FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Sharon Couts
Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties
425.499.1723

37 Ramps to Be Built in One Day in the Largest Rampathon Ever

Seattle—May 21, 2016—On May 21, the lives of 37 families will change just a little bit, thanks to local builders volunteering their time to build ramps for Rampathon in King and Snohomish counties. Many families with disabilities have difficulties getting in and out of their homes. The Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties, along with its members, want to make the lives of families facing disabilities a little easier.

Recipients of a few of those ramps include 6-year-old Colby, a tiny house village serving homeless individuals and families, and a WWII veteran. This year, 37 ramps will be built during Rampathon. In the 23 years of the event, this is the largest Rampathon ever. Since its inception in 1993, more than 370 ramps have been built with $1.7 million in in-kind donations.

Colby

Colby was a typical nine-month-old when his mother received a phone call that changed their lives. Colby is a victim of abusive head trauma. He was assaulted by his babysitter, who couldn't deal with his crying. The result was a traumatic brain injury that left him in a lifelong non-ambulatory state. He is now a permanent wheelchair user. His family is devoting themselves to educating care givers and new parents on the effects of frustrated behaviors and development of understanding that babies cry for many reasons and sometimes for no reason we can understand or fix.

Colby is now 6 years old; Rampathon happens the day after the sixth anniversary of this tragedy. Pacific Lumber Inspection Bureau will be building Colby's ramp.

Nickelsville Tiny Home Village

Sawhorse Revolution worked with a coalition of organizations to create Seattle's first tiny house village. It' is designed to provide a safe space and transitional services to those experiencing homelessness. Opened in January 2016, it featured plumbed bathroom facilities. Now, they're building a ramp to provide access to bathroom and shower facilities for those individuals who struggle with homelessness and disabilities.

Sawhorse Revolution works with high school students of diverse backgrounds from Seattle and surrounding areas. Under the tutelage of mentors, professional builders, architects, and cross-disciplinary educators, they offer students a widely applicable skill set, opportunities for character development, and confidence in their abilities to engage and improve their communities.

WWII Veteran Hideyoshi Horikawa

95-year-old Hideyoshi has been in a care facility four times due to complications from falls. He has hemiparesis (weakness or inability to move) in his upper and lower extremities. His left calf muscle is weak due to a WWII gunshot wound from his time in the U.S. Army during the European campaign. He has reduced sensation in his feet due to frostbite he received during the war. He currently has to use Tri-Med services to enter and exit his home. His wife is his primary care giver.

Carlisle Classic Homes will be building Hideyoshi's ramp.

About the MBA

Founded in 1909, the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties (MBA) has grown to become the largest residential homebuilders association in the United States. With 2,800 member companies, the association is dedicated to membership value, government advocacy, financial stewardship, and promoting the residential building industry in the Puget Sound region. The association and its members address many of the concerns and issues affecting the residential housing industry. If you are looking to buy, build, remodel or maintain your home, trust MBA for industry professional referrals and practical information to get the job done. mbaks.com

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Primary ballots are being mailed out this week so please look for them in your mailbox and make sure to vote! Tuesday, August 6 is the last day to return your ballot either by mail or at a drop box. The election is crucial for housing policy as it will determine which candidates advance to the General Election, potentially shifting the balance of power and philosophical approach to housing initiatives. This election serves as a barometer for public sentiment on key issues and sets the stage for future legislative actions. Counties will certify the Primary Election on August 20 and the General Election is Tuesday, November 5.
 
You can find drop box locations, ballot questions, candidate statements, and more information related to the election at King County Elections or Snohomish County Elections.  

You can review candidate endorsements by the Affordable Housing Council (AHC) below and see the full AHC list HERE.

By MBAKS Senior Policy Analyst Allison Butcher

The latest data from the Census Bureau show single-family permits up 25% in the three-county Seattle metro area through March, compared to the same period last year. Pierce County saw the biggest rise in single-family permit activity among the three counties, up 61% year-over-year in the first quarter. Multifamily permits more than doubled in the region, led by big upticks in Pierce and King counties. However, Snohomish County experienced a drop in multifamily permit activity in the first quarter.

The Builders Bulletin is intended to provide a convenient way to track housing in our market and includes information from the Northwest Multiple Listing Service, State of the Cities Data Systems, Office of Financial Management, and the Washington State Employment Security Department.

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