Press Release: Methow Housing Trust Matches Growing Demand for Housing with Expanded Leadership Team

Release Date: July 29, 2024

Contact: Rocklynn Culp, MHT Board President, 509-846-3513

Since its inception in 2017, Methow Housing Trust has made huge strides to address the need for affordable housing with the development of five neighborhoods, the construction of 49 homes, and the expansion from one staff member to five. “Back in 2017, we never could have imagined how quickly the need for affordable housing would grow in our community, nor could we have imagined how committed and generous our supporters would be, making possible the progress we’ve made toward serving the housing needs of local folks,” explains board president, Rocklynn Culp. Today, over 60 local families are eligible and waiting to be offered a Methow Housing Trust home, and MHT has over 50 more homes in the pipeline to help meet that need.

MHT’s core program requires expertise in land acquisition, neighborhood planning and permitting, neighborhood design and project management. As the need for focused leadership in this key area grows, Danica Ready, MHT’s founding director, has decided to make that part of her current role her primary focus. “I have loved having my hands and heart in every aspect of MHT’s mission as MHT’s first Executive Director, but as we continue to evolve and grow, it’s time to split my original Executive Director role into two leadership positions. I have always been most passionate about the tangible work of making neighborhoods and homes happen on the ground, so I am incredibly excited to be able to give MHT housing development my full focus moving forward.” Danica will be assuming the position of Land & Housing Director for MHT, working closely with the future Executive Director to ensure a seamless transition for the organization.

MHT currently has a staff of five, including a full-time Executive Director and a part-time Stewardship Director, Housing Advocate, Chief Financial Officer, and Operations Manager. “We’ve been running a lean and efficient business given the magnitude of our goals and impacts, and with additional, overlapping projects lining up for years to come, it is time to expand our staff capacity to match the workload. MHT has developed a community investment formula that allows the sale of high-quality homes to local families at less than 50% of current market prices. Perpetuating and refining this housing development process will be a focus of Danica’s new role with MHT,” John Bliss, MHT Treasurer notes. Adding the full-time Land & Housing Director position will allow MHT to accomplish its ambitious vision of completing 100 permanently affordable homes by 2030, while continuing to play an important role in partnering and leading broader community housing goals.

“Danica and the MHT Board recognized this as a great time for a new leader to join our team. Given the commitment and alignment within our current staff and board, our strong financial position, a clear and current strategic plan, and an opportunity to continue to innovate and make a lasting difference in this great community, this is the right time to take this important step,” states Don Linnertz, MHT Board VP.

Hiring process details and the MHT Executive Director job description can be found at: http://www.methowhousingtrust.org/ed-search. For questions about this position, email edsearch@methowhousingtrust.org. Applications will be accepted until Sept 15th and interviews with qualified candidates will begin soon after.