One Nail at a Time, Spring 2010
Welcome to our very first electronic newsletter. We hope you enjoy this cost effective, environmentally friendly method of receiveing information about our affiliate. Please feel free to share this information with your friends and invite them to stay current with the happenings at our affiliate. 2010 is off to an exciting start so please read on for details!
Habitat for Humanity of York County would like to extend our Congratulations to Annie Moore. Our FIRST homeowner to complete the payment of her 20 year mortgage!
Faith Build Kicks off 2010
Angelia Alexander and her three daughters (pictured on the right) are partnering with thirteen York County churches to help build their home in Crawford Woods. Angelia’s home will be the 5th house in our subdivision located in Rock Hill on the corner of Crawford and Irwin Street. Once completed, Crawford Woods will be home to 11 Habitat homeowners.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development defines affordable
housing as that which residents pay no more than 30 percent of their
annual income. Families who pay more than 30 percent, are
considered to be cost burdened and may have difficulty affording other
necessities such as food, transportation and medical care. Angie
qualified based on her currently paying 52 percent of her income toward
housing. Once she moves into her Habitat home, 23 percent of her
income will be spent on housing. A major difference in this
families life!
Habitat is looking for Churches to participate in next year’s Faith Build. Call the office for more information.
ReStore to Expand
Expansion of our ReStore has begun! After only 2 years at our new location, we are set to add a total of 6,500 square feet to the back of our exisitng building. With this expansion, our popular ReStore will be able to carry more building supplies than it has in the past. The addition will include separate office space for the affiliate staff, currently located in downtown Rock Hill.
The ReStore has received phenomenal support from the community. “Because of their support we are able to expand, which, in turn will help us to build more houses” says Lori Benson, Executive Director.
HFHI Disaster Response Update:
Haiti and Chile
Chile Recovery Update:
About two weeks after the earthquake in Chile, HFH Chile began construction on the first 20 Habitat homes after the February 27 devastating earthquake. The first homes—basic but permanent housing units that are expandable over time—will go to families who had been approved and were awaiting new Habitat homes or home repairs before the earthquake claimed their Habitat homes. While thousands of homes were destroyed, the 6,000 plus homes that Habitat Chile had built were not among them. According to Kip Scheidler, senior director of Global Disaster Response for Habitat for Humanity International, “no (Habitat) house suffered structural damage and only a handful suffered minor, surface damage.” Habitat Chile will use Habitat’s core house design.
Haiti Recovery Update:
Staff from Habitat for humanity International and Habitat Haiti continue to gear up for an effort that eventually will serve shelter needs of 50,000 families affected by the January 12 earthquake that killed more than 300,000 and left an estimated 1.5 million people homeless. Test builds are underway for transitional shelter designs, core house construction sites are being scouted, and work has begun for assembling an additional 13,250 emergency shelter kits.
At least 90 U.S. Habitat affiliates in at least 37 states are responding to the challenge to help Haiti. Though the affiliate donation total is not yet known, numerous affiliates have committed proceeds from a day, a week or a month of ReStore sales to Habitat’s recover efforts in Haiti. Affiliates on the U.S. Gulf Coast, still themselves recovering from the devastating effects of hurricanes Katrina and Rita, have been particularly supportive of the work in Haiti. In Slidell, LA., for example East St. Tammany Habitat hosted a special fund raiser.
Thank You Lowe’s !
Major Grant Supports Women Build 2010
Women Build 2010 begins on April 10 thanks to a major grant from Lowe’s Home Improvement. The grant we received is a “challenge grant.” The affiliate is expected to match the $37,500 with other grants, individual donations, or corporate sponsorships. So far, grants were awarded from State Farm Insurance and Junior Welfare League. Corporate sponsorships include South Carolina Bank and Trust and custom home builder, Evans Coghill Homes.
In addition to other private donations, three York County churches are also providing financial support: St.John’s United Methodist Church, Neely’s Creek ARP, and Unity Presbyterian. With the financial sponsorship comes the opportunity to assist with construction.
