| Volunteer Opportunities | |
CONSTRUCTION
Saturday Opportunities
August 18,25
September 8,15
October 20, 27
Volunteer Now! |
| Volunteer Events
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AmeriCorps Welcome Lunch:
Tuesday, August 28
Volunteer Appreciation Picnic:
Sunday, September 23
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Special Thanks to Volunteers |
 | | Thanks for our home in Poole Place! |
Volunteer groups this month:
Women Build
DUMC
Davidson College - Service Odyssey
Smithville Coalition
Centre Presbyterian Church - Youth Group
Food volunteers:
North Mecklenburg Senior Center, Huntersville
Sandy Gustin
Keith Jock
Kim Dressler
DUMC
Grace Covenant Church
 | | DUMC 2012 Poole Place |
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| Thanks Volunteers | |
A very special thank you to the Davidson College Bonner Scholars Sarah Klett and Grant Thomas for working with Our Towns Habitat for Humanity on their Math Modeling internship. The goal was to utilized learned math and computer programming skills as a service project. In the short time they were with us, they helped develop an inventory and tracking system for our tools and equipment. They will revisit, access the program and offer modifications if needed.
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CONSTRUCTION
VOLUNTEER
HOURS
7:45 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. |
| Volunteer UP! | |
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register as a new volunteer
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3. Project Team Type 4. Interest and Skills
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Click (INTERESTED, SOME ABILITY, SKILLED, ETC.)
5. Click register
 | | Dr. Carolyn Hart, Women Build 2012 |
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Biggest Cheese in Town 2012 | |
Who will be The Biggest Cheese in Town in 2012? Wylie Cossar is our returning champion but the competition is tough this year. Contenders include:
Jean Aswell, Mary Kay
Dr. John Ballas, Ballas Chiropractic
Rob Bennett, My Aloha, Stand Up Paddle Sports & Fitness
Pat Berch, Lake Norman Nutrition
Dallas Bragg, Mountain State University
Jenn Cox, Brow Lounge
Katie Dixon, KadiFit
Jack Hart, 2012 North Carolina Senior Volunteer of the Year
Bill Kenney, Kilwins Chocolate
Mary MacDonald, Peoples Bank, Cornelius
Ashley McPherson, AFLAC
Krista Marks, Rodan & Fields Dermatologists
W. Aaron Schmitt, W. Aaron Schmitt & Associates
Robert Weldon, Our Towns Habitat for Humanity Volunteer
Support your favorite Cheese NOW!
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We need your donations!! Don't forget that the ReStores in Mooresville and Cornelius take donations of new and used houseware items, furniture, building materials, books, home décor items...the list continues! Please see our website for a complete list of items that we do/do not accept.
Would you like to receive weekly updates on the ReStores? Email Amy Williamson |
| GUATEMALA TRIP 2013 | |
The next Global Village Trip to Guatemala is February 16-24, 2013. A team of 24 volunteers will travel to Solola to partner with Habitat Guatemala to build simple, concrete block houses as well as smokeless stoves.
If you are inteterested in this trip, please plan to attend an informational meeting on August 28, 6:30 p.m. at the Our Towns Habitat for Humanity office. The team is filling up fast but there may be a few openings. For more details contact MC LANEY
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 | | Terry Laney, 2012 Algeron Sydney Sullivan Award Winner! |
A few months ago I wrote you about "F.E.A.R." (False Evidence Appearing Real). This morning, July 6th, 2012, it was published through "My Daily Insights". I then received the following email from a reader, and below it, is my response.
Imparting Information
Terry.
I thought this was a wonderful project until my daughter and her child left an abusive marriage. She volunteered and helped other families. And in hopes of a new start looked into the project for she and her daughter. I cannot believe the price they were going to charge for a home she would help build. These families in this income bracket become prisoners in these homes because the loans are impossible to pay off. Another look good project that prevents the hard working poor families from moving forward. It is shameful. KS.
KS,
Thank you for your email. I'm not sure where you are located, or if it is in the Lake Norman Area. There are over 1500 Habitat for Humanity affiliates in the United States and in 100 other countries around the world.
A two bedroom home for a qualified Habitat family here is sold at 1% below appraised value with a 1st mortgage of $88,378, and the silent 2nd mortgage of approximately $9,000 (depending on the appraisal).
