[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 69 (Wednesday, May 6, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1075]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     REMARKS HONORING SHARON WALDEN

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                        HON. NICK J. RAHALL, II

                            of west virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Wednesday, May 6, 2009

  Mr. RAHALL. Madam Speaker, I rise before you today to honor a great 
West Virginian, Sharon Walden who will be inducted into the West 
Virginia Affordable Housing Hall of Fame on Thursday, May 7th, 2009. 
Her lifelong commitment to affordable housing, coupled with her 
tremendous career of leadership, has forever changed the McDowell 
county community where she was raised and where she continues to make 
her home.
  Sharon's leadership has led to housing and safety for many domestic 
violence victims, homeless women and their children in West Virginia. 
Since 1990, she has served as the Executive Director of Stop Abusive 
Family Environments, Inc. (SAFE). Under her leadership, SAFE went from 
a small Domestic Violence program with two employees to the first 
transitional housing facility in my home state of West Virginia that 
serves victims of domestic violence.
  Sharon has truly battled Goliath as David did in 1 Samuel Chapter 17. 
She worked tirelessly to raise over two million dollars in grants and 
forgivable loans in order to renovate a former school building into 
SAFE's facility. Her perseverance to improve her community did not end 
there. Next, she established the SAFE permanent housing program which 
would help first-time, low-income homebuyers in her county. Since then, 
SAFE has completed 40 rental townhouses with a community center that 
has been noted as the best rental housing in all of McDowell county.
  Under Sharon's leadership, SAFE has formed a non-profit section 
called SAFE Housing and Economic Development (SHED) which focuses on 
permanent housing development. In these times of economic uncertainty, 
when becoming a homeowner can seem like an impossible dream, SHED has 
helped more than 35 community members reach that goal and become first 
time homeowners.
  Sharon's community work doesn't stop with helping those in need of 
housing. She helps further economic development as the Executive 
Director of Travel Beautiful Appalachia. Linking tourism from the rail 
system to local entrepreneurs, she helps spread local West Virginia 
treasures across the country.
  Sharon's lifetime commitment to helping her neighbors has made a 
permanent impression on West Virginia. I bring her extraordinary 
efforts to the attention of the U.S. Congress and urge my colleagues to 
join me in recognizing Sharon Walden, a hero to her community and the 
countless families she has helped.

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