By Hailey Brey
On a stormy September Saturday, a group of employee-owners representing our Puyallup, Seattle, and Bremerton offices gathered in Tacoma to make some “sweat equity” investments within their community. Sweat equity is Habitat for Humanity’s concept of providing
shelter to housing insecure families by helping build or improve homes.
A rainy forecast did not stop work from being done. The team sanded, taped, and painted. Lunch was timed in-between storm clouds and all agreed that it was reminiscent of pre-COVID work lunches. The home under construction will neighbor three other Habitat
homes on a donated parcel.
A few facts about the Puget Sound Habitat Community:
- 75 – 80% of Habitat-built homes are women-owned, which is considerably higher than the national Habitat for Humanity average of 60%
- 90% is the number of families placed with Habitat-built homes that include children under the age of 18
- 1 in 5 Pierce County seniors are burdened by housing costs. Beyond families with young children, Habitat also serves folks wishing to “age in place”
Two main things influence housing stability on a systemic level: first, the presence of affordable housing supply and secondly, adequate employment and wages. Tacoma/Pierce County Habitat for Humanity is working hard to increase housing supply against
the challenge of increasing demand and Parametrix is honored to play our part!
