The South Palm Beach Habitat for Humanity is a
locally run affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, a
non-profit, ecumenical Christian housing organization. Habitat for
Humanity works in partnership with people in need to build and
renovate decent, affordable housing. The houses then are sold to
those in need at no profit and with no interest charged.
Habitat for
Humanity’s Cars for HomesTM
Your
car donation can help a family build a house, and the hope of a
better life! Car donations help Habitat for Humanity build houses in
partnership with families in need of decent, affordable shelter.
Donate a car, truck, boat, RV or other vehicle to Habitat's Cars for
HomesTM vehicle donation program by calling
1-877-277-4344 or visiting www.carsforhomes.org
Volunteers provide most of the labor, and individual
and corporate donors provide money and materials to build Habitat
houses. Click on this link to volunteer now: HFH - Volunteer Sign-Up Form
Partner families themselves invest hundreds of hours of
labor - "sweat equity" - into building their homes and the home
of others. Their mortgage payments go into a revolving Fund for
Humanity that is used to build more houses.
The Habitat for
Humanity International web site contains more information on
Habitat's history, mission, volunteer opportunities and contact
information for other Habitat affiliates around the world.
Collegiate
Challenge 2008
is over, and we made great progress in
spite of the rainy weather . Take a look at what went on and think about joining in this great experience
next year.
Another Home Dedicated
in Boynton Beach
Building
on their dream of homeownership, the Rodriguez family celebrated an
important milestone as the construction of their new home was
completed. Habitat
for Humanity South Palm Beach County (SPBC) recently held a
dedication ceremony for Marta Rodriguez and her children at 3628
Kitely Avenue in Boynton Beach.
Waiora,
a community friendly company dedicated to helping people
maintain their health as they age, sponsored this home with a
$50,000 donation in conjunction with several of its independent
distributors. Waiora,
located in Boca Raton, has sponsored
other homes in the past two years with varying degrees of
sponsorship.
“Partnering
with Waiora allows us the opportunity to increase our building
capacity by an additional home for this county’s needy
population,” said Mike Campbell, Executive Director of Habitat for
Humanity SPBC. “It takes all kinds of support to make Habitat for
Humanity work. Whether
it’s the gift of labor, materials or money, it is these gifts that
make it possible for Habitat to provide simple, decent, affordable
housing in our community.”
As
for Waiora’s role, Stan Cherelstein, President and CEO, reiterated
the organization’s commitment stating, “We view our affiliation
with Habitat for Humanity as one more opportunity to serve worthy
residents in our community, not only with our financial resources
but with our time and talent.”
Mr.
Campbell explains, “Families are selected for Habitat homes based
on need, ability to pay, and a willingness to partner with Habitat
to build the home.
We assist families with their applications, and the process
that may lead to approval. We like to think of ourselves as offering
a hand up rather than a hand out, in order to help them achieve the
American Dream of home ownership.
Each family is required to work 500 hours, which we call
‘sweat equity,’ in the construction of their home or other
Habitat homes.”
Habitat
for Humanity SPBC does not give the homes away, but sells them at
cost for between $89,000 and $109,000.
Mortgage payments are around $600 including principal and
escrow.
Habitat charges no interest on the mortgage.
The principal payments go into a revolving fund used to
construct more Habitat homes.
In
order to help family partners succeed as first time homeowners,
Habitat provides workshops on personal finance, homeowners insurance
and legal issues.
A support partner is assigned to advise each homeowner on any
subject that they would like to discuss.
With this additional support, Habitat for Humanity
International has achieved a mortgage default rate of 0.7%
nationally.
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‘Home
Builders Blitz’ 2008
Professional
homebuilders put down their hammers and power saws on Saturday,
June 7 to celebrate the successful end of Habitat for
Humanity’s “Home Builders Blitz” week. Habitat for
Humanity South Palm Beach County (SPBC) dedicated two homes that
were built from start to finish during the weeklong build—May
31 to June 7.
The
new Habitat for Humanity homeowners were presented with house
keys and a Bible at a dedication ceremony that took place on
Sunday, June 8 at 2:00 p.m. at 645 SW 6th Avenue in
Delray Beach.
“We
are celebrating with Habitat’s newest homeowners, Sarina Bland
and Yajaira Correa, who have worked hard and will now experience
the joy of homeownership,” said Mike Campbell, Executive
Director, Habitat for Humanity SPBC.
“The work and dedication of our community’s
professional builders, K. Hovnanian Homes and Current Builders
has been vital to making the week a success and, more
importantly, making affordable housing possible so that
low-income families can share in the dream of owning a home.”
In
an “Extreme Makeover” surprise moment, the families realized
upon entering, that their homes were completely furnished.
P&H Interiors of Coral Springs, in conjunction with the
builders, donated all of the furnishings to the homes.
According
to Ms. Bland, “This experience has been one that I can’t
describe but getting a home built as quickly as this just goes
to show that God is good and he promised me that ‘Good things
come to those who wait and trust him.’
The home is coming right on time.”
Ms. Correa concurs, “First and foremost, to become a
homeowner is a dream come true for me and my family.
Seeing the communities come together to accomplish
people’s dreams with God’s help and prayers shows that hard
work does pay off as well as giving back to the community.”
To
see photos taken during the 2008 Blitz, click on this link:
Kodak
Gallery Slides
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Home Builders Blitz
The
concept behind Habitat’s Home Builders Blitz originated in 2002
with Tom Gipson, a professional home builder in Raleigh, N.C., who
supported Habitat for Humanity’s efforts to eliminate poverty
housing in his community. Gipson rallied other local builders for an
accelerated build, which was so successful that Habitat for Humanity
International decided to promote it as a nationwide event in 2006.
Since the concept’s inception, the professional homebuilders
industry has assisted Habitat’s mission by building in excess of
780 homes. In
2008, this nationwide network of homebui
lder
professionals
in support for Habitat’s cause grew to roughly 110 cities
during the second national Home Builders Blitz from May 31 to
June 7.
For more information about Habitat’s Home Builders
Blitz, please visit www.habitat.org/buildersblitz.
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