Saratoga Community Housing is a grassroots non-profit organization formed in response to the skyrocketing real-estate prices that have created a shortage of truly affordable housing here in Island County. Using the traditional Community Land Trust (CLT) model, Saratoga Community Housing acquires land and homes to provide affordable homeownership opportunities for lower to moderate income residents. Affordable housing built within the Community Land Trust (CLT) model contributes to the vitality and sustainability of communities in many ways….
INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES BENEFIT:
- Limited income individuals and families become homeowners
- Homeowners build equity in their homes, an investment in their future
- Homeownership promotes healthy families and community involvement
- CLTs provide ongoing support and education for their homeowners
COMMUNITIES BENEFIT:
- Safe and stable housing means safe and stable communities
- Affordable housing allows people to live where they work (stable workforce)
- Community Land Trusts protect limited income residents from displacement
- Communities make the most of the land while preserving green space
Our Board of Trustees:
Debbie Torget – President: Debbie has been with the Goosefoot Community Fund since its inception in 2000, and served as the Affordable Housing Program Manager and Bayview Properties Manager. She is currently serving as Goosefoot’s Executive Director. Debbie has been involved with several organizations in Seattle and on Whidbey Island including the Prison Ministry of Seattle University, Operation Sack Lunch, and the Bayview High School Site Council. She is also a board member of the Island County Housing Advisory Board.
Steve Gulliford -Secretary/Treasurer: After retiring as a US Navy Commander, Steve and his family returned to Whidbey Island to make Oak Harbor their home. Besides his 20 years of Military service, Bachelor of Business Administration, and Masters of Science in Management, Steve retired in 2009 after over twenty years experience as the Executive Director of two Housing Authority Offices in Washington State. During his Housing Authority career, Steve worked cooperatively with other agencies to create affordable housing opportunities including Marjie’s House, a 16-unit apartment complex jointly operated by the Housing Authority, Opportunity Council and CADA serving homeless women and children. Through his leadership the Housing Authority implemented one of the first home ownership programs in Washington using HUD Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers.
Steve’s interest in affordable housing carries over into his volunteer work. He has served on the Board of Directors for several local non-profit organizations; including 10 years as Board Member, President, Vice President and Secretary of the Self-Help Housing Board of Directors. As a founding member of Habitat for Humanity of Island County, Steve served as Chairman of the Site Selection Committee. He was also a founding board member and Board President for Whidbey Island Share a Home, program providing low cost housing solutions throughout Whidbey Island. In his spare time, Steve enjoys traveling with his family and singing with the Whidbey Community Chorus and his church choir.
David W. Anderson: Dave has spent the last twenty-one years as a Building Official for the City of Arlington and currently the City of Oak Harbor. David has been involved in the development and construction of housing and commercial projects throughout Northwest Washington. As a Building Official he has worked with other agencies such as Habitat for Humanity and Housing Hope to create affordable housing opportunities. These projects include: low income housing plats for Housing Hope, Individual residences, larger low income multi-family projects, multiple industrial parks, as well several educational facilities. Currently David serves as the President of the Northwest Washington Chapter of International Code Council which provides educational and training opportunities for code officials, architects, contractors throughout Northwest Washington.
Leo Baldwin: Leo has been an active proponent in senior housing and supportive services for more than thirty years. While on the national staff of AARP, he coordinated housing related activities playing an active role in federal senior housing policy and financing. While acting director of the AARP Program Department, Leo managed several outreach and social service programs. He was also involved in the development of home equity conversions, senior housing alternatives, accessory living units, and the retrofitting of existing housing stock. He has served on the Housing Element Review Committee for the City of Langley and is currently on the Board of Trustees for Senior Services of Island County.
Rick Brown: Rick has been in involved in affordable housing for over thirty years. He was the architect for the Songaia Co-housing project in Bothell and the president of the La’mourita Coop in Seattle for nearly ten years. His firm, Brown Associates/Architects, provides consultation to housing authorities, property management and potential developers of affordable housing projects. In addition to design services, Rick is involved in preparation and review of capital needs assessments for affordable housing projects in the eleven Western States for non-profits. Rick has been actively involved in the community including serving as the past president of the Holmes Harbor Sewer District, part of the Freeland Sub-Area Planning Committee and working on the Langley Design Review Board. He is currently the president of the Rotary Club of South Whidbey.
Randy Enberg: Randy and his wife, Barb, have owned and operated the Enberg Insurance Agency for over 36 years. Prior to moving to Whidbey Island, he spent 6 years serving on the Snohomish County Boundary Review Board, and 13 years serving on the Edmonds Senior Center Board. Since moving to the Island, Randy has been actively involved with the South Whidbey Habitat for Humanity Board and he has recently expanded his role with Habitat to include a Board position with Island County Habitat for Humanity.
Katharine Gray: Katharine has been working at the Housing Authority of Island County since moving from California over ten years ago. She has a background in finance, accounting and property management. In addition to her accounting responsibilities at the Housing Authority, she is also the Homeownership Coordinator for the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program and has helped 15 low-income families become first time homeowners. Katharine also provides homeownership counseling and loan packaging. Katharine enjoys volunteering as a Court Appointed Special Advocate here in Island County. As a CASA worker, she spends time with children that have been removed from their homes and placed in foster care by the court system.
Janice Libbey: Janice has been employed by Whidbey Island Bank for over 43 years. She currently holds the position of VP/Compliance & Security Officer. Over the last eight years Janice has been involved in the Bank’s membership with Federal Home Loan Bank Home$tart grant program, working with the Housing Authority of Island County and Habitat for Humanity of Island County to secure grant funds for home buyers. For many years she has helped to promote the Bank’s annual funding assistance to Kulshan Community Land Trust in Whatcom County for their affordable homeownership program.
