Butte Lighting Retailer Makes Historic Donation to Support Affordable Housing Initiatives

Unique Lighting & Home Decor concluded 2025 with a substantial community contribution, providing over $7,500 in lighting fixtures, accessories, hardware, and bulbs to the National Affordable Housing Network. This donation represents the largest in-kind nonprofit contribution in the company's history and comes at a critical time for housing affordability in Montana. According to U.S. Census Bureau data from 2024, 28.9% of Montana households spent 30% or more of their income on housing and utilities, meeting the federal definition of cost-burdened households.

The timing of this contribution aligns directly with NAHN's mission to expand long-term affordable homeownership opportunities, strengthen community housing initiatives, and improve financial literacy for households navigating housing cost pressures. Kellie Gribben, Owner and Founder of Unique Lighting & Home Decor, expressed enthusiasm about supporting an organization she believes in deeply after two decades of working with affordable housing. Gribben emphasized that NAHN's work ensures housing affordability extends beyond lowering upfront costs to creating sustainable homes and communities for families over time.

The lighting materials provided will support NAHN-aligned housing initiatives across Southwest Montana in 2026, helping partner organizations maximize build budgets and reduce material cost barriers at a regional level. This coordinated December 2025 donation reinforces the role local businesses continue to play in supporting nonprofits advancing affordable housing outcomes. Gribben noted that NAHN's mission impacts entire neighborhoods and the families that live in them, and she expressed pride in supporting that momentum for Southwest Montana as economic pressures continue to challenge households across the area.

The National Affordable Housing Network, founded in 1994 and based in Butte, Montana, is dedicated to advancing affordable, high-performance housing through subdivision development, historic building housing initiatives, and financial literacy programs that strengthen community housing stability. The organization also provides technical assistance and educational support to nonprofits and community housing partners throughout the United States, including Southwest Montana. Unique Lighting & Home Decor, a women-owned lighting retailer headquartered in Butte, Montana, serves communities across Southwest Montana and maintains a long tradition of local community support through its specialized lighting fixtures and customized lighting design services available at their website.