Our goal is to put families in homes with their housing cost being below 30% of their income. All of the families who qualify with us are paying over 30% of their income on rent and utilities, with many of them paying over 50% of their monthly income. These are families who have to make such tough decisions on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis as to whether to; pay the rent, pay the utility bill, put gas in the car, put food on the table, or purchase medicine for their children. These are certainly, all critical decisions which carry a heavy burden for a family.
The cost of a 2 bedroom apartment in our area is about $750 a month, while a Habitat monthly mortgage payment is about $400 a month. A Habitat mortgage consists of the principal, taxes, and insurance. We charge NO INTEREST, NO PROFIT in these homes. And yes, our families in process must put in 400 volunteer hours which include working on the homes of other families, attending homeowner in process classes, work in one of our ReStores, work on their own home once its construction begins, etc. They also receive credit for hours attending school, continuing education, Parents University, and their children can earn hours for the family based on their grades in school. So as you can see, it is full family participation.
What can a family do with an extra $350 a month? Just imagine!
Our homeowners immediately build equity in their home with their first house payment as about $250 of their monthly mortgage goes to the principal plus taxes and insurance. We will also stretch a mortgage term out to 30 or more years in order to get the monthly payments affordable for the family.
The 2nd mortgage on the home is called a silent 2nd. This 2nd mortgage helps to prevent predatory lending. We begin to forgive the 2nd mortgage after the family has been in their home half of their mortgage's life. For example, if the family has a 30 year mortgage, we forgive 1/15th of it each year, beginning with their 16th year in the home.
Each of our homeowner partners are also partners in this great mission of Habitat for Humanity, as the principal they pay each month goes into the Fund for Humanity. This is a revolving fund we use in order to build, rehab AND repair homes for more families in need of affordable housing.
Our homes are affordable for families we serve as a direct result of the volunteers who participate in our committees, help select families, serve on our board of directors, volunteer on our weekday work site, our weekend volunteers and our ReStore volunteers.
We also raise the money to build the home first, before we build it. This is through the support of our local churches, businesses, house sponsors, individual donors, our two ReStores, AND our Fund for Humanity. But in order to build a new house, we must also purchase the land and develop it. We cannot pass all of the cost on to our families.
Our primary goal is simple, decent and affordable homes for families in need of adequate housing. So after paying their mortgage for 15, 20, 25, 30+ years, the family will have paid $88,378 for a home that appraised for $98,000 initially (the 2 bedroom).
Homeownership provides a broad range of benefits to individual homeowners and to society as a whole:
* The children of homeowners do better in school and are more successful later in life.
* Homeownership acts as a powerful economic stimulus, benefiting the individual homeowner and the national economy.
* Homeownership benefits neighborhoods, providing economic and social capital. Homeowners are more
likely to participate in local organizations, and homeownership in distressed communities raises neighborhood property values by a significant amount.
* Homeowners state that they are more satisfied with their living situation than renters.
Homeownership confers a substantial benefit to children. Children of homeowners score better on academic
tests, graduate at a higher rate, have fewer behavioral problems, and enjoy a better social environment. Living in an owned home is also a predictor of future success, as homeowners' children earn more than renters' children, are less likely to be on welfare, and are more likely to become homeowners themselves.
Lastly, KS, if you are from our area outside of Charlotte, NC, I would like the opportunity to meet with you. If not, please let me know what city/state you live in, and I will gladly contact your local Habitat affiliate to introduce you to the work they are doing there.
In Christian Partnership,
Terry
KS's perception was a MISPERCEPTION. This F.E.A.R. perception happens in everyday life, both at home and at work, whether it is for profit or nonprofit, and all caused by lack of information or lack of education. The hard part for us as human beings is taking time to gather the information and education, as well as imparting it. It is a two way street when it comes to communication.
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RAFFLE. RAFFLE. RAFFLE.
Win a week long stay at any RCI Resort
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Welcome to our NEW AmeriCorps Members, Cathy Petriano, Volunteer Coordinator
AmeriCorps is a national service program that provides thousands of AmeriCorps of all ages and backgrounds with educational awards in exchange for a year or two of community service. AmeriCorps members help meet the nations' critical needs in areas of public safety, education, human needs, and the environment. National Direct AmeriCorps perform direct service and help utilize volunteers effectively. Members with Habitat for Humanity help build homes, engage communities, increase and retain volunteers, and more, all to serve low-income families in need of simple, decent housing.
