From the Executive Director
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 Dear Friends of Habitat,
In one week, I will celebrate my
one-year anniversary as Executive Director of HFHSJC, and I would like to thank
the board for giving me the opportunity to help lead this wonderful affiliate. My life has truly been enriched by all the people I have met who call themselves
friends of Habitat, and I thank you for your support. In this month's newsletter,
I would like to give you an update on three exciting initiatives. First of all,
the transition of the Sample St. ReStore to its new location at 2411 S. Main is progressing nicely. The purchase agreements
have been signed, the independent appraisal and building audit have been
completed and we are currently filing the necessary paperwork for re-zoning and
variance requests. We hope to get final approval from the City Council in May. Another big initiative is the potential purchase of a 24-lot subdivision in
South Bend. Negotiations are ongoing, and the board has organized a fundraising taskforce to
help make this a reality. Finally, we will be rolling out several new and/or
updated house designs in 2010, thanks to the help of two local architectual
firms. We think families and volunteers will be prouder than ever to say, "I
helped build that Habitat house!" Thank you again for supporting Habitat for
Humanity of St. Joseph County. Jim |
Habitat responds to earthquake in Chile
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Huge toll on housing
While details from
the areas closest to the magnitude-8.8 quake in Chile remain
incomplete, preliminary estimates put the number of homes destroyed or severely
damaged at 500,000. Habitat Chile is a strong presence in the
country and has been invited to be a part of the government's assessment of
housing needs created by the quake. The national organization (N.O.) will be
doing its own preliminary assessment this week, to be followed next week with a
broader assessment by a team that will include representatives of the N.O., the
Latin America-Caribbean Area Office and the Disaster Response department from
HFHI headquarters.
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Rock the House student build kicks off March 27
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 Please support our student-led "Rock
the House" build, which begins March 27. If you know students from
Riley, Adams, Penn, Marian, St. Joseph, Clay or
Plymouth,
encourage them to sign up at their school to work a 4-hour shift, or
consider making a financial contribution on their behalf. Students and
administrators at each of these schools have made a commitment to raise $1,800
and provide student volunteers for the build. They are also looking for businesses to make gift-in-kind donations. For more info, go to www.youcanrockthehouse.com.
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Join us for the Homeward Bound Walk
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 Homeward Bound Walk is...
- A 5K fundraising walk-a-thon sponsored by St.
Joseph County area homeless and affordable housing service providers in
partnership with the Indiana Association for Community Economic Development
(IACED). The event will take place Sunday, April 25, 2010, with registration beginning at 1:00 p.m. at the College Football Hall of
Fame.
- A local event (that is also being held statewide
in 11 locations) that will raise more than $40,000 for area homeless and
affordable housing programs.
- Individuals and teams coming together from dozens
of companies and community organizations to show their commitment to making a
difference in the lives of men, women and children who are homeless or may
become homeless.
- An
opportunity for our affiliate to grow the amount of donations (last year
almost $1,000) and raise the public awareness of the number of families
that are being served through the work being done here in our community.
How
you can help:
- Put
together a team of walkers
- Walk
yourself
- Make
a monetary donation
- Become
a corporate sponsor
- Provide
in-kind support (promotional giveaways or refreshments)
Donations
can be earmarked for Habitat for Humanity of St. Joseph County or even
for a particular build of the current build season.
Contact
Elena Flynn at the Habitat office
(288-6967) or via email
to receive more information. You can also visit the Homeward Bound
website to register to walk.
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Cover Indiana Bicycle Tour coming in May
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Join Habitat for a ride through Indiana and support affordable homeownership! Participants can ride one day or a full week, beginning Monday, May 10, and ending Sunday, May 16. Riders will begin in Lafayette and end in downtown Indianapolis, with police escort, riding approximately 50 to 60 miles per day. Overnight locations include Crawfordsville, Terre Haute, Linton, Bedford, Bloomington and Plainfield. Breakfast and dinner will be provided for each rider. Riders must pay a registration fee and solicit pledges, which may be designated to the Habitat affiliate of their choice. For more information or to register, visit the Habitat for Humanity of Lafayette website or send them an email.
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Support two important Habitat initiatives
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Neighborhood Assistance tax credit program:
Under Senate Bill 236, Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels is proposing a
cost-cutting measure of suspending tax credits given every year for economic
and community development.
The bill was heard February 25 in the House Ways and
Means Committee. What is in store for the governor's bill, authored by Sen.
Brandt Hershman, is now up to Ways and Means Chairman Bill Crawford and
SB236 sponsor Rep. Peggy Welch. SB236 language may also show up again in the
Senate as an amendment to a surviving House bill.
Through the Neighborhood Assistance Program, our affiliate
has been able to leverage in the excess of $399,000 of donations since the year
2001. NAP credits are awarded for beneficial programs including
affordable housing construction and rehab.
You can reach the Indiana House of Representatives switchboard at
800-382-9842 to express your concerns about SB 236. Ask your
representatives to oppose this legislation. If you are unsure who your
legislators are, Access Indiana can help! If you know who your legislators are, but do not know how
to contact them, click
here!
Self-Help
Homeownership Opportunity Program:
With your
help, Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI) can push back potential budget
cuts that would reduce Habitat's ability to rebuild neighborhoods. Habitat
supporters from all over the U.S.
are in Washington
right now urging Congress to protect funding for programs that support
Habitat's Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative, including the Self-Help
Homeownership Opportunity Program (SHOP) which provides much needed funding for
infrastructure/construction expenses of our partner family homes.
We have an emergency on our hands, but Habitat is responding. Contact your
members of Congress TODAY so Habitat will have the resources it needs to:
- Purchase property, develop
infrastructure, and build affiliate capacity to transform abandoned homes
and struggling neighborhoods into vibrant and resilient communities;
- Provide thousands of additional
low-income families with opportunities for affordable homeownership;
- Grow the national service corps to
recruit, train, and manage more volunteers addressing the needs of at-risk
communities.
Please
call your legislators and tell them we can't afford budget cuts that threaten
essential Habitat programs, or use the link below to go to HFHI's site to email
your representatives.
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ReStore Sale--25% off windows and doors
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 Get 25% off all window and door purchases at both the South Bend and Mishawaka ReStores during the month of March! Plus, come in on St. Patrick's Day, March 17, and receive anywhere from 10% to 75% off that day's purchase when you draw a coin from the pot of gold! For information on either the South Bend or Mishawaka stores, click here. |
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Thank you for all you do to support our mission and eliminate poverty housing in St. Joseph County!
Sincerely,
Habitat for Humanity of St. Joseph County |
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| Partner Family Spotlight:
Lisa Ullery
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Our first new build of 2010 will be the 2010 Rock the House student build on Division Street in Mishawaka. It will be the home of partner family Lisa Ullery. To find out more about Lisa and her build, click here! |
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