for their futures. A total number of 211 people were served during 2015 and over 3,000 since 1990.

While Homes First! purchases and maintains the property, we partner with social service agencies to provide the appropriate services for our tenants. Through YOUR support we are able to give the most needy a hand up not a hand out.

We pride ourselves on being a respectful landlord.

The industry standard for vacancies is 6%. Homes First! has a vacancy rate of only 1.99%.

Here is what success looks like: The Gooze family fell on hard times when he lost his job. They eventually lost everything and the family of five moved into Capital Forest in December 2014. After becoming ill, the family was able to find housing at the Out of the Woods Shelter who introduced them to Homes First! In May of 2015 they were able to move into a large, beautifully rehabbed house they now call home.

With a large yard to play in, these children can now concentrate on being children and not worry about where they will sleep or what they will eat.

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HOMES FIRST!

NO VETERAN SHOULD BE FORGOTTEN

James, Mark, Robert, Sam, and Jarryd were struggling after they returned to Thurston County from 8-15 years of service in our country’s military.

The opportunity to purchase a 3,000 square foot home in Tumwater was the perfect opportunity for us to join together with Catholic Community Services to help these men get their lives back on track.

Two of them were living in the Drexel House shelter, two were living in their vehicles, and one was living in Capitol Forest. Now, they share a warm, dry, and healthy home and have purpose again.

Four of these veterans are now employed and one is pursuing higher education. A home is more than housing. A home gives these men HOPE and they now have a plan and a chance for a better future.

WE ARE IN THE BUSINESS OF PROVIDING HOPE

A partnership with the City of Tumwater, Wells Fargo Bank and YouthBuild is allowing us to rehab a house which will be move-in ready in July of 2016.

This home was sitting empty for years, attracting unfavorable elements to the neighborhood. YouthBuild, a program of Community Youth Services and New Market Skills Center, partnered with Homes First! They took the house down to the studs and undertook the task of rebuilding it.

When finished it will be like new and a home for a female homeless veteran and her family.

ANNUAL IMPACT REPORT 2015

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FINANCIALS D

E

C

2015 INCOME $1,308,081

B

E F

D

A

2015 EXPENSE $1,308,081

C

A

B A B C D E

Rent Building Fund Income Restricted Donations Individual Donations Corporate Donation

44.6% 43.6% 8.43% 1.79%

A B C D E F

Building Fund Staff Costs Property Expense Depreciation Admin Overhead Restricted Donation to Building Fund

43.3% 22.0% 18.8% 7.60% 4.68% 3.64%

1.57%

Homes First! saw another year of record growth. We received $357,700 in public funding from the Department of Housing and Urban Development allocations for Thurston County and the City of Lacey. We also saw a generous donation of a piece of land near Tenino which we sold for funds for a future building project. #MoreHomesMoreHope

HOUSING BY THE NUMBERS IN THURSTON COUNTY 265,851 – Population as of 2014 Census 102,355 – Households (2.5 people on average) 34, 677 – Renters 183,748 – Owners 15,000 families are struggling to find homes or stay in homes they can afford 20% of children live in a household that struggles to put food on the table $57, 595 is what the annual income needs to be to cover the necessities for a single parent with two kids 100% of Homes First! tenants can afford their rent and cover their necessities so that they and their children will have better lives 5

HOMES FIRST!

HOW YOU CAN HELP GIFTS

Check Cash Online Giving Planned Giving Bequests Memorials Stock Property Workplace Giving/Match Annual Pledge—Monthly Automatic Payment Combined Fund Drive Combined Federal Campaign

VOLUNTEER

Office Support Maintenance Support Landscape Support Outreach/Marketing/Tabling Events Serve on a Committee Ambassador/Outreach

SUPPLIES/TOOLS

TOP TEN REASONS TO VOLUNTEER

#10: It’s good for you. #9: It saves resources. #8: Volunteers gain profes sional experience. #7: It brings people together.

Extension Cords Commercial Pressure Washer Ladders: 8’ and 20’ Extension; Commercial Shop Vac Nail Gun Package Cordless Tool Package Saws-All

#6: It promotes personal

growth and self esteem.

OFFICE SPACE

#2: Volunteering encourages

civic responsibility.

Homes First! is in great need of bigger office space. Contact Trudy Soucoup at 360.915.7513 for particulars.

ANNUAL IMPACT REPORT 2015

#5: Volunteering strengthens

your community. #4: You learn a lot. #3: You get a chance

to give back.

#1: YOU make a difference!

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DONORS

With much gratitude we want to give a heart-felt thanks for your support: Sarah Abderrazz Brianne Adams ADESA LLC Lara Anderson Nick Anderson Michelle Ardelean Hiroshi Asanoa Jackie Ashley Mike Auderer Susan Ballard Jessica Bateman David Bellefeuille-Rice Patricia Begrman Bud Blake Dan Bogart Richard Bokofsky Nathan Boyd Julie Bradshaw Windy Brazel Marny Bright BROOKS PLUMBING Dick & Sarah Bullard Tim Burke CABINETS BY TRIVONNA Russ & Arlene Carstensen Lori Christmas CITY OF TUMWATER CITY OF OLYMPIA CITY OF LACEY Loretta Clark William Connor Aric Coolbaugh COSTCO Judy Covell William Crabtree, Jr. Diane Dakin DANDELION GARDENS LLC Elizabeth Davis Todd Davison Giovanni DeRosa Sandra DiBernardo Susan Dimitroff John Doan Margaret Foran James & Golly Gadbaw Jeff Gadman 7

