Our North American team came together this March to celebrate their second annual sales meeting. The theme of the meeting was “Change the world around you,” and it was about making a difference and being a positive influence in the community. With that in mind, the team volunteered their services at Habitat for Humanity in Monroe County painting sections of the featured house that was given to the family last month.
“Each opportunity working with Habitat is unique in that you get to learn new skills, work with different people, and at the same time you have a part in providing housing for families in the community,” said Jennifer, OHNS administrative assistant and Habitat volunteer. “I’ve volunteered since 2013 and I knew this would be a good opportunity for our team to collaborate with a great group who is welcoming of volunteers.”
The new homeowners, Gerardo and Benardina, were overjoyed to receive their home on Saturday, April 23. After having their daughter, Rozlyn, who is now 5 years old, they worked to obtain a home they could raise their family in. “We decided that we wanted to be able to give something to her in the future. Besides, we want her to have a stable life in a place she can call her own.”
Families in the community are selected based on three basic criteria: a need for housing, meaning that they are living in a place that is considered substandard, a willingness to partner with Habitat to help build at the worksite, and the ability to take a series of homeownership classes.
The total partnership process with the family is about 12 months from the time they get approved to the time they are ready to buy the home. The house takes about 12 weeks to build, during which Habitat engages approximately 260 volunteer for an 8-hour shift each.
“One thing that is really nice about this particular house is that it was sponsored by the mortgage payments of over 160 habitat homeowners who live in Bloomington and had bought houses previously through Habitat,” said Kerry, President/CEO of Habitat for Humanity of Monroe County.
“It is really the most magical recycling program there is and is a celebration of all the work and houses that have come together in the past.”
Photo courtesy of Ben Wiggins