Unique Lighting & Home Decor, a women-owned lighting retailer based in Butte, Montana, concluded 2025 with its largest-ever nonprofit contribution: over $7,500 in lighting fixtures, accessories, hardware, and bulbs donated to the National Affordable Housing Network. This in-kind donation comes as housing affordability pressures intensify statewide, with 28.9% of Montana households spending 30% or more of their income on housing and utilities in 2024, meeting the federal definition of cost-burdened households according to U.S. Census Bureau data.
The donation directly supports NAHN's mission to expand long-term affordable homeownership opportunities, strengthen community housing initiatives, and improve financial literacy for households facing housing cost pressures. Kellie Gribben, Owner and Founder of Unique Lighting & Home Decor, emphasized the strategic importance of the contribution after two decades of involvement with affordable housing organizations. "They're work ensures housing affordability isn't just about lowering upfront costs, it's about creating homes and communities that remain sustainable for families over time," Gribben stated. "Their mission impacts entire neighborhoods and the families that live in them. I'm proud to support that momentum for Southwest Montana as these economic pressures continue to challenge households across the area."
The lighting materials 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 contribution represents the largest in-kind nonprofit donation in Unique Lighting & Home Decor's history, highlighting how local businesses can directly address community needs. The National Affordable Housing Network, founded in 1994 and based in Butte, Montana, advances 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, which serves communities across Southwest Montana and specializes in lighting fixtures and customized lighting design through one-on-one consultations, maintains a long tradition of local community support through its operations at https://buttelighting.com. This donation demonstrates how targeted business contributions can amplify nonprofit efforts to create sustainable housing solutions during periods of economic strain, particularly in regions where housing costs increasingly burden household budgets.
