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Habichat: A Newsletter from 
April, 2009 Growing Communities for 20 Years | |
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Saturday, May 2, 9:30AM: Love in Action Tour, 848 Cherry Street, Norristown
Saturday, May 2, 9:00AM: Habitat Garage Sale, at the warehouse across from our offices at 848 Cherry Street, Norristown
Saturday, May 2, 10:30AM - 11:30AM: Welcome Home Dedication Reception for Deserie Rivers at the Carriage Stone Homes.
Saturday, May 9, 9:30AM: Love in Action Tour, First Baptist Church, 301 King Street, Pottstown.
Saturday, May 16, 9:30AM: Love in Action Tour, Linden Avenue in North Hills.
Tuesday, May 19, 6:30PM: Speaker's Bureau Training for all interested volunteers. If you would like to sign up, please contact Linley@habitatmontco.org.
Thursday, May 21 5:00PM: Faith Builders Groundbreaking at 3104 Summit Avenue in North Hills - all are welcome to attend.
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 More Than Houses
Lately it seems that everyone wants to know where the money goes - from TARP funds to mortgage default swaps, to everything in between, people seem to be crying out for accountability. In the non-profit world, supporters are increasingly asking this question as well. "If I give you this funding, where will it go?"
During this time of increasing accountability and transparency, Habitat has had a tremendous opportunity to look at the way that we spend money - on house construction, supporting our families and more. To that end, our staff and board have been doing a great deal of work in truly understanding where the money goes. We always knew that we were a very lean organization, spending less than 10% on administration, but now, we are able to articulate our impact in a way that we were never able to before.
Construction - 63% of our budget goes to the activity of building homes. From supervision of the site to materials that we are unable to get donated to services that we must contract, more than 1/2 of our budget is spent on the sticks and bricks of construction.
Family Services - Through Habitat, it can take anywhere from 6 months to several years to become a successful homeowner. In that time, our families are working continuously with us to achieve this dream. Before they enter the program, Habitat holds two orientations per year and processes and tracks about 50 applications, moving them toward approval. After families are accepted into the program, they attend classes so that they can budget appropriately for their home, be good neighbors and repair things when they break. In addition, our families are required to put in 200 hours of "sweat equity" building their homes. We schedule and monitor this time so that we are equitable with all families in the process. When they finally receive keys, we maintain a relationship with them for the life of their mortgage, so we are aware of their challenges and successes. These activities absorb about 3% of our budget each year.
Financial Services - Did you know that once we approve a family to become homeowners, we become the bank, the realtor and the mortgage broker all in one? Right now, we spend about 5% of our budget subsidizing and managing 43 mortgages for 30 years. With four more homes slated for completion this year, our stake in these families will continue to grow.
Community Education and Engagement - In order to activate people to solve the problem of poverty housing, we must first educate them as to the situation here in Montgomery County. People are often surprised that in a wealthy county like Montgomery, 5700 homes are considered substandard. Once activated, we must manage the flow of volunteers to build the projects to help meet the need. About 6% of our budget is spent educating and engaging the community.
World-wide housing advocacy - Habitat of Montgomery County is part of something greater than itself. With support from Habitat International, we are able to work both locally and globally. When we build a home here, we are also supporting Habitat initiatives around the world in Kenya, Haiti, Guatemala, and Nepal. When disaster strikes (such as Katrina and the Tsunamis) we are called on to help our other Habitat partners in need. 3% of our yearly budget is applied toward projects around the world.
Administration and fundraising absorb the rest of the budget in support of these programs.
We do much more than construction. We respond to multiple ways a family and a community need support to become stable. That is why Habitat is as successful as it is. So, when funders ask" where does the money go?" I simply say to the construction, care and support of our mission of providing simple, basic, decent affordable homes for all.
Brenda Egolf-Fox
Executive Director |
 Thank You Hill School!
On April 29, Development Director Marianne Lynch proudly accepted a grant from the students at the Hill School to aid in the construction of 408 Beech Street in Pottstown.
