Everyday we get to work with the most inspiring, deserving, and wonderful families. Learning more about these families, their background, and what brought them to Habitat is a strong reminder of why we do what we do.
Read more about the Herrara Family whose house was started two weeks ago.
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Our photo of the week this week is not just one photo, but a series of volunteer Lana Morris. Lana serves on AHFH’s Board of Directors, AHFH’s Faith Council, and volunteers regularly with Gerard’s crew and her church, Riberbend.
Lana, thank you for all that you do for Austin Habitat!! (Note that most pictures are of Lana on the roof!!!)
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On Saturday, May 7, Austin Habitat celebrated three major milestones for the organization:
1) The Wall Raising of our 300th home, sponsored by the 2011 Austin Habitat Board of Directors and built in partnership with the Rivero Family. Since Austin Habitat’s modest beginnings in 1985, we’ve celebrated 150 homes in 2004, 250 just five years later, and now 300 homes in just two years.
2) The official kick-off of the “Sendero Hills’ neighborhood, a new green community supported by the City of Austin GO Bond program, and designed in partnership with the University of Texas and the Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center. The neighborhood will eventually have 55 affordable new Austin Habitat homes.
3) The Announcement of a $200,000 grant from Wells Fargo to support the ‘Neighborhood RevitalizationInitiative,’ a new program of Austin Habitat for Humanity that will focus our Home Repair and Housing Counseling efforts on neighborhood in Austin that present the most need for these services. This is an effort to focus the resources of Austin Habitat in a consistent and efficient manner, so as to maximize the impact on neighborhoods that need help the most. Austin Habitat was one of five major cities in the US to be awarded this Wells Fargo grant, and we are excited to join with Wells Fargo leadership from Central Texas on Saturday to celebrate this new and exciting partnership.
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This weeks photo comes from the TeamHabitat house. The Team Habitat program offers a unique outlet for team building versus traditional models. Covered in dirt and drywall dust, with tools in hand, teams can expect an experience that will enable them to get to know each other in ways that conference room trainings simply can’t offer.
Team Habitat Sponsors are not only touched on a personal level by volunteering but also find that working with colleagues on the Habitat work site can make a difference in the way teams work together on a daily basis.
A Team Habitat sponsorship not only contributes to creating affordable housing but is also a worthy investment in the growth of the workplace.
Team Habitat House
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Join our Restore, this Saturday for an Easter Egg hunt!
This Saturday starting at 8:00 a.m. the East Austin Community will be coming together for many Easter festivities in Comal Park located at 310 Comal St. 78702. Remember to bring your basket!!
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Break out your Zoot Suit and get ready to have a swingin’ good time!
Austin HYP is excited to announce their 5th Annual ‘Build the HYP Gala: Zoot Suit Riot!’ This year’s event features a performance by ‘The Daddies‘, free swing dance lessons, as well as complimentary food & drink. Proceeds from the Gala will build the annual HYP House. Click on the image below for info and tickets!
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This weeks photo comes from our latest Home Repair project. Ms. Stella’s home has come along way!! Thanks again to all who have made it out.
Capital CDC "Working" Hard
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This weeks photo is of the home of the Cruz Family sponsored by K&N Management. The Cruz family has worked long and hard to get to this point so come out and celebrate with them during their dedication ceremony!
The dedication will begin 3:00 p.m Saturday April 9 at 7209 Thanna’s Way.
Future Home of the Cruz Family
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Have you ever volunteered with Habitat for Humanity? It’s a wonderful experience, no? Getting your hands dirty, meeting new people, and making those inevitable jokes about silicone sealants (aka “caulk”). Well, remember that nice, young man who taught you how to use the chop saw? Or how about that lovely, young lady who showed you how to install sheetrock? Those youthful, skilled volunteers are AmeriCorps members who are dedicating a year of their life to service. If we don’t act soon, they’ll be out of a job and you’ll end up lost on a construction site struggling to find a two-by-four (“which one is that again?”).
Congress is currently setting the budget and seeking to cut funds for AmeriCorps and the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS). If the proposed budget cuts pass, 85,000 AmeriCorps positions will be eliminated nationwide. These cuts mean that Habitat will build 4,500 less homes, forcing families in need to continue to live in substandard housing, as Habitat for Humanity relies heavily on the support of AmeriCorps.
AmeriCorps members allow YOU to volunteer. They provide critical site leadership, allowing untrained community volunteers to work on a construction site and learn the skills they need to help build a home. AmeriCorps is not simply a hand-out from the federal government, as each organization must apply annually for AmeriCorps funds, as well as match a portion of the grant. Austin Habitat for Humanity (AHFH) matches on average, $7,000 for each AmeriCorps member with a year-long term. Since 2006, AHFH has invested over $500,000 in AmeriCorps because it has proven to be a cost-effective solution to addressing our needs for skilled construction site leadership.
If you’ve ever volunteered with Habitat, or you’d like to in the future, please help us save service so we can continue to engage community volunteers in building safe and decent homes for families in need.
Call your Senator TODAY and urge them to fund AmeriCorps and the Corporation for National and Community Service. Congress only has until Friday, April 8th to decide on this year’s budget, so be sure to make the call!
It only takes a few minutes, and the toll-free number provided makes it super easy to contact your Senators (quick talking points provided!).
Please visit saveservice.org for talking points and more information.
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This weeks photo comes from the UFCU home dedication. The Delgado Family has been working long and hard to finish the 400 sweat-equity hours and 24 home buyer education classes required of them. You can see the excitement!!
Board cutting ceremony at the Delgado dedication
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