Building Community - Memphis Habitat's FY2022 Impact Report

building community

FY22 Impact Report

mission

building community

When I look back and reflect on the past year, I see all the remarkable changes that we encountered and worked through together. We may not have physically built homes together last fall, but we still stayed connected through our “Building Community” webinars and craft projects. We encountered increased building expenses and labor shortages, but you kept supporting this work. And we pursued every opportunity we could to keep building homes with affordable mortgages in partnership with families in our community.

There were personal changes too, as our dear friend and Director of Construction Greg Webb, transitioned to the next life. Just a few months later, our first Habitat homebuyer Savannah Simmons, who bought her home in 1984, also passed away.

But there were also plenty of positive changes — like receiving our single largest donation from MacKenzie Scott. Her generosity and trust in us to use those funds to have the biggest local impact possible further affirms the good work we do, together, in our community.

We’ve expanded our team to support all the work we’re doing in the community. We’ve split off our Development department on its own to focus on our relationships with donors and sponsors and cultivate new friends to support our ongoing work. We’ve also created a new Research & Policy department to deepen relationships in the community, as well as build connections with the academic and public policy sectors to help us continue to grow our impact.

As I look to the future, I see incredible opportunities ahead. Next year will be one of our most important yet, both in terms of service and significance. More local families will be served through our Aging In Place and homebuying programs, and we’ll celebrate our 40-year history, together, in 2023. It’s amazing to think that for 40 years now people in our community have partnered with Habitat to build decent, affordable housing. You’ve helped make that possible.

I hope as you look through this report, you see the impact of your support and that you can envision your role as we work together to build a better future. Your support is absolutely vital to helping more families in our community build homes, communities, and hope.

I can’t wait to see what changes lie ahead for us,

building resilience

During my 12 months as board chair, I had the honor and privilege to work alongside the team of Memphis Habitat as they met challenges, changed direction, and kept moving forward.

Since volunteers were not allowed on build sites in 2021 due to COVID, staff, board, and volunteers came together for a series of virtual events to keep everyone engaged, share our construction progress, and have a lot of fun together.

We lost a dear friend and dedicated leader in Greg Webb, and while his tremendous absence continues to be felt, the team has worked diligently to carry on the mission that was so important to him — to build more homes and serve more families.

We unexpectedly received a generous gift from MacKenzie Scott, and the team immediately began planning how to strategically use this donation to maximize the positive impact to our community.

Change. Shift. Move forward. Change. Shift. Move forward. Regardless of the challenge presented, this team always meets it head on, while looking ahead to the future. I am so excited to see what they accomplish next, as they approach their 40th anniversary.

Thank you for allowing me to serve,

Dwayne Spencer President & CEO | Habitat for Humanity of Greater Memphis 901.322.3505 | dspencer@memphishabitat.com

Jonathan Hardin

Memphis Habitat Board Chair | 2021-2022

Seeking to put God’s love into action, Habitat for Humanity brings people together to build homes, communities, and hope. vision

A world where everyone has a decent place to live.

“We’d looked at other homes, and I just didn’t feel them. But when I crossed the threshold of our home — that was it. I felt it in my chest. My girls were jumping up and down all excited. I hollered out loud, ‘This is it. This is the one!’”

building stability

homebuyer program

Andreah had worked so diligently, picking out a home — her home — for her and her daughters in the same neighborhood where she grew up.

Andreah’s family lived with her grandparents in North Memphis. It was their family home, until her granny passed away in 2011. That’s when they realized she’d taken out an equity loan on the home they knew and loved, which now was no longer theirs.

“That was really hurtful for us,” Andreah shared. “That was our family home, but we all had to go our separate ways.”

After moving away following the losses of her mom, dad, and other family members, Andreah and her three girls wanted to come back. “Memphis is my home! There have been some comments about why would I want to move to North Memphis, but I’m from there. I love my community. Y’all are helping the neighborhood and making it better — I want to be part of that.”

Andreah joined our program in 2021 and bought her very own four-bedroom home in North Memphis in 2022. Her daughters are thrilled to have their own rooms to decorate, and her youngest loves playing in the yard!

Andreah is grateful for the support she received in building and buying a decent, affordable home through Habitat. A home she looks forward to passing on to her girls. “This is one of my dreams; this will be our family home.”

Memphis Habitat partners with local homebuyers who are unable to qualify for traditional mortgages due to income, but wish to make an investment in themselves and our community through homeownership. Upon completing our homebuyer education program and fulfilling all program requirements, homebuyers purchase their homes with affordable Habitat mortgages.

IN FY22:

new homes built and sold via affordable mortgages

recycled home sold via affordable mortgage 1 in 4

Habitat homebuyers are doing better at work.

1 in 4 parents are more engaged in their children’s education.

3 out of 4 parents feel more hopeful for their children’s trajectories.

2020-2022 Uptown/North Memphis homebuyer 1- and 3-year post-purchase surveys

— Andreah, recent homebuyer

building self-reliance aging in place program

Memphis Habitat’s Aging In Place (AIP) Program serves homeowners age 60 and older in Fayette and Shelby counties. Focusing on critical home repairs, accessibility improvements and mobility modifications, this program seeks to help older homeowners move around safely and independently inside their homes, and complete their daily routines more easily.

Gwen’s repair goals were all about safety and independence. After living in her home for 18 years, her roof was leaking; the siding was rotting; she was afraid of falling in the bathroom; and her attic ladder was unsafe.

