New AmeriCorps Members
Begin Year of Service with LIHI
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Members of the AmeriCorps VISTA and Jesuit Volunteer Corps (JVC) programs have been serving and improving lives with LIHI many years now, making enormous contributions to our work while also learning many new skills in their future world-changing careers. Some, like LIHI's Tiny House Program Manager Bradford Gerber, have even gone on to join LIHI's staff.
It is our pleasure to welcome and introduce this year's full-time AmeriCorps members!
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Lidya Stamper
Community Outreach Coordinator
AmeriCorps VISTA
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Born in Harar, Ethiopia and raised in Portland, Oregon Lidya is excited to be back in the PNW for the year serving with LIHI! After obtaining B.A’s in International Relations and Public Policy from the University of Redlands in 2019, Lidya moved to South Africa for the 2019-2020 year with a Fulbright Research Fellowship. During this past year, Lidya worked at a human rights non profit called the Centre for Human Rights while undertaking research on sexual and reproductive health access for internally displaced women in the province she was living in.
Following the end of her grant period she returned to Portland where she worked in a legal non profit doing donor engagement and fundraising programming, while also working for a state-wide grassroots based Census campaign that encouraged underrepresented communities to fill out the 2020 Census. When she’s not working, she loves hiking, frolicing with literally any dogs, and complaining about the rain while secretly enjoying it. She’s super excited to take on this new role as a Community Outreach Coordinator and get to know both the LIHI community and the greater Washington community!
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Maddie Harris
Volunteer Programs Coordinator
AmeriCorps VISTA
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Growing up in Minnesota, Maddie is new to the rain and the PNW. Earning her BA in Psychology from Warren Wilson College in Asheville, NC, Maddie was a dedicated learner, Resident Assistant, Captain and 3x MVP of the Women's soccer team. After completing college, Maddie started her first service term of Americorps VISTA as the NC Afterschool Corps for the Warren Wilson College Center for Community Engagement. While managing six afterschool programs and mentoring college students, Maddie also worked part time as a club soccer coach at Highland Football Club and part time at the YMCA of Western North Carolina.
Maddie recently moved to Seattle and resides in West Seattle. In her free time, she enjoys reading, petting her overweight cat Libby, running with her best friend Claire, hanging at Alki, camping and coaching at Girl Boss Sports.
As the Volunteer Programs Coordinator for LIHI, Maddie is excited to learn more about how to advocate for individuals experiencing homeless. She is also passionate about organization, intentional service learning and creating a volunteer community!
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Amanda Eason
Tiny House Village Essential Needs Coordinator
Jesuit Volunteer Corps
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Amanda Eason is our new Tiny House Village Essential Needs Coordinator. She grew up in Connecticut and recently graduated from Santa Clara University where she majored in Environmental Studies and Sociology with a minor in Political Science and Sustainability. In college, Amanda pursued any fellowship or opportunity that allowed her to travel; she ended up studying or conducting research in Mexico, The Gambia, Bhutan, and Tanzania. While international development was the main focus of her learning, the most impactful experience she had in college was working as the Waste Diversion Intern at her school’s Center for Sustainability. In her free time, Amanda is passionate about cooking vegan food, hiking and backpacking, spending time with animals, and creative writing!
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Congratulations to the Graduates of LIHI’s Cottage Construction Summer Build Camp! |
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This summer, LIHI hosted two Summer Build Camp sessions providing construction skills training for 25 pre-apprenticeship students. This program was made possible by a generous grant through the Port of Seattle aimed at helping students and young people in South King County have increased access to high-paying careers in the construction trades. The Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle was a close partner in the administration of this project as the recipients of the Port of Seattle grant award. In collaboration, we not only built 3 cottages for low-wage workforce housing, but also provided stipends to students as they developed skills necessary to enter the trades! |
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In celebration of the student's incredible efforts, LIHI hosted a virtual graduation event to wrap up the program. Our speakers included LIHI Executive Director Sharon Lee, Rep. Frank Chopp (click to view Chopp's speech), the Port of Seattle's Executive Director Steve Metruck and Director of Workforce Development Luis Navarro, Principal of the Seattle Skills Center Dan Golosman, and Project Architect Karen Lewis. Check out the presentation for the event with more photos and information here! |
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Special thanks to our wonderful instructors Stephanie Colbert, Guy Astley, and Tom Highland for their dedication to supporting individuals pursuing the trades. |
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The Sand Point Cottage Community is expected to open next year, and will provide 22 studio and one-bedroom cottages for affordable long-term workforce housing in a residential village community for families and individuals employed at low wages. LIHI was awarded $3 million in innovation funds from the Washington State Department of Commerce to develop the Sand Point Cottage Community. The cottages will have a living and sleeping area, a loft, a kitchen, and a full bathroom. The community will include a common building, community garden, outdoor recreation space, and walking paths. The previously vacant property is owned by the city of Seattle at 6343 NE 65th Street. LIHI is leasing the land from the Seattle Office of Housing. |
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LIHI's An Lạc Apartments named finalist for Affordable Housing Development of the Year - NAIOPWA 2020 Night of the Stars Awards
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NAIOP Washington State’s 2020 Night of the Stars Awards showcase the best commercial real estate development projects in Washington State completed between July 1, 2019, and August 1, 2020.
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An Lạc Apartments in Little Saigon neighborhood of Seattle |
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Tacoma and LIHI propose homeless micro-shelter site at Sixth Avenue and North Orchard Street |
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Register to Vote, Vote, and Vote Early! |
Register to Vote: The General Election is coming up on Nov. 3rd. In Washington State we vote by mail and Washingtonians have until Oct 26 to register (or re-register at a new WA State address) online or by mail here - https://olvr.votewa.gov/. If one misses that, you can also register in-person all the way up to Election Day, Nov 3, at your county elections office with addresses listed here: https://www.sos.wa.gov/elections/viewauditors.aspx. But don't wait - register right away!
Questions, need help? ! LIHI's Community Engagement Director Josh Castle can help you register to vote, identify a place to receive your ballot, and answer any questions you have. Please reach out to him at [email protected]
How to register and to vote if you're homeless: Individuals experiencing homelessness can register at an Urban Rest Stop, shelter, or an intersection they spend a lot of time close to as their residential address, and then just need a mailing address for which to receive and pick up their ballot. Urban Rest Stop addresses can be used for both residential and mailing address to receive and pick up a ballot. Downtown URS: 1924 9th Ave, Seattle, WA 98101, Ballard URS: 2014 NW 57th St, Seattle, WA 98107, U District URS: 1415 NE 43rd St, Seattle, WA 98105
People with felony convictions can vote and pre-registration: People with past felony convictions are able to vote in Washington State as long as they are not under DOC supervision. 16- and 17-year-olds can also pre-register to vote and then will become registered on their 18th birthday.
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Sharon Lee
Executive Director
Low Income Housing Institute
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