What is Women Build?
Women Build is Habitat’s volunteer program for women who want to learn construction skills and make a positive impact in the community for which they live and work. Women who volunteer for Habitat rarely return for a second time. Perhaps it’s because female volunteers are usually involved with the supplemental work of home building such as painting, landscaping, and clean up. Most women seldom take part in the construction itself. The Women Build encourages women to take part in the actual construction process and to ultimately become regular Habitat construction volunteers. Women in particular are very concerned about the health and well-being of children who live in sub-standard housing. Habitat allows them this opportunity to address their concerns and to help families purchase an affordable home they can call their own. Most importantly, they improve the lives of children.
Women Build is an annual event. For information about Women Build 2011,call the Habitat office at 328-1728. Lowe’s in Rock Hill will offer hands-on clinics for Women Build crew leaders April 10th & 24th. Interested? Call 328-1728.
Our Women Build Sponsors Include:
Reflections of Habitat’s Global Work: Building a Habitat House in Guatemala. by Sally Herlong, Board President
Beginning in October 2005 after Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast, I began taking trips to D’Iberville, MS to help in the recovery and restoration. It even became somewhat addictive – I couldn’t stop going while work still needed to be done. After seven trips over 3 years, our job was complete in D’Iberville – the remainder of healing belonged with the citizens of that community.
Soon after, I was asked to serve on the Board of our local Habitat for Humanity affiliate. I was quick to accept the call because I realized there was plenty of work and reparation to do right here in York County. It has been another eye-opening experience for me. Not too long ago, I started feeling a strong call from God to go on another mission trip. I was at a networking meeting for Habitat in Davidson, NC when a small group of people began to discuss how life-changing their Global Village trips had been. The Our Towns (Davidson area) Habitat affiliate Executive Director mentioned a group going to Guatemala in February. I immediately raised my hand and asked, “Can I please go?” A mission trip, affiliated with an organization near and dear to my heart, to an impoverished Latin American country was the call I had been waiting for.
On January 30, we were set to go. The weather was bleak, the snow started falling, and the first leg of our flight was cancelled. Not a problem. Our group of 24 (including, June Kay and Wes Martin, current and former HFHYC Board members) hitched a bus to Atlanta. On February 1, we flew into Guatemala City and spent the first night in Antigua.
The next day we took a bus and a van to the eastern side of the country to Puerto Barrios near the Caribbean coast. There we split up into 3 groups, went to 3 different sites, and began assisting a mason in building a concrete block, 4-room home. We used nothing more than shovels, wheel barrows, pliers, trowels and a few other basic tools – and the sweat of our brow! The future homeowner and family assisted – building in partnership with the mason and us volunteer “gringos.”
I was taken aback by the harsh conditions of area where we were building. Most existing homes were put together by piecemealed sheets of rusted corrugated metal, very little or no plumbing, surrounded by trash thrown on the ground (there was no garbage truck or dump for disposal to my knowledge), no roads, only ruts. Living conditions were primitive.
We worked hard, socialized, and grew. A group of 24 diverse volunteers, ranging from 17 to 91 years old, males and females, became a cohesive commune and we experienced God working through us – and with the people of Guatemala. Each and every one was committed to the mission of Habitat for Humanity – to eliminate substandard housing in our communities and in the world.
Photo info Left - to right:
Top Row: 1. This is what our team started with. 2. The
start of Day 4 (get ready for this!) - so we need to fill each of the
rooms to the top of those first 2 blocks with dirt. 3. What dirt? From the side of the mountain, of course! 4. you haul it down in a very rickety, small wheelbarrow...
Bottom Row 1.... wheel it up the ramp, and dump it in... and then you "tamp" it down with your feet while your boots are practically sucked off your feet by the clay. Whew! 2. and this is how we left it after 1/3 day work on Friday. 3. The "A" Team at the end of the week. And, 4. a previously completed Habitat house in Puerto Barrios.
