48th District legislator McBride recognized for affordable housing advocacy

October 10, 2017 4:20 am
48th District legislator McBride recognized for affordable housing advocacy

The Washington State Housing Finance Commission has honored 48th District Rep. Joan McBride as “Friends of Housing” for her work to create, support and advocate for affordable housing in Washington state.

Throughout McBride’s career as a Kirkland City Council member, mayor and now state representative, she has been a consistent and passionate advocate for affordable housing, giving communities throughout the state new tools and funding to address housing affordability and homelessness, according to the commission.

The commission also honored five other individuals and one firm for their work advocating for affordable housing.

Deborah Winter, an attorney with Foster Pepper PLLC, was honored with the 2017 Margaret M. Sevy Lifetime Achievement Award for her critical role in countless affordable housing projects across the state. The other Friends of Housing honorees include Dianne Wasson, HomeStreet Bank’s first vice president and manager of affinity lending; Marty Kooistra, the executive director of the Housing Development Consortium of Seattle King County; Seattle-based SMR Architects, which has created more than 5,000 attractive, eco-friendly and barrier-free affordable-housing units; Pamela Tietz, executive director of the Spokane Housing Authority; and Alison Dean and Jennifer Staplin, sisters who formed a partnership between their employer HNN Associates and Seattle shelter Mary’s Place.

The awards were presented Oct. 3 in an evening reception at the annual Housing Washington conference in Spokane.

“It is our privilege to shine the spotlight on these inspiring leaders and their accomplishments on behalf of the people of our state,” said Karen Miller, chair of the Housing Finance Commission.

The Friend of Housing Awards are presented each year to individuals or organizations who have made exceptional contributions to creating or supporting affordable housing in ways such as helping to solve housing problems, creating innovative financing mechanisms, or drafting legislation or policy that addresses the state’s housing needs.