Unique Lighting & Home Decor, a women-owned lighting retailer in Butte, Montana, has donated over $7,500 in lighting fixtures, accessories, hardware, and bulbs to the National Affordable Housing Network (NAHN) as it closes out 2025. The contribution, made in December 2025, is the largest in-kind nonprofit donation in the company's history and underscores the role of local businesses in addressing housing affordability challenges.
Housing affordability remains a pressing issue in Montana. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 28.9% of Montana households spent 30% or more of their income on housing and utilities in 2024, meeting the federal definition of cost-burdened households. The donation directly supports NAHN's mission to expand long-term affordable homeownership opportunities, strengthen community housing initiatives, and improve financial literacy for families facing housing cost pressures.
Kellie Gribben, owner and founder of Unique Lighting & Home Decor, expressed her enthusiasm for the partnership. "After two decades of working with Affordable Housing, I am so excited to be able to provide this level of contribution to an organization that I wholeheartedly believe in," Gribben said. She added that NAHN's work ensures housing affordability is about creating sustainable homes and communities, not just lowering upfront costs. "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. This donation reinforces the critical support local businesses provide to nonprofits advancing affordable housing outcomes. More information about Unique Lighting & Home Decor is available at https://buttelighting.com.
