New release from Capitol Hill Housing:

Supporting families and individuals in affordable housing and keeping communities strong: the new Capitol HillHousing Foundation works throughout Seattle

The Capitol Hill Housing Foundation is a new non-profit supporting Capitol Hill Housing and its extraordinary work in affordable housing and community development.  The foundation mobilizes resources for the 1100 households, 377 kids and 42 buildings that make up the Capitol Hill Housing (CHH) community in Seattle.  Helping families, keeping rents affordable, and supporting new building development, the foundation keeps neighborhoods and CHH strong.  The foundation connects CHH’s mission and work to the broader community through communications and outreach activities.

Based on the successful Pike Place Market Foundation and Seattle Public Library Foundation, this independent organization has been set up to bring new resources to the affordable housing and community development mission.  Because Capitol HillHousing is a Public Development Authority (PDA) it is bound by the rules and regulations of a municipal corporation.  Therefore it is advantageous to have a separate 501c3 foundation leading the fundraising activities, free of the limits placed on a PDA. 

The foundation will be led by Michael Seiwerath, Executive Director, and Melora Hiller, board president.  Seiwerath was previously Executive Director of Northwest Film Forum, the nationally recognized film arts organization based on CapitolHill.  Eighteen months ago Seiwerath joined CHH to direct fundraising and communications and start this foundation.  Hiller is the founder of Melora Hiller consulting and currently consults with nonprofit organizations, foundations and local governments in areas related to organizational development, capacity building, strategic planning, and program development.  A previous member of the CHH Board of Directors, she has more than a decade of experience in affordablehousing and fundraising.

“We’re kicking off the Capitol Hill Housing Foundation with an impressive, diverse board dedicated to raising funds to support an amazing organization and its residents,” stated Board President Melora Hiller.  “We’ve brought together a mix of longtime CHH and affordable housing supporters, Capitol Hill business owners and community leaders.” 

“In a time when traditional funding sources are contracting, the foundation is looking to diversify support for CHH by expanding individual and grant donations,” added Seiwerath.  “Having launched an e-newsletter and facebook page, we’re excited to spread the word of CHH’s award winning work in affordable housing and community development.  In particular, we will be hosting events to reach out to the Capitol Hill community, starting with CHH annual meeting on April 14th.”

After a year of planning, the new foundation is being launched in conjunction with its signature event, the Top of the Town Fundraiser on March 24^th, 2010.  This sold-out annual fundraiser at the Sorrento Hotel exemplifies the foundation’s mission: connecting supporters, increasing the profile of CHH and the foundation, and raising vital funds to support CHH and its residents

The foundation’s fundraising efforts will sustain programs such as large family and formerly homeless housing and community development.  CHH has a national reputation for green building projects, and as sustainable buildings and transit-oriented developments continue, the foundation will support this work.  When CHH grows or expands, the foundation will be flexible enough to advance new program areas.  With the capacity to manage a capital campaign, the foundation will make possible high-profile developments or projects which require more private funding.

The Founding Board of Directors

Melora Hiller, Melora Hiller Consulting (Board President) 

Christopher Persons, Executive Director, Capitol Hill Housing

Marlys Erickson, Executive Director, Pike Place Market Foundation

Tom Ambrey, CEO, RAFN Company

Randy Robinson, VP Community Lending, KeyBank

Jerry Everard, NEUMO’S and Groff Murphy

Roland Morgan, Principal, PRAVDA

Dean Kralios, SMR architect

Donna Moodie, owner, Marjorie Restaurant

Ellen Taussig, Founder, Northwest School

Chuck Weinstock, VP Community Lending, JPMorgan Chase

 

About Capitol Hill Housing

Capitol Hill Housing provides affordable housing and leads community development efforts— helping families, immigrants and the recently homeless.  Since 1976, we have provided help to low and moderate income residents of Seattle and worked to improve the Capitol Hill neighborhood for all residents.  Based in Capitol Hill, have properties in nine neighborhoods, including Belltown, Fremont, Rainier Valley and Northeast Seattle.

CHH serves a wide variety of residents, and has a special focus on affordable housing for families.  We help those of limited means have a home.  A single mom and her kids escaping an abusive situation, a senior bankrupted by medical bills, a refugee from a nation torn by civil war- these are some of the people who have an affordable home because of Capitol HillHousing. 

Many residents are living in poverty- our average household earns $16,785 a year.  There are 377 children in CHH buildings, making up nearly a quarter of our 1600 residents.  In neighborhoods where two and three bedrooms are rare, CHH works to develop new large family units for families with children.

Operating 42 buildings, CHH both saves historic Seattle apartments and builds new, award winning projects.  Our Community Development work focuses on historic preservation, walkable neighborhoods and thriving commercial districts.  We’re proud to develop buildings in a community context and provide affordable homes that strengthen the neighborhoods we work and live in.