Mold, Asbestos, and Lead! Oh My!

One of the biggest changes that is a result of our Home Rehabilitation Program is the need to address the possible presence of mold, asbestos and lead.

Traditionally, when Habitat focused on only new builds, the goal was to prevent the likelihood of moisture damage and to use lead and asbestos free materials. Now, with the purchasing and renovating of existing structures, the condition of these structures can vary greatly, leading to there being a chance of existing moisture damage, lead paint, and damaged asbestos. Each of these present their own challenges which will be discussed in detail in the up coming blogs.

Until then, Happy Holidays!!


Next on the Quest: Moldy Mold

Home Rehabilitation: How to get involved

How can YOU get involved? 

As Habitat delves further into NRI, there will be more and more ways for you to get involved. As the types of projects increase, there will be an increasing need for volunteer support, sponsors, and in-kind donors; the types of tasks that volunteers will be called on to complete will also increase in number and in type. Below are some of the ways you can get involved now and as new opportunities are available, I will let you know!

Volunteer with us!! 
Volunteers are the backbone of Habitat, without them, we would not be able to provide our services at an affordable price for our partner families. With NRI programs, we will rely on volunteers to help us complete surveys, process those surveys, assist with home rehabilitation projects, and so much more! All of Habitat's volunteer opportunities help us reach our goals so get out and volunteer! 
To start volunteering with us click HERE!

Sponsor a project! 
NRI will open up so many new projects, both big and small and we will nee YOUR help to make them possible. whether you and/or your organization can give a little or a lot, you can make a ginormous impact!! Click HERE for sponsorship information.

In-Kind Donations!

Each project will need materials and services to be completed. By donating a little of your time or resources, you help keep the project more affordable for the family and you help Habitat help more people. Interested in being an in-kind donor? Click HERE for more information!

"Much more than swinging a hammer" 
Remember, any contributions you make go towards furthering Habitat's mission so if you don't think Home Rehabilitation is the project for you, we have so many other ways that you can get involved!!                       Just to name a few: Donate to our Restore, Shop at our ReStore, Volunteer at our Restore, Other Volunteer opportunities, and Columbia Habitat Young Professionals

Thank you for all of your support!

Next on the Quest: Mold, Asbestos, and Lead! Oh My!

Home Rehabilitation: Who Qualifies?

Who is qualified to apply? 

Our vision is a world where everyone has a decent place to live and through our Home Rehabilitation Program, we hope to increase the number of safe, affordable, and decent places for partner families to live by expanding the number of houses and locations available. . 

The Home Rehabilitation Program is a home ownership program; just like our New Home Program.The application process, selection process, and partnership process are exactly the same as well as the qualification standards. 

In order for applications to be considered, families must meet the following criteria:

• Need for Housing
• A need for suitable housing must be demonstrated. Some examples of issues that would qualify a family include, but are not limited to:
•  lack of heating, extensive electrical and/or plumbing problems, overcrowding, unsafe neighborhood, lack of affordability..
• Ability to Pay
• Habitat believes in a hand up, not a hand out. Therefore, we sell our homes to partner families with a 25-30 year zero-interest mortgage. A family must have enough consistent household income to pay the monthly mortgage.
• Willingness to Partner
• When a family partners with Habitat, they become part of a pay-it-forward system. Partner families invest not only in their own future home but also in the futures of other families through the completion of 350-550 sweat equity hours spent with Habitat before work on their home can commence. Families must also complete homeowner seminars to prepare for home ownership. 

Families can apply only after attending one of our application informational meetings. For more information about our application process, who qualifies, and frequently asked questions about our home ownership process, click the links or visit www.habitatcsc.org. 

 Next on the Quest: Home Rehabilitation:How to Get Involved

Home Rehabilitation: Why it matters

Home Rehabilitation is focused on preventing and decreasing the number of vacant homes in a community. The main source of vacant homes are those that have been foreclosed upon. Decreasing the number of foreclosures matters for the following reasons:

   
Effects of foreclosure on families

1. Families are almost always forced to move on short notice and with no plans as to where to move, causing several families to become temporarily homeless by living with family or friends or in a shelter system.
2. A family's credit score can be ruined which negatively influences terms and prices for services such as loans.
3. Due to their compromised position, families are more likely to fall victim to predatory lending.
4. Increased family stress from foreclosure can lead to extensive marital problems, abuse, development of negative coping mechanisms and can have negative effects on both physical and mental health of individuals.

Effects of foreclosure on communities

1. The lack of care to a foreclosed home can change the entire atmosphere in a community.
2. Vacant homes are a magnet for theft, violent crime and other forms of illicit activities, especially when the vacant homes are unsecured. Communities that have typically been safe neighborhoods are now on the brink of deterioration by crime.
3. Vacant homes can cause unforeseen health and safety issues
4. A single foreclosed will decrease the property value of the neighboring homes.
5. Local governments face fiscal stress due to the decrease in property tax revenues and an increase in needs to be met -- In 2005, one foreclosure could impose up to $34,000 in direct costs on local government.

