Latest News
Katrina & Rita: Five Years Later
September 1, 2010Hurricanes Katrina and Rita made landfall in 2005 and became one of the most destructive disasters in United States' history. The two hurricanes displaced more than a million residents, inflicted major damage to nearly 550,000 homes and demolished hundreds of square miles of coastal land. Within weeks after Hurricane Katrina barreled across the U.S. Gulf Coast, Habitat for Humanity started building houses and rebuilding lives through Operation Home Delivery.
The Gulf Coast region is still dealing with the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Although Habitat's initial Gulf Coast disaster response program, Operation Home Delivery, is officially complete, Gulf Coast affiliates continue to build houses in the hurricane-affected areas as part of Habitat's long-term program - the Hurricanes Katrina and Rita Recovery Effort.
To read the latest update on Habitat's recovery and rebuilding efforts in the Gulf Coast, click here.
City of Roswell Awards Habitat $687,000
August 3, 2010In July, Habitat for Humanity - North Central Georgia was awarded $678,042 in Neighborhood Stabilization Funds by the City of Roswell. These funds will be used to purchase 5-6 foreclosed properties in Roswell neighborhoods with high foreclosure rates. Habitat will rehabilitate these homes and sell them to Habitat families, helping to stabilize the neighborhoods and fill vacant homes with community residents.
The Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) was created for the purpose of helping to stabilize neighborhoods and communities with high foreclose and abandonment rates by providing grants to city and state governments and nonprofit organizations to place local low income and mid-income residents in these homes. The program was authorized under Division B, Title III of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008. NSP is a component of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG). The CDBG regulatory structure is the platform used to implement NSP and the HOME program provides a safe harbor for NSP affordability requirements (US Department of Housing and Urban Development).
Haiti Update - Six Months Later
July 16, 2010Roswell, GA - Six months after a devastating earthquake hit Port-au-Prince, the capital of Haiti, many Haitians are still struggling to find normalcy in their everyday lives. Of the 1.5 million Haitians who were displaced by the earthquake, only 28,000 currently have permanent shelter. Habitat for Humanity is working to greatly increase that number while providing temporary shelter and additional aid.
Over the next five years, Habitat for Humanity aims to serve 50,000 earthquake-affected families, helping Haitians move towards safer, more secure, permanent places to call home. Habitat has already provided over 21,000 emergency shelter kits to homeless Haitian families and is building 70 transitional shelters per week. Transitional shelters are either recyclable – made from materials that can be reused in a permanent home – or can be upgraded to become permanent houses over time. Habitat has also been entrusted with doing structural damage assessments in affected houses. Habitat engineers have completed 2,000 assessments—advising families whether their home is livable, needs repairs or should be demolished. To view Habitat’s six month report Progress in Haiti, click here.
How you can help
- Text "Haiti" to 25383 to make a $10 donation to Habitat's efforts in Haiti.*
- Create a donation page and invite your friends, family, and colleagues to help you reach $2,500, which is the amount it takes to help Habitat establish a permanent home for a Haitian family.
- Donate online at www.habitat.org.
- Leverage your social networks by updating your Facebook page and tweeting about support for Habitat's recovery efforts. Connect with Habitat in social media to get the latest information.
- Help raise awareness and funds by inserting banner ads into your blogs or personal Web sites. To download a banner, visit Earthquake Recovery - Web banners.
A Reminder About Volunteering in Haiti
Conditions on the ground in Haiti make it unsafe for volunteer at this time. As soon as conditions are more favorable, volunteers will be recruited on Habitat for Humanity International's website at www.habitat.org. It will likely be months rather than weeks before a significant number of volunteers can be sent to Haiti. To be kept up to date on the volunteer situation in Haiti, complete the volunteer interest survey.
*A one-time donation of $10 will be added to your mobile phone bill or deducted from your prepaid balance. Messaging and data rates may apply. All charges are billed by and payable to your mobile service provider. Service is available on most carriers. Donations are collected for the benefit of Habitat for Humanity International by the Mobile Giving Foundation and subject to the terms found at http://mobilegiving.org/?page_id=18. You can unsubscribe at any time by replying STOP to short code "25383." Reply HELP to "25383" for help.