2012-13 incoming AmeriCorps members serving as Construction Crew Leaders in general and neighborhood revitalization:
Manuela Sega - Construction Crew Leader
Born and raised in Vicenza, northern Italy, Manuela Segna was surrounded by antique buildings, beautiful art and picturesque scenery. In search of something new, Manuela moved to Santa Barbara, California where she explored art, ceramic glazing, earthenware and design. While in California, she took part in several community activities such as "Fun in the Sun" for children, Santa Barbara Rescue Missions Feeding and Lodging Services and community service activities. She obtained a B.A. in Communication in 1997 from UC of Santa Barbara, California. In 1998, while she was concurrently enrolled at UCSB, California, she obtained a diploma in Environmental Studies and Interior Design at UC Extension of Santa Barbara, California. In 2007, Manuela moved to Charlotte, North Carolina where she now calls home. A graduate student of the Master Program of Architecture at UNCC, her interests are focused on sustainable strategies and environmental health. She is interested in developing her LEED studies to obtain certification while working at AmeriCorps. Manuela has recently joined the Women Build of Our Towns Habitat for Humanity and actively participates in project builds in the community. This new, valuable experience is strengthening her ties to the women group, all the volunteers and the future owners of the home. Interests are: reading, hiking, teaching cooking classes to children, exercising and traveling. Manuela has two children: Christopher, 23, and Isabella, 19. They are the most valuable accomplishments of her life.
Jenny Lee - Construction Crew Leader
"Growing up in Indiana with a contractor for a father and a mother who ran a hardware store gave me a great base of construction knowledge. A passion for serving others combined with this knowledge helped direct my life down an awesome path. Throughout high school and college I went on Spring Break disaster relief mission trips and participated in a few international mission trips as well. To complete my Bachelor's in Business Administration, I served as an intern with Habitat for Humanity in Evansville, IN. These things only increased my desire to help people change their lives. Hosting short term mission teams in West Virginia for nine years allowed me to serve beside many amazing individuals. As I conclude my summer internship with a mission in Costa Rica, I am looking forward to working with even more amazing volunteers on HFH work sites."
Becky Moose - Construction Crew Leader
"As a long time Troutman resident, I attended South Iredell High School and graduated in 2008 as an honor graduate. After that I made my way to the mountains to study at Appalachian State University. While attending ASU I became a member of the Black Student Association and played for the Women's rugby team. After completing my internship here with Habitat I will earn a bachelor's degree in construction management with a minor in business. Both of my parents served in the Air Force and I plan to follow in their footsteps to serve as well, either active duty or with the Air National Guard. I am looking forward to the learning opportunities and experiences in store for me while serving as AmeriCorps member at Our Towns Habitat. I would one day like to make a career with Habitat and continue the life changing work that happens here. "
Jamie Hofmeister - Construction Crew Leader
Growing up my parents instilled in me that we all can be and need to be part of making the world a better place for everyone, including ourselves, because we are called to love and serve our neighbors as ourselves. Freshman year of college I went on a Journey to Nicaragua, led by the Davidson College Chaplains Office. We learned what it means to invest in our own communities, to open our eyes to the problems each of us, each of our neighbors, face and to do something together to make it better. This trip showed me the connection that exists between each one of our communities, and also the real need to invest and be part of our own communities in ways that respond to the real present needs that exist. Since then I have begun to open my eyes and learn. In Washington D.C. at the Pilgrimage, I saw the need for affordable housing, food shelves, and homeless services. I learned from homeless neighbors I met about the most pressing need of all, for acknowledgement and dignity as human beings. I may not eliminate homelessness, but I can acknowledge every person I meet with a smile and greeting. And I will do my best to advocate for affordable housing, social services, and employment opportunities. I have learned about the realities of racism through my work with ISAIAH and the relationships I have built. And through my work and training as a community organizier I have also learned that in the midst of all these needs, we can make a difference, and we are stronger together. I want to live in a healthy community, and each one of us needs to be part of making that happen. Jamie came to Our Towns Habitat in August 2012 after finishing a year as Congregational Organizer in St. Paul, Minnesota with Lutheran Volunteer Corps. Originally from Paris, KY, Jamie attended Davidson College where she majored in Religion. Jamie is happy to be back in the area and is excited for all the adventures ahead with Habitat for Humanity.
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About Us
Mission Statement: To put God's love into action, Habitat for Humanity brings people together in partnership to provide safe, decent and affordable housing solutions for families and communities in need.
Mission Principles:
*Demonstrate the love of Jesus Christ
*Focus on shelter for homeowners
*Advocate for affordable housing
*Promote dignity and hope
*Support sustainable and innovative development
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