The Asbestos Monster

Before the health hazards of asbestos were fully understood, it was a material used as a fire retardant and as insulation. Asbestos itself is not harmful, however, if the fibers are damaged and small spores are allowed to fly, those spores can enter your lungs and could foster the growth of cancerous cells or other pulmonary diseases over time.

Habitat takes it commitment to "safe, affordable, and decent" housing  very seriously. if the presence of damaged asbestos is every suspected, we are required to have it fully removed by a licensed asbestos contractor. Only after  the home is certified as asbestos free can staff or volunteers work in the house.

The one good thing about asbestos is that once it is gone, it's gone. there is no measures a family needs to take to keep it at bay  like the moisture control needed to avoid mold.

One more challenge down, one to go. Next up, the second most common challenge Habitat faces in Home Rehabilitation projects, lead-based paint.

Next on the Quest: Lead-Based Paint

Moldy Mold

A common factor in many older homes that are prospective Home Rehabilitation projects for Habitat is the presence of severe water damage which leads to the growth of mildew and mold. When Habitat builds from the ground up, we can guarantee that the house is dry and that with proper maintenance there should be no mold issues. Existing homes, however, have been lived in and can therefore have some mold from untreated water damage that can occur in older homes. 

Fortunately, mold is a fairly easy fix. Once the source of the water damage is found and fixed, the mold clean up consists of cleaning off the mold with water and a mild detergent. After this quick fix, the house is inspected and treated for any other areas of potential water damage; providing our future homeowner with a dry, safe, and affordable house.

Next to be discussed is one of the tougher challenges Home Rehabilitation, the identification and remediation of asbestos and lead-based paint.

Next on the Quest: The Asbestos Monster

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