Spotlight
Fall 2024
DRS volunteers flourishing. DRS staff provide quality experiences for volunteers to make a real difference in the lives of hurting people. It’s even more exciting when volunteers invite their community to join this experience with them!
We want to help you flourish by volunteering with World Renew Disaster Response Services, and we encourage you to invite others to volunteer with you! Together, we can share the love of Christ by reconciling lives to truly flourish.
Repairing homes after disasters through World Renew’s Disaster Response Services (DRS) has been vital for many decades in our organization’s journey.
But when national housing challenges are present, a disaster can mean utter chaos for survivors. Reportedly, there is a housing shortage of an estimated 4 to 7 million units in the United States. Not to mention, the effects of inflation and price gouging on the average person often push the goal of buying a home out of reach. And when home ownership doesn’t pan out, meeting income requirements for rent can be a challenge when those costs have reached all-time highs. Thankfully, our partners have noted these issues and are creating solutions to support their community’s housing resiliency. One example of this is the Mayfield Graves Long Term Recovery Group (LTRG) in Mayfield, Kentucky.
After an EF-4 tornado hit Mayfield, Kentucky, in late 2021, there was a huge recovery process for the community to undertake. The tornado damaged or destroyed more than 3,778 residences, which is nearly 77 percent of the community’s total housing units. Rentals in Mayfield, which make up most of available housing, are just starting to be
rebuilt in 2024 thanks to newly available funding.
Thankfully, the Mayfield Graves LTRG saw that the tornado greatly amplified the county’s affordable housing shortage, causing survivors to live in travel trailers, hotel rooms, or to sleep on the floors and couches of family and friends. This led to the creation of a non-profit called New Lease on Life, which offers permanent housing and home ownership to local 2021 tornado survivors.
New Lease on Life (NLOL) purchases vacant, damaged homes in the area and, with help from the Mayfield Graves LTRG, utilizes volunteers and partners to make necessary repairs and renovations. Once these improvements are completed, a tornado survivor has the option to lease the property at a discounted rate for one year. During this lease period, they complete classes in home ownership and financial management through New Lease on Life. After a year of preparation, making on-time rent payments, and completing home maintenance, an amazing part of the survivor’s journey takes
place when they can purchase their repaired home at NLOL’s purchase price!
The New Lease on Life program doesn’t just repair homes for disaster survivors, but provides a path towards a sustainable, hopeful future. Laura, an army veteran, took shelter in her bathroom when the tornado hit. The tornado’s strength caused her neighbor’s home to be picked up and thrown into her home. After the tornado passed, she had to be dug out from under the debris by her family. Unfortunately, this displacement caused Laura to experience homelessness for some time before eventually staying with her daughter. But thanks to New Lease on Life, she now has a forever home.
“I’m very grateful to New Lease on Life for this new home! I always celebrate with others who receive their new house when their time comes as well. I tell everyone to be thankful for what you have; I know what it is to lose everything and have to start over.”
As an organization committed to reconciling lives, the boundaries of World Renew’s disaster response ministry are broadening in an ever-changing world. Thank you for supporting DRS to be the hands and feet of Jesus in disaster-impacted communities in North America.