While we were exhausted, we were exhilarated. While we were physically drained, we were spiritually filled. I want to extend a call for you to “experience” Habitat for Humanity – to serve on a committee, to meet the families, witness their current living conditions, partner in teaching them how to be a homeowner rather than a renter, or in the building of their homes. Join us at a groundbreaking or a ceremony where we turn the keys over to the homeowner along with a Bible and plenty of hugs. I dare say your life will be richer – our community will be better – our world a better place to live and grow and to love.
Habitat for Humanity: An Overview
Housing Ministry
Through volunteer labor and tax-deductible donations of money and materials, Habitat for Humanity of York County builds homes with the help of homeowners who contribute through their sweat equity commitment of a minimum of 200 hours per adult family members.
Houses are then sold at no profit to partner families and zero-interest mortgage are issued over 20 years. Currently, a three bedroom Habitat house is sold to families for $68,000; a four bedroom for $78,000. The monthly mortgage amount of approximately $385 - $425./mo includes principal, taxes and insurance.
The mortgage payments are deposited into a revolving “Fund for Humanity” which supports the construction of more houses. Habitat serves as its own mortgage company, servicing all of our mortgage loans. To date we have built 41 homes in York County. Below left is a 1,100 sq ft 3 bedroom home in Clover, below right is a 1,440 sq ft 4 bedroom home in Rock Hill.
Family Support
Habitat for Humanity of York County provides home ownership preparation and on-going family support to our partner families. Prospective homeowners must first attend an orientation that details our program and application process.
The Family Selection Committee then screens the application and approves applicants based on level of need, their willingness to become partners in the program and their ability to repay a zero-interest mortgage. The next step is an in-home visit by members of our Family Selection Committee. Habitat for Humanity follows a non-discrimination policy of family selection. Neither race nor religion is a factor in choosing the families to purchase Habitat houses. Once selected, the family begins accumulating sweat equity hours by working at the build site, at affiliate functions or in the ReStore.
ReStore
As a result of Habitat’s involvement in the construction of homes, builders, manufacturers and individuals from the region frequently offered to donate used or surplus building materials. Initially, some of the materials received did not match the specific construction needs of Habitat and were discarded. In August 2003, the ReStore was established to provide all of the services necessary for reclaiming, recycling and reusing building materials to “do-it-yourself” customers in the York County area at greatly reduced prices.
The ReStore is the only entity in the York County area that provides the reuse/recycling services mentioned and offers an inventory of materials and supplies for sale to the general public. Additional inventory includes furniture, appliances, light fixtures, and decorative household items.
The ReStore operates at 825 N. Anderson Road and open for business to the general public Tuesday through Friday 10 to 5; and Saturday from 9 to 5. We will pick up large items! For information about donating to the ReStore call Ed DeBruyne at 324-1960.
Would you or someone you know qualify for a Habitat Home?
All prospective homeowners are required to attend a one-hour Homeowner Orientation meeting. Monthly meetings are held at the Habitat office located at 122 S. Confederate Avenue in Rock Hill. The upcoming Homeowner Orientation schedule: Monday, April 19, 7 p.m., Saturday, May 15, 10 a.m. or Monday, June 21, 7 p.m. For more information, please call Penny Sheppard at 328-1728.
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Interested in learning more about Habitat? Invite us to speak at your school, civic group, church or business. Call 328-1728 or email habitatom@comporium.net for more information.
Our Vision
Build a sense of community by eliminating substandard housing in York County through: education, homeownership, and self-sufficiency.
Our Mission
HFHYC is a not-for-profit, Christian-based housing ministry. We build affordable housing in partnership with qualified families and the community.
Staff
Lori Benson, Executive Director - Ed DeBruyne, ReStore Manager - Penny Sheppard, Family Services Coordinator - Leigh Anne Gravley, Accountant - Robby Moody, Construction Coordinator. Contact us at: hfhyc@comporium.net
http://www.yorkcountyhabitat.org