This year, through the generosity of distinguished alumnus Charlie Frank, Hill School Students were given the opportunity to become young philanthropists. Through the Student Philanthropy Council, a new organization designed to help students learn about the importance of giving, they sent out RFPs to community organizations throughout the Pottstown area. "In focusing on improving our local community, we are creating a 'win-win' situation," says Caitlin Klein, President of the Council, continuing: "We want to help our neighboring community in its efforts to be healthier and cleaner; we want to strengthen the ties Hill has with Pottstown through community service and other interactions, such as cultural programs; and we want to help make a difference for local charitable organizations."
Habitat has had the privilege of working with Hill School students on several occasions, but this opportunity is especially meaningful to the organization. "By working with the students throughout this process, it has given us a new appreciation for philanthropy and the power it has to transform lives, not just of the recipient, but of those who give as well," said Marianne Lynch. Habitat is very honored to be one of a handful of recipients this year.
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Join us for a Groundbreaking!
Thursday, May 21
5:00PM
Habitat for Humanity, members of Faith Builders, and Sherry and Chuck Rivers will celebrate the groundbreaking of our newest project in North Hills!
Everyone is welcome to attend!
3104 Summit Avenue (across from the Upper Dublin Community Pool)
Directions
Rain Date: May 28th |
Welcome Home, Deserie Rivers!
 On Saturday, May 2, Deserie Rivers and her son will finally move into their new home on Green Street in Norristown. As part of its 50th Anniversary, Cabrini College sponsored Deserie's home. They, along with some special guests, will celebrate the day with a reception and blessing of her new start in life!
Habitat would like the thank Cabrini for its continued commitment to our work throughout the county as well as the the 105 supporters who generously gave to their sponsorship drive including the following individuals and companies:
Cabrini College, Class of 2008
Harleysville National Bank
Antoinette Iadarola, former Cabrini College President
Sharon Amato Benedict, Class of '72
The Cabrini Mission Foundation
Sharon Schwarze, Philosophy Department Chair
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We have said it before and we will say it again: Habitat is only as strong as its supporters! With that in mind, we would like to say a special thank you to the following groups and organizations who have helped further our mission this month!
PJM Interconnection - Thanks so much for continued support! Each year, PJM sends out enthusiastic, energetic volunteers and this year was no exception! Dave Spangler did a great job organizing this group.
Vantage Point Bank in Ft. Washington - Thank you Brynne for volunteering your facilities for our first phone-a-thon. We enjoyed working with you and we think the effort was a great success! Thanks for your generosity!
Lowe's of Hatfield - Thank you for hosting us during your grand opening celebration and thank you for the matching gift of up to $5000!
And thank you to each of you who take the time to volunteer or support us in so many ways - we couldn't do it without you!
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Want to help, but can't swing a hammer?
Have we got the opportunity for you! Habitat is looking for two special volunteers to fill the following roles:
 We are looking for a volunteer to help us maintain our lawns at various properties in Norristown, Pottstown and in North Hills. If you can help, please contact linley@habitatmontco.org
 We are also in search of a ReStore Truck driver one to two days per week. This is a flexible opportunity based on your schedule, but you should be able to lift 40 lbs. If you would like to help out, please contact linley@habitatmontco.org |
 Plant a Tree - Remember Someone you Love
Habitat is planting three trees in front of the Carriage Stone Homes on Green Street in Norristown.
Why not make a gift in honor or in memory of someone you love? For a tax-deductible gift of $350, one of these trees can be a living reminder of the spirit of someone very special to you. It will also have a plaque bearing their name near it.
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"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow."
~ Melody Beattie ~
With that final thought, thank you for all you do for us.
Sincerely,
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Raise Money for Habitat for Humanity of Montgomery County just by searching the Web. You'll also keep informed about Habitat for Humanity of Montgomery County news. It's FREE !! http://www.freelanthropy.com/hfhomc | |
Don't forget! ReStore Garage Sale, Saturday, May 2!
Warehouse across from our office
9:00AM | |
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