This matters to us because in the counties we serve, there are over 900 foreclosed properties. This means the impacts listed are multiplied by 900.

THIS is why it matters!

This matters to us because through the Home Rehabilitation program, Habitat is able to:

• Provide more families with housing that is decent, affordable, and safe. 

• Fill a previously empty house which brings safety and security back to a neighborhood.

• Increase the local government's revenue base, increasing its ability to serve the community.
• Move forward with our NRI program!

Next on the Quest: Home Rehabilitation: Who Qualifies?

Introducing our first NRI program!!

 

Read all about it!!! Central South Carolina Habitat is introducing its newest program!!!

Home Rehabilitation 

What is Home Rehabilitation? 
Home Rehabilitation is a program that empowers Habitat to address a broader scope of housing needs, especially in neighborhoods hardest hit by the housing crisis.

Habitat is using this program to expand the scope of our ability to serve and rejuvenate communities. Through the program, Habitat acquires existing homes that have been foreclosed upon or donated then uses volunteers to rehabilitate them to like-new condition. These rejuvenated homes are then sold on a no-interest, non-profit basis to partner families. 

We are all excited for this new program!! 

For the next few posts, I will be delving into the details of this new program!!


Next on the NRI Quest: Home Rehabilitation: Why it matters

HFH National Service Leadership Conference

 

In a land far, far away ... also known as Talladega, Alabama. AmeriCorps members serving with Habitats all over the nation gathered to be trained, challenged, and inspired.

In 1964 Lyndon B Johnson declared an "unconditional war on poverty in America" to save those who"live on the outskirts of hope." Habitat for Humanity's National Service Leadership Conference (NSLC) was a revitalization of this declaration. With Habitat now focusing of measuring families served instead of houses built, they are addressing a crucial part of its mission - "Bringing people together to build ... hope"

For the last week, I was learning from some of Habitat's experts how to best serve Central South Carolina Habitat and how to empower more families through hope-inspiring actions.

• Habitat has come a long way since 1976
• By shifting to measuring by families served and quality of life, we are more accurately measuring Habitat's impact on our families and their communities
• Think outside the box! 
• WE still have a long way to go to see our vision come to fruition 

NSLC also focused on Habitat's new Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative. Here are some program highlights:

1. New NRI tools are creating win-win situations for everyone
2. New and exciting tools that have been developed to serve more families 
3. NRI provides new ways for volunteers to get involved and become advocates for the elimination of poverty housing
4. The goal of NRI is community development
5. NRI is a perfect avenue to reach Habitat's vision

By expanding both who and the way we serve, we will be able to be more effective in not only eliminating poverty housing but also eliminating impoverished communities. We are developing several new and exciting tools to reach our goal and all of them can be used as part of NRI.

The tools I have mentioned are the up and coming programs I am developing. ..... As I continue to develop the new projects, I will announce them here first!!

So, without further ado: Announcing our first NRI tool ..... (drum roll) ..... in the next post!


Next on the NRI Quest: Introducing our first NRI program!!

The NRI Story

Once upon a time ..... around 1976

      At Habitat for Humanity's founding, we focused on one of the most visual housing issues, the lack of affordable housing. So, we set about building affordable, safe, and decent houses and selling them to qualified partner families on a no-interest basis and using volunteers to cover contractor costs. This seemed to work until recent events caused alarming rates of families to fall through the housing gaps despite Habitat's efforts. Assisting a single family was no longer the most effective way to eradicate housing issues. Therefore, we are now looking into various directions for ways to eradicate housing issues.

Basically, here's the rundown: Housing issues are vast, so we are throwing a wider net.


Next on the NRI Quest: HFH National Service Leadership Conference

What is NRI?

Okey Dokey, 


So NRI- Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative, is a fairly new initiative started by Habitat for Humanity International in 2009. it was created as a response to the increasing obstacles that families face in their search for safe, decent, and affordable housing. 

Here are the basics of NRI

 Mission of NRI: To serve more families by responding to community aspirations with an expanded array of products, services, and partnerships, empowering residents to revive their neighborhoods and enhance their quality of life.

Vision of NRI: Neighborhoods across the country are revitalized into vibrant, safe, and inviting places to live for current and future residents.

With this information we are left to ponder: What does NRI mean for us and the people we serve?? In order to understand that, we must first look at where it comes from.

Next on the NRI Quest: The NRI Story

Welcome to the Quest!

Introducing the Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative to the Midlands!!

"Sounds great!  . . .  What is it?"  you might say.

Well, that's a great question. And it's my quest to answer it.

Talisha Beha here. I will be delving into the NRI program throughout this blog series. Want to know what it is? How it affects you? How it affects your community? Check in here for updates!

Next on the NRI Quest: What is NRI