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Habitat for Humanity

Habitat for Humanity – NCG was formed in 1995, and has provided nearly 300 homes for hard-working, low income families that are able to demonstrate that they can be responsible homeowners (HFHNCG, 2014). The mission is to put God’s love into action, and end poverty housing (HFH, 2014). The organization is a Christian non-profit that serves North Fulton, Cherokee, and Forsyth Counties, and provides no interest loans to deserving families. The goal is to provide a support system for families in need, and build relationships that result in the creation of community. To qualify for assistance, families must earn between 30% and 60% of the Atlanta area median income and purchase their homes from Habitat, which provides them with a 30-year, no-interest loan. They must also attend six educational classes and perform a minimum of 200 sweat equity hours towards the building of their home, and the homes of others.

In addition to building new homes, Habitat for Humanity – NCG also rehabilitates homes through their Community Investment Program. The purpose of this program is to help homeowners that have been affected by disability, age or other circumstances, to maintain their homes. The maintenance includes lowering energy bills, making critical repairs, and or exterior repairs. The goal is to keep families living in their homes as homeowners, with pride and dignity. Habitat – NCG also operates ReStore. Similar to Goodwill, ReStore collects donations of new and gently used goods. However, from linen to appliances, ReStore only collects household items that can be used to furnish and repair homes.

There are three office locations associated with Habitat for Humanity – North Central Georgia: Roswell, the main office, Cumming and Canton. You can speak with anyone in the offices and they will be happy to sign you up to volunteer, or walk you through the process of home ownership. Operating from the Roswell office, Russell Hayes is the Chief Executive Officer, followed by Colleen Fogarty, Resource Development Director. Sarah Cutright also holds the title of Resource Development Director. Sabrina Kirkland is the Manager of Faith Relations & Community Investment. Dede Allen is the Property Acquisition Manager, and Velyna Johnson is the Finance Manager. Kristyn Johnson is the Events & Grants Manager. Dave McLaughlin is the Site Development Manager and Lee Presto is the Director of Construction. Greg Pease is the Purchasing Manager. In the Cumming location, Mary Lamond acts as the Director of Family Services, and Bob Gorrie is the Field Construction Supervisor. In the Canton office, Kevin Helliwell is the Construction Manager, and Laura Cutlip is the out-going ReStore Manager (HFHNCG, 2014).

Habitat for Humanity – NCG is only one of many affiliates around the world, of Habitat for Humanity International. Although each affiliate modifies its policies and guidelines according to their needs, all affiliates operate under the umbrella of Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI), and must abide by all the standards set forth there-in, which include paying fees and tithes. HFHI has put faith into action by building new homes, and renovating and repairing homes. They also partner with others from Home Depot to Cuba, for example, to help broaden the accessibility of affordable housing in an effort to break the cycle of poverty. Further, HFHI believes that decent affordable housing is a basic human right, and advocates for just and fair housing policy to “eliminate the constraints that contribute to poverty housing” (CUM, 2014).

The concept for HFHI began in 1942 in Americus, Georgia, at Koinonia Farm. This farm; actually an interracial Christian community, was run by Clarence Jordan, a biblical scholar. When Linda Fuller and her husband Millard visited the community in 1965, they, together with Clarence Jordan developed the concept of “partnership housing,” in which people in need of decent housing would work side by side with volunteers to help build their own homes. A revolving fund called “The Fund for Humanity” would be established to finance the homes; no interest would be charged, and no profit would be gained. Money for the fund would come from house payments, fundraising, and no interest loans from supporters; all to be used to build more houses (HFH, 2014).

Habitat for Humanity first gained national attention when President and Mrs. Carter took their first Habitat work trip called the Jimmy Carter Work Project, in New York City. Today, thousands of low-income families are living in decent affordable homes, thanks to HFHI and all of its supporters.

The policies at Habitat – NCG were originally adapted from Habitat for Humanity International, and modified only slightly for Habitat for Humanity – North Central Georgia. All policies appear to be well written express that there is no discrimination allowed when deciding who will benefit by getting assistance from Habitat for Humanity. Applicants need only to meet the income eligibility guidelines (30% - 60% median income for metro Atlanta), be U.S. citizens or permanent residents, live or work in Dawson, Cherokee, Forsyth, Cobb, Fulton, Gwinnett, DeKalb, Clayton, Fayette, or Henry County; have a need (live in substandard or over crowed or over priced housing), show ability to pay for a house, be willing to help build it, attend homeowner classes, and contribute a minimum down payment of $1,200.

Nationally and Internationally, Habitat for Humanity keeps abreast of policies that affect homeownership, and community development, and asks housing regulators and legislators to continue to increase their support for affordable housing in an effort to completely eliminate poverty housing (U.S.NW, 2003). The ultimate goal is to increase the number of families that have access to decent and affordable housing around the world. To date, with the help of its many affiliates, Habitat for Humanity International has built more than 800,000 decent affordable homes around the world (U.S. NW, 2002).

References

Canada News Wire (2005). Former US President Jimmy Carter Dedicates Six Habitat for Humanity Homes in Windsor, Ontario. Retrieved from: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/habitat-for-humanity-jimmy-carter-team-up-to-build-75-homes-in-edmonton-area-1.3789249

Close Up Media (2014). Habitat for Humanity International and Home Depot Foundation Introduce 2014 Repair Corps Program. Retrieved from: https://www.habitat.org/newsroom/01-14-2014-THDF-Repair-Corps

Fullilove MT, Fullilove RE (2002). What’s Housing Got to Do With It? Am J Public Health. Retrieved from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3222229/

Habitat for Humanity. Retrieved from: http://www.habitat.org/how/mission_statement.aspx

Habitat for Humanity: The History of Habitat. Retrieved from: http://www.habitat.org/how/historytext.aspx

By Donna R. Turner, MPH, CHES