Family moves into Channel Cove Habitat home

Sunday afternoon Skagit Habitat for Humanity’s 41st home was ready and dedicated for Katelyn and her two children. The Channel Cove duplex on Park Street was ready for move-in after three months of renovation by primarily volunteer workers, including Katelyn.

Skagit Habitat Executive Director Tina Tate, Board President Rob Ashby and Skagit County Commissioner Ron Wesen spoke at a 2 p.m. ceremony in the Channel Cove community center. They welcomed Katelyn into her new home and expressed appreciation for all who made the project possible. Jodi Dean, Home Trust of Skagit director, presented the family with a $200 cash gift and Rev. Scott Rossiter quoted from Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the plans that I have for you, says the Lord, plans for peace and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

When Kerry Ashby, a committee chair at Skagit Habitat, presented gifts to the family: a bouquet of flowers, a $100 gift card donated by Grocery Outlet, a toolbox and an engraved wooden sign reading “MORGAN FAMILY,” Katelyn dabbed tears from her eyes.

She thanked the crowd, Project Manager Andy Weightman proudly handed her the key to her home and everyone filed out for the ribbon cutting. After a few photos, Katelyn’s daughter was given the scissors to cut the red ribbon. She did. It fell and everyone applauded. “It’s an exciting new chapter in our lives,” Katelyn said. “It’s the best Christmas gift ever.”

According to Congressman Rick Larsen’s (D-Everett), whose text Tate read earlier, the affordable housing crisis should be a bigger priority in Congress. He noted Washington state is in the process of building 500,000 affordable homes within the next decade.

In Skagit County, those houses are built one at a time. The future owner of Skagit Habitat’s 42nd home, Cynthia, was in the audience Sunday.