Habitat Receives $11,600 From VESTA Designer Home Showcase

The Summer 2010 VESTA Designer Home Showcase raised more than $11,600 for Habitat for Humanity of Greater Memphis, according to Memphis Area Homebuilders Association officials.

The Showcase, which was held in Germantown from June 19 to July 5, was supported by more than 150 Habitat volunteers. The Showcase also proved to be a success for the developer and builders, as all five homes were sold by July 5.

Memphis Habitat would like to extend a special thank you to all volunteers who gave their time to assist with the Summer Showcase. The Showcase would not have been such a huge success without your support!

-posted on July 28, 2010

Memphis Habitat to Participate in Habitat International's Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative

The NRI program, which was created by Habitat for Humanity International, encourages expansion of services to reach more families in need of decent, affordable housing.

Habitat for Humanity of Greater Memphis has been selected as one of 163 affiliates nationwide to participate in Habitat for Humanity International’s initial phase of its Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative. That effort will focus on improving housing conditions while partnering with other community organizations to provide services that enhance the overall quality of life across struggling neighborhoods.

“We’ve realized that to impact our community in a truly dynamic and holistic way, we needed to look beyond new house construction,” said Dwayne Spencer, executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Memphis. “We want to be able to reach out to other segments of the community where there are other housing problems that need be addressed.”

As part of the first phase, Memphis Habitat will receive training and guidance on how to revitalize communities through a variety of housing solutions and community development efforts.

In 2009, Habitat for Humanity International announced the formal launch of the Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative. The initiative encourages affiliates to serve more families and to create more resilient and sustainable communities by offering a variety of services in addition to new house construction.

“The affiliates selected to take part in the first phase of the Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative are a diverse group so that we can learn how NRI will work in as many different affiliate situations as possible,” said Larry Gluth, senior vice president of Habitat’s U.S. and Canada area office. “We’ll take lessons learned from this first phase and incorporate them as the program expands over time. The Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative adds another dimension to our mission of providing families with decent, affordable places to live.”

Through the initiative, Memphis Habitat will work with other community organizations to determine the projects that will be carried out locally. Habitat services may include new house construction, rehabilitation of vacant and foreclosed properties, house repairs for low-income homeowners, and weatherization to make houses more energy-efficient and affordable.

“If we are going to help families thrive in healthy neighborhoods, we have to direct some significant efforts into healing America’s troubled communities,” said Jonathan Reckford, CEO of Habitat for Humanity International. “These affiliates will work together to develop strategies and create strong networks that can address individual neighborhood issues.”

-posted on July 20, 2010

Habitat and Partners Welcome Five New Families Home

Ed and Sue Clark present keys to Gloria McMiller and her daughter Sharon Yates
at the Spring Home Dedication Ceremony on Saturday, June 26.

Plenty of smiles were visible on Saturday at the Habitat build site in the Raleigh community. The five partner families, their sponsors, volunteers, board members and staff were on-hand for the dedication of the new homes. Despite the blazing heat, guests enjoyed barbeque sponsored by the Fossil Fueled Porkers before they turned their attention to the dedication ceremony.

Ed Clark, a first-time home sponsor who spent all eight build days on-site, described the entire experience as a blessing for the homeowner family and for his family.

Spring home sponsors are as follows: Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC; Baptist Memorial Health Care; Bolton High School; Bike and Build; Buckeye Technologies, Inc.; Cargill, Inc.; Church of the Holy Spirit; Coast to Coast Solutions; Creative Product Source; Cummins, Inc.; Cummins Mid-South, LLC; Delta Air Lines; Ed and Sue Clark; Faith Presbyterian Church; GECAS Asset Management Services; Germantown High School; Germantown Presbyterian Church; Home Depot Foundation; Houston High School; Idlewild Presbyterian Church; International Paper; Judy Christa-Cathey; Lowe’s; MCR Safety; Medtronic Spinal and Biologics; Memphis Area Master Gardeners; Memphis Health Careers Academy; MLGW EcoBUILD; Pfizer; Raleigh Egypt High School; Regions Bank; Running Pony Productions; Square D; St. Agnes Academy; Sycamore View Church of Christ; Tennessee Housing Development Agency; Tennessee Tech; Trinity United Methodist Church; Valero Memphis Refinery; White Station High School; Women Build; Word of Faith Christian Academy; Wright Medical Technology, Inc.; Whirlpool, Yale Lock and Youth United.

For more information about sponsoring a Habitat home, please contact Jessica Neal at 901.761.4771, ext. 215.

To view pictures from the dedication ceremony, please click here.

-posted on June 29, 2010