Habitat Homeowner Survey
June 25, 2010In February 2010 surveys were mailed to 169 Habitat for Humanity-North Central Georgia partner families. All partner families currently live in a Habitat home. Homeowners in queue were not included. Some partner families moved into their home over 10 years ago while others less than 10 months ago. The purpose of the survey was to see how partner families’ lives have changed since they moved into their homes. Participation in the survey was voluntary, and every family who returned a survey by March 12th was entered into a drawing for a $150 Walmart gift card. The survey consisted of four focus areas: Habitat in the community, family life, finances, and neighborhood. There were 55 families who completed the survey.
Some of the key findings from the report included:
- 83.6% of partner families are satisfied with the quality of their home.
- 60% of partner families said their children’s performance in school improved after moving into their home.
- 45.5% of partner families have tried to further their own education since becoming a homeowner.
- 81.8% of partner families believe becoming a homeowner changed their financial future.
- The percentage of partner families currently receiving financial assistance from the government is 31% less than the percentage of partner families who received financial assistance before becoming a homeowner.
- 89.1% of partner families believe they could not have purchased a home without the help of Habitat.
- 79% is the graduation rate among partner families’ children. The Georgia graduation rate for economically disadvantaged students in 2009 was 67% (Department of Education).
- 35% of partner families’ adult children are attending or have graduated from college.
Click here to view the complete report.
Habitat for Humanity Named 8th Largest Homebuilder
June 22, 2010Habitat for Humanity was named the 8th largest residential homebuilder and the largest private homebuilder on Builder magazine’s 2009 Builder 100 List. Habitat for Humanity moved up three spots on the residential homebuilder list from their 2008 standing of 11th. Habitat for Humanity International and Habitat for Humanity affiliates closed on 5,294 homes in 2009, which was a 5 percent decrease from 2008. Joining Habitat for Humanity in the top 10 were D.R. Horton, Pulte Homes, Lennar Corp., NVR, KB Home, Centex Corp., Hovnanian Enterprises, The Ryland Group, Beazer Homes USA, and Meritage Homes Corp. Habitat for Humanity was the only top 10 residential homebuilder whose number of closings did not decrease more than 20% in 2009.
Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry that works with God and people everywhere, from all walks of life, to build and renovate homes for low-income families how would not otherwise be able to afford one. People of all backgrounds, races, and religions are invited to work in partnership with Habitat. Through volunteer labor and donations of money and materials, Habitat builds and rehabilitates simple, decent houses alongside homeowner (partner) families.
To view Builder magazine’s 2009 Builder 100 list, visit www.builderonline.com/builder100/2009.aspx.
Local Women Build Houses for Mother's Day Initiative
May 12, 2010Alpharetta, Georgia - In the days leading up to Mother's Day, more than 200 construction crews of women volunteers across the country are pounding nails and raising walls at Habitat for Humanity construction sites in all 50 states in recognition of National Women Build Week, May 1 - 9. In North Central Georgia, local women volunteers helped build a home for Erin Adams and her daughter.
Developed through the partnership between Lowe's and Habitat for Humanity, National Women Build Week challenges women to devote one day to the effort to eliminate poverty housing. The event is an initiative of Habitat for Humanity's Women Build program, underwritten by Lowe's, which recruits, educates and nurtures women to build and advocate for simple, decent and affordable houses in their communities.
Grammy-award-winning gospel recording artist and radio morning show host Yolanda Adams and New York Times best-selling author Julie Edelman helped launch National Women Build Week. Adams built with local women in Houston on April 29, while Edelman, author of "The Accidental Housewife: How to Overcome Housekeeping Hysteria One Task at a Time" and "The Ultimate Accidental Housewife: Your Guide to a CLEAN-ENOUGH House," built May 4 and 5 with women volunteers in Paterson, N.J.
