At Affordable Housing Week each year, we take the time to recognize and honor individuals who have either made exemplary contributions to advancing our advocacy agenda or who have led the way in advancing racial equity and equitable development in broad and diverse coalitions or networks.

This year, we are extremely pleased to present these awards to two outstanding members of our collective movement.

Advocate of the Year: Sarah Dickmeyer

The Advocate of the Year Award recognizes HDC members who have stepped up to lead and have inspired others along the way to advance our advocacy agenda.

We are pleased to present this award to Sarah Dickmeyer of Plymouth Housing in recognition of her passionate advocacy for permanent supportive housing and the clients that utilize this vital housing sector. She has demonstrated this dedication over the last year through her tireless work on the Redmond PSH project, bringing it to fruition. She is active in the advocacy community as the Policy Advocacy Group Co-Chair and was instrumental in the successful passage of House Bill 2266. Thank you for your dedication, Sarah!

Community Champion: Elizabeth Perez

The Community Champion Award recognizes an individual or an organization whose exemplary work is leading the way in advancing racial equity and equitable development in broad and diverse coalitions or networks. 

HDC is honored to present this award to Elizabeth Perez in recognition of her exceptional championing for housing and racial justice in her role as Executive Director of the Washington Housing Resource Center. She is leading important statewide work to make homeownership more accessible, helping people across Washington navigate a system that has too often been confusing, fragmented, and out of reach. She brings a clear equity lens to everything she does, always focused on who the system is working for and who it is leaving behind, and what it will take to change that. Thank you for your work, Elizabeth!