Before learning about the Aging In Place program, Gwen thought she would have to try to get a loan to repair her roof but wasn’t sure if she could qualify.

A conversation with a neighbor led her to Habitat. “I knew they built homes, but I didn’t know they also help people to have a roof done.”

In early 2022, Gwen improved her home through the AIP program. She received a new roof; replaced some siding; and made accessibility modifications to her bathroom, including a sink faucet, chair-height toilet, handheld shower, and shower chair.

“My bathroom is more functional now. I’m not afraid to fall now. I can hold onto the handicapped bars when I get in and out of the shower. I also have a shower chair. If I feel a little weak, I can always sit down.” She says her first shower after the repairs was the best shower she’s ever had!

Since 2019, Memphis Habitat has also served as the lead agency for a statewide Aging In Place pilot program with multiple Habitat affiliates. By 2023, that project will serve more than 1,200 seniors across the state.

Gwen also feels much safer — and more independent — since Habitat replaced her rotting attic ladder with a new metal one and no longer fears getting trapped in the attic while home alone. She can do things on her own, which is exactly what she wants to do.

“Now I feel so much at ease. I am so thankful.

I really am … to have a new attic [ladder], a new bathroom. The outside looks great. I am so thankful to Habitat for that.”

“My independence is very important to me. To be able to move around and not worry about falling or slipping or anything like that.”

projects completed across Tennessee under Memphis Habitat’s oversight

IN FY22:

increased construction costs

$164,000

Average cost to build a new Habitat home in Memphis $135,000

Average appraisal of Memphis Habitat home at closing

It costs more to build a Habitat home than ever before. Supply chain disruptions and fluctuating material and labor costs continue to increase the time it takes to build homes and close mortgages. In order to keep homeownership affordable for Habitat homebuyers, we sell homes at appraised value — regardless of what it costs us to build. Because of the crucial support of donors and volunteers, we continue to fulfill our commitment to the families we serve.

volunteers

ReStore

building strength

Karen and her husband Joseph entered the Aging In Place program for help with replacing their roof, fixing their foundation, and some other repairs inside their home.

Receiving our call that they were accepted into the program came at a grim time, as Joseph received a terminal cancer diagnosis that same day. This only made the couple more determined to get the repairs moving and provide all their documentation as quickly as possible. “Eula and Treva from your team were so gracious;

they came all the way to his hospital room so we could provide signatures on some of the documents. They were so sweet about it, so kind, so respectful in helping us out.”

Each dollar invested in AIP services sees a return of 3.3 times that initial investment.

Since 2015, we estimate AIP has generated:

$.8 million utility bill savings

$17.7 million preserving neighborhood stability (appreciation values, taxes)

$11.7 million savings on blight-related services (fire, law enforcement, code)

$19.7 million reduced admission to long-term care facilities

$1.4 million preventing falls (medical cost savings)

Joseph passed away in June 2019 as the repair work was underway. Karen remarks they saw an immediate reduction on their utility bill after the roof was completed — a $100 monthly savings. She says the inspections were so thorough, the workers were so kind and fast, and they did an excellent job of communicating with them about the projects.

“I don’t think people realize the impact y’all have. They don’t really know the good work you do and how wonderful your team is with your clients.

A hard situation was a little easier because of the work you did. We had a whole pandemic, and I was able to stay in my home, safely, and comfortably.

I’m just so grateful for everything you did for me and my husband, and I’m happy to share that with anyone who will listen.”

April, recent homebuyer

100% of Habitat homebuyers had positive improvements on understanding and applying budgeting for monthly spending and costs.

92% had immediate improvements in monthly savings.

100% of Habitat homeowners are banked, don’t pay late fees on credit cards or overdraft fees, and shared they hadn’t dipped into savings at time of survey.

85% reported that they are less dependent on assistance (e.g. EBT, Family First) and feel they have more financial freedoms.

2020-2022 Uptown/North Memphis homebuyer 1- and 3-year post-purchase surveys

“The work your team did, changed our lives. My husband was able to pass with the peace of mind that I was taken care of.”

— Karen, AIP client

Habitat for Humanity of Greater Memphis launched a partnership with the Memphis and Shelby County Community Redevelopment Agency in 2011. The CRA oversees the Tax Increment Finance (TIF) District in and around Uptown Memphis and works to eliminate blight, improve infrastructure, and provide housing and community amenities.

Our partnership began with Habitat serving as a rehab consultant and has steadily grown to include new home construction and other initiatives, including Habitat for Humanity International’s 2016 Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project.

This ongoing partnership plays a pivotal role in our homeownership program. Through this relationship, we can concentrate new home construction in one community, working strategically to build homes on formerly vacant lots and create new homebuyers and taxpayers.

Much like Habitat’s homebuyers work toward a brighter future — so does our team, every day. New homes are under construction right now; future homebuyers are attending homebuyer education. Even more homes will be built and families will be served before the 40th anniversary year ends.

Memphis Habitat is creating a series of events to celebrate its 40th anniversary next year and use that momentum to launch the next multi-year strategic plan.

While this team certainly looks ahead to be bold and innovative, they stay grounded in the day-to-day work to make sure more families in our community have access to decent, affordable homebuying opportunities and vital repairs and modifications for older homeowners.

I hope, like me, you’re excited to see what we will accomplish — together — in the coming year. We have life-changing work to do, and we need you there every step of the way.

Together, we can shape a better future,

David Perry | Memphis Habitat Board Chair | 2022-2023