Habitat for Humanity-North Central Georgia's Women Build Day took place on Saturday, May 8. Female employees from Lowe's worked alongside Ms. Adams to paint the interior of her home, which will be completed on June 19, 2010. Lowe's conducted a training clinic on hand and power tools for Habitat homeowners and Women Build volunteers one week prior to Women Build Day.
"It's so great to have a build day focused on women," explains Colleen Fogarty, deputy development director. "The Lowe's volunteers and the other women volunteers are committed to the effort of eliminating poverty housing, and they are eager to help out."
Lowe's is providing Habitat for Humanity - North Central Georgia a $5,000 Lowe's store gift card, as well as in-store volunteer training, in support of this one-day build. Nationwide, Lowe's committed more than $1 million to National Women Build Week, providing grants and event support materials to 200 participating affiliates. This is a major initiative of Lowe's five-year, $20 million pledge to Habitat, a commitment including underwriting of the Women Build program, as well as providing construction know-how at in-store clinics and build sites, and funding for a variety of Habitat projects across the country.
"Lowe's has been the proud sponsor of Habitat's Women Build program since 2004. This innovative program encourages women from all walks of life to pick up their hammers and build homes alongside Habitat partner families," said Larry D. Stone, Lowe's president and COO and chairman of the Lowe's Charitable and Educational Foundation. "2010 marks the third anniversary of National Women Build Week. Lowe's salutes the more than 11,000 engaged women who have volunteered on Habitat jobsites across the U.S. during National Women Build Week to help bring an end to poverty housing."
Meet Mary
May 3, 2010Habitat for Humanity-North Central Georgia has appointed Mary Lamond as the Lanier Area Director, serving Forsyth and Dawson Counties. Mary is succeeding Jackie Johnson, who is retiring at the end of June.
Mary has served for the past eight years as Executive Director of Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) in Forsyth County, a non-profit organization providing child advocates for the local juvenile court. Mary has been recognized as one of the Women of Forsyth by the Forsyth County News and serves as a board member for Leadership Forsyth. She has also been involved with Habitat in Forsyth County for many years as a volunteer on the Family Selection Committee.
Mary Lamond stated, "Volunteering with Habitat for Humanity over the last several years has been rewarding. I am looking forwarding to joining the communities of Forsyth & Dawson Counties in continuing this important work. The opportunity to help others realize their dream of home ownership through Habitat for Humanity is very exciting."
Russ Hayes, the Chief Executive Officer of Habitat-North Central Georgia, said: "Although it will be difficult to replace Jackie, we are excited that Mary will be joining us. Jackie has become the ‘face of our ministry' in our Lanier Area, but Mary's outstanding background and experience are a near perfect fit for her new role. While we are challenged in this economy, we are confident that Mary can build upon our past success and grow our ministry in the local community."
Chile Update
March 18, 2010In the early morning hours of Feb. 27, 2010, a devastating 8.8-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Chile, 200 miles southwest of Santiago. Early reports indicate approximately 500,000 homes sustained considerable damage, and 2 million people have been affected by the quake.
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Join us in praying for the best-but preparing for the worst. Please help by making a secure online donation today. | |
Habitat's response in Chile
While the assessments are just beginning, we know that this devastating earthquake will leave many low-income families homeless.
We will respond to this earthquake and help low-income families by building new homes and repairing existing homes.
Our ability to respond effectively to this disaster will require support from donors, volunteers, churches, corporate partners and other community organizations.
Our staff in Chile is ready to help those affected rebuild their homes and their lives.
Habitat for Humanity Chile has helped more than 3,500 families with adequate housing since 1998 and has extensive training in working in disaster recovery.
Please support the victims in Chile with an emergency gift today.
Many of you made generous donations just weeks ago when the 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck Haiti. Habitat is hard at work there today, planning to serve 50,000 Haitian families with shelter solutions.
But the earthquake in Chile demands our response too, as the damage is certain to be extensive and we need your help. Please donate online to help us repair and rebuild in Chile.
Thank you for your help during this critical time.
