Northwest Plus Credit Union Donates $10,000 for Emergency Student Housing

Posted by Alyse Knudsen on July 8, 2024

NW Plus CU CFO Brian Walker and CEO Torrie Ramos (left) present a check to Everett Community College President Chemene Crawford and Foundation Executive Director Kristen McConaha in front of student housing building Cedar Hall.

Washington-based Northwest Plus Credit Union recently donated $10,000 to the Everett Community College Foundation for emergency housing for students. 

The donation will directly benefit 10 Everett Community College (EvCC) students facing housing insecurity, including five who live in campus housing, with $1,000 each. 

“This donation from Northwest Plus Credit Union comes at a critical time,” said Kristen McConaha, Executive Director of College Advancement and the EvCC Foundation. “The number of requests from EvCC students for emergency funding for housing is at an all-time high.” 

The requests come both from students living in one of two EvCC dorms and from students living off campus.  

Three out of 10 Washington college students experienced housing insecurity the previous year, and one out of 10 experienced homelessness in the previous year, according to a 2023 report from the Washington Student Achievement Council and Western Washington University.  

“As a not-for-profit, member-owned financial institution, we empower people to build brighter futures for themselves,” said Torrie Ramos, NW Plus CU CEO. “Supporting EvCC students facing housing insecurity is one way we accomplish this mission.” 

NW Plus CU also offered a free budgeting basics class for EvCC students on May 14 and plans to offer similar classes in the future.  

Posted in Community Impact, Regional Member News, Top Headlines, Washington.