Nancy Garcia GARCIA CONSTRUCTION Christine Garst GENERATIONS CREDIT UNION GREEN REALTY GIVING FUND GROCERY OUTLET Wayne Gruen Bob Gutierrez HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THURSTON COUNTY Linda Hallgren Scott Hanauer Lynn Harding Connie Harn Derek Harris Shanan Harrison Elizabeth Hauser Joseph Heyes Maureen Hill Nicole Hill Joseph Hiss HOMETOWN PROPERTY MANAGEMENT Kelsey Hulse IMAGE MASSAGE THERAPY INTERCITY TRANSIT Jennifer Jacobs Christina Janis Stacie Jarvela Ted & Julie Johnson Leslie Johnson Tisha Jones Michael Kashmar Melissa Kirkeby Mark & Marie Kitabayashi Jared & Jordon Landis Marcy & Patrick LaViollette Edmon Lee Becky Leibman Sheri LeMay James Leonard LIGHTHOUSE FOUNDATION Tyra Lindquist Kathleen Lindquist Lisa Lindsey Tom Lowe Willi Lucas HOMES FIRST!

John MacLennan Thomas Malone Cindy Martin Michael Mason Mike & Kathy McCormick Jennie McDonald Hannah McDonald MECONI’S ITALIAN SUBS Shannon Michlitsch Cindy Mitchell MOORE TREES Cesar Morales Natalie Moran Michelle Morlan Wesley Neal Neomosha Nelson William & Rachel Newmann Matt & Ilene Newton OBEE CREDIT UNION OLYMPIA FEDERAL SAVINGS OLYMPIC RENTAL & LANDLORD SERVICES Shana Osmer Leslie Owen Phillippe Owen PANERA BREAD PANOWICZ JEWELER Patti Paul Alliea Phipps PRECISELY RIGHT ACCTG Julia Pintello Juliane Plowman Cynthia Pratt James Price Marge Price Brett Radar Cary Retin Don Riggan Rebecca Riker RITE AID Ann Rockway Melissa Rodda Julie Rodwell Jeannette Ross John Snaza Jill Severn Jennifer Sherwood Dave Sisk ANNUAL IMPACT REPORT 2015

Sandia Slaby Schelli Slaughter Theresa Slusher SMERKEN CONSULTING Brian & Vikki Smith Trudy Soucoup & Kevin Lautz SOUTH SOUND CREDIT UNION SOUTH SOUND ELECTRIC Kevin Sparks Jennifer Sprague Wayne Staley Michael Steadman Greg Stevens Chuck Stewart Kendra Stewart Ronnie Stewart John Stines Eileen Swarthout Philip Tenkhoff Charli Termineli THE ATHENA GROUP THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF SOUTH PUGET SOUND THURSTON COUNTY Rae Anne Toth TRADER JOES John Tunheim TWIN STAR CREDIT UNION UMPQUA BANK UNITED WAY OF STANISLAUS CO. VANGUARD CHARITABLE Karen Valenzuela VALUE VILLAGE Barbara Wakefield Madeline Warren Cathy Wasserman Yvette Watanabe WELLS FARGO BANK Carrie Whisler Sandi Wilson WIN HOME INSPECTIONS Corinn Wohl Cathy Wolfe WSECU Jason Zittel Please call if we have made an error in reporting your name.

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3rd ANNUAL

HEROES FOR HOUSING formerly “Homes Matter!”

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2016 BREAKFAST: 7:45 a.m.

PROGRAM: 8:00 - 9:00 a.m.

TwinStar Event Center at the Lacey South Puget Sound Community College campus 4220 6th Ave SE, Lacey, WA

SPONSORS: Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Generations Credit Union Pardiman Productions TwinStar Credit Union

RSVP: OpeningDoors@ HomesFirst.org

360.915.8176

OPENING DOORS

YOU have the power to change lives!

In an effort to make sure everyone in Thurston County knows who we are and our mission, we are seeking Hosts for our “Opening Doors” program.

Invite your colleagues, friends and family to a one-hour event at your office, home, church, coffee shop or our office. We do everything for you—print off invitations and help with refreshments. We will walk your guests through our mission. We DO NOT ask for money.

Contact Marge Price, openingdoors@homesfirst.org—360.915.8176 to select a convenient date for you.

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HOMES FIRST!

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Russ Carstensen, President Kathy Lindquist, Vice President Maurice Green, Treasurer Steffany Brown, Secretary Andrew Barkis Julie Rodwell Amal Joury

Kevin Sparks Sarah Koch

Hallee Starborn Timothy McKinley

STAFF

Trudy Soucoup, Executive Director Matt Newton, Project & Asset Manager Marge Price, Resource Development & Volunteer Manager Ron Stewart, Property Manager Amy Sewell, Office Manager Felly Giorgianni Jr., Maintenance Specialist Shayanne Grand, Maintenance

PROUD MEMBERS OF:

4310 6th AVE SE, STE #B • LACEY, WA 98503 www.homesfirst.org • Info@homesfirst.org P:360.236.0920 • F:360.236.0824 ANNUAL IMPACT REPORT 2015

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4310 6th Ave Se, Suite B Lacey, WA 98503