Seasons Greetings from your leader in affordable housing 2018-12 * December NewsConnect
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Happy Holidays! Houston Habitat had an awesome year! It was because of the people who work here. They make this organization a place where hope thrives. While supporting our mission and building homes, the construction staff carved out a huge niche to help neighbors still in need of repair from homes damaged by Hurricane Harvey. On Thanksgiving Day, we received a letter from a homeowner that just wanted to thank us for rebuilding her garage. She would have had no way of getting the work done herself. The note was on a simple handwritten card, but it meant the world to us. And when a homeowner got laid off with seemingly nowhere to turn, our Mortgage staff found assistance through partnering agencies and helped that homeowner get back on their feet and caught up with their mortgage. Helping homeowners even after they purchase their house is a part of keeping neighborhoods strong. Our staff works hard every day with one goal: to help as many Houstonians as they can gain the dignity and pride of owning their own home. Making homes affordable is key. And with partners like Reliant, giving new homeowners a hand up with a jumpstart on utilities, we come closer to making it possible. We really did have an awesome year. The recovery has been all consuming; and there is still a long way to go. Support from fellow Houstonians and people from all over the globe keep us going. We thank you. And from our family to yours, we wish you the happiest of holidays, the merriest of Christmas and a very Happy New Year!
Even our Receptionist Yolanda is in on the game! With an attentive ear and compassion, people in need get directed to the help they seek
This year we broke ground for our first pier and beam foundation home! A plan 2 years in the making, Houston Habitat will begin to explore this model in the Settegast neighborhood. Pier and beam foundation is an alternative to slab or basement foundation, and offers more stability in shifting soils. This elevation will also protect homes from flooding and moisture. Long time housing partner Brentwood Baptist Church became the first builder of our inaugural pier and beam home. We are very excited about building resilient and sustainable homes for Houstonians, and thank our partners for making this happen.
Brentwood Building with Love Fall build 2018
POWER IT FORWARD
Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson and Reliant join forces to power Houston.
At the start of the New Year, twentyfive families will walk into their new homes with an edge up on maintaining affordability. That’s because Reliant and Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson have partnered with Houston Habitat to “Power it Forward!” Reliant will power these Houston Habitat homes for the first year of ownership, offering families a bill credit of up to $150 per month. This initiative is enhanced by Reliant’s partnership with Google; furthering sustainability by outfitting these homes with a suite of Nest Smart Home products. Our Houston Habitat homes are ENERGY STAR rated, so homeowners will also benefit from sustainable, energy-efficient design and construction, resulting in reduced energy consumption.
Help Power it Forward
Reliant will also power two Houston Habitat ReStore locations for one year, reducing operating costs for our retail stores where sale proceeds help build more homes in Houston.
TEAM UP! Reliant and Deshaun Watson have also teamed up for the Reliant Texans Plan, a 12-month electricity plan that provides a $25 donation split between Houston Habitat for Humanity and the Houston Texans Foundation for every customer that signs up, as well as a Deshaun Watson jersey and an invitation to an exclusive VIP event with the quarterback. Sign up now for the Reliant Texans Plan
Just recently, Reliant sponsored a full house build and volunteers came out in November to help get the build started. In fact, one of the Reliant employees that participated grew up in a Houston Habitat home. Her participation gave her a full circle feeling of giving back!
Reliant Build Day at Houston Habitat
Help Power it Forward Donate today!
A letter from our Global partner, Habitat Haiti On behalf of the team in Haiti, thank you for your recent tithe contribution to Habitat for Humanity Haiti. Your support is critical in helping us serve Haitian families and we are grateful for your contribution. As 2018 comes to an end, we are happy to share the important progress we have made. To date Habitat Haiti has:
A home being built in the south as part of Hurricane Matthew recovery
Repaired the homes of 346 individuals in Nippes which sustained damage during Hurricane Matthew in October 2016. Provided training to construction workers who built 180 homes in Pestel, Corail, and Les Irois through a partnership with the European Union, IOM, CESVI, and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, as part of Hurricane Matthew recovery efforts. Plans are underway to build additional homes! Facilitated the installation of 172 solar lamps and 948 street signs in Canaan, an area of land north of Port-au-Prince, which has rapidly transformed into Haiti’s fourth largest city. These neighborhood development projects are vital to the creation of safe, functional communities. Continued our important work around sanitation and hygiene by distributing 500 hygiene kits and training 9,946 individuals in hygiene practices.
It has been a tremendous year, and we are excited to continue these projects in 2019. Thank you again for your continued partnership and prayers. We could not do it without you! Wishing you a happy new year, Anna Oltmann and the Haiti team
Photo: Natalie Nuce | Habitat for Humanity International
Coming soon: Global Village trips to Guatemala and the Dominican Republic! Check back on our website for details
The future of 2019 Esther joined the program for a better future. “My family is getting older and is not financially equipped to take care of themselves alone. I want to plan for the future and make sure my money is being invested instead of going down the drain renting something that will never be my own.” By partnering with us to buy a home, families who may not be able to afford a home otherwise, have an opportunity to buy a home with mortgage they can afford to pay.
This season, you can partner with us too by making a gift to Houston Habitat. Your donation will help more Houstonians gain safe, affordable housing. Applicants are provided financial literacy and homeowner classes that guide them to be responsible property owners. Esther points out that our training prepares people for success, “Houston Habitat helped me discover areas in my life that I need to improve on such as budgeting without any judgment and learning more about the importance of my credit score.” Esther says she is eager, excited, and ready for the challenge of homeownership.
With declining rates of homeownership in Houston, revitalizing our neighborhoods and increasing access to homeownership is more important than ever. Please join me today by donating to Houston Habitat for Humanity. Together we can build much needed stability through affordable housing for more Houstonians. With gratitude, Allison Hay, Executive Director Houston Habitat for Humanity
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We build strength, stability and self-reliance through shelter.
Houston Habitat for Humanity 3750 N. McCarty Street Houston, TX 77029 houstonhabitat.org