Habitat for Humanity International 2022 Affiliate Conference

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Our entire staff had the opportunity to attend the Habitat for Humanity International 2022 Affiliate Conference. Not only did we have a blast, we came back with a better understanding of how to serve those in need of safe, affordable housing.

Women Build Panel

During the Affiliate Conference, we had the opportunity to speak on our booming Women Build program and it’s impact on women in our community. Our CEO, Cynthia Jenkins, and Development Director, Tiffany Cadogan joined our friend from the Honolulu Habitat Affiliate on a panel about Women Build! Tiffany shared ideas on engagement and the experience, while Cynthia talked about our 100 Women Who L.E.A.D initiative.

Our COO, Liz Duncan, was also featured in a Housing Plus session discussing our thriving Home Repair program!

Malachi 3:10 Award

We were one of the few Habitat for Humanity affiliates to be presented with the Malachi 3:10 award at the international conference this year! This award is given to Habitat affiliates who have a lifetime tithe contribution of $500,000. This means so much to us because we get to see our tithes in action. Being able to help others build affordable, safe housing is why we do this. Our tithes have helped over 140 families internationally!

Home Builders Blitz 2018

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JONESBORO, GA [May 24th, 2018] — Southern Crescent Habitat for Humanity (SCHFH) is participating in Habitat for Humanity’s annual Home Builders Blitz. Home Builders Blitz brings together pro­fessional homebuild­ers from all over for one shared pur­pose – to build safe and affordable housing for families in need of a decent place to call home.

Potential Home Builders Blitz Donation Items include: Ceiling Repair, Door & Window Replacement, Electrical Repairs, Install Roofing Shingles, Install Walk-In Shower, New Gutters, New Kitchen Countertops & Sink, Plumbing Repairs, Pull Trusses and Sheath Roof, Replace Flooring, Service HVAC System.

These items will be used to help 3 local homeowners: Slyvia Simmons, Louise Webb and Irene Haney.

Sylvia Simmons lives in Fayetteville, Ga. She is a part of our critical home repair program and is 100% disabled. Unable to do any repairs and living on a fixed income Slyvia is in desperate need of repairs. Her original roof is over 30 years old, rodents and other pests are able to enter the home, and she is unable to use her kitchen sink and stove.

Slyvia’s needs include: Ceiling Repair, Door & Window Replacement, New Gutters, Plumbing Repairs, Replace Flooring.

Louise Webb also lives in Fayetteville, Ga. She is a part of our critical home repair program and lives with her disabled son. They are both physically unable to do necessary repairs and live on fixed incomes. Their bathroom is inaccessible with health and age restrictions, the electrical in the kitchen does not work properly, and all the windows in the home need to be replaced.

Their many safety and accessibility needs include: Electrical Repairs, Install Walk-In Shower, New Kitchen Countertops and Sink, New Gutters, Service HVAC system.

Irene Haney is a resident of Hampton, Ga. She is one of our newest homeowners whose house we have just begun. She has rented for over 30 years and is looking for a place to call her own. We are in need of contractors to help donate labor and or materials.

Irene’s needs include: Installation of Roofing Shingles, Pull Trusses and Sheath Roof.

For more information please contact development@schabitat.org or call Kiera Dunn at (770)-477-2367.

ABOUT HOME BUILDERS BLITZ: 
Home Builders Blitz is a partnership with Habitat for Humanity and the building industry to build and renovate homes across the nation. Home Builders Blitz is an exciting opportunity for Habitat for Humanity and professional builders to partner to build and renovate homes across the nation. Affiliates and builders will work closely together to coordinate this project

ABOUT SOUTHERN CRESCENT HABITAT FOR HUMANITY:
Southern Crescent Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit housing ministry that helps low-income families find opportunity, achieve stability, and improve their quality of life. SCHFH builds stronger families and neighborhoods by partnering with donors and volunteers to construct attractive and affordable homes, to repair existing homes, and to address community needs through neighborhood revitalization. Since its founding in 1986, SCHFH has built 200 homes and repaired 150 homes.

Habitat for Humanity, Lowe’s and more than 18,000 women build with families nationwide during National Women Build Week

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact:

Hillary Stroud
Habitat for Humanity International
404-420-6732
newsroom@habitat.org

Melody Thuston
Lowe’s Companies, Inc.
704-758-0401
Melody.Thuston@lowes.com

Habitat for Humanity, Lowe’s and more than 18,000 women build with families nationwide during National Women Build Week

The 11th annual National Women Build Week empowers women to build safe and decent homes in more than 300 communities nationwide

 

ATLANTA (May 3, 2018) – For the 11th year, Habitat for Humanity and Lowe’s will host the annual National Women Build Week from May 5-13 where thousands of women volunteers and Habitat homeowners will unite nationwide to build up their communities and gain skills in home construction.

 

National Women Build Week encourages women nationwide to devote at least one day to help build decent and affordable housing in their local communities. Women have the strength and determination necessary to build Habitat houses, addressing the problem of affordable housing in a concrete way so that families can achieve stability and independence through safe, decent and affordable homes.

 

In fact, according to a 2018 national study by Lowe’s and Habitat for Humanity, more than nine-in-10 American women believe providing and advocating for access to affordable housing for women can benefit society.[1] The survey also found:

  • Nearly all women (98 percent) agree access to affordable housing helps women heads of household thrive.
  • Having a safe, stable home is a source of pride (96 percent) that makes women feel more confident (98 percent) and independent (97 percent).
  • Three-in-five (62 percent) women say they cannot afford to purchase a home that meets their family’s needs in the neighborhood where they want to live.

“For 11 years, National Women Build Week has brought together thousands of strong women of all construction experience levels to build or repair homes with hardworking, empowered Habitat homeowners to address this critical issue,” said Lisa Marie Nickerson, associate director, Habitat for Humanity International. “We have seen firsthand the strength and independence that homeownership can provide for families. We are thankful for Lowe’s continued support, without which this week would not be possible.”

 

Lowe’s and Habitat share the vision that every woman, man and child have a decent place to lay their heads at night. Far too often, low-income families are faced with choosing between paying their housing costs and buying necessities like food and medical care to provide for their family. National Women Build Week recruits, educates and inspires women to build, and advocate for decent and affordable houses in their communities alongside their future neighbors—making a difference in their community, one nail at a time.

 

“Lowe’s is proud to sponsor National Women Build Week to educate, inspire and empower women to volunteer alongside other women in their community to address the critical issue of affordable housing. We know women working together are an unstoppable force for creating meaningful change in our communities,” said Colleen B. Penhall, Lowe’s vice president of corporate social responsibility. “At Lowe’s, we believe that a safe, stable home is an important source of strength, pride and security for families. Together with Habitat, our Lowe’s Heroes volunteers and women nationwide, National Women Build Week will provide valuable support to advance accessible housing in the communities where we all live and work.”

 

Lowe’s helped launch National Women Build Week in 2008 and has brought together more than 117,000 all-women construction volunteers to build or repair homes with nearly 5,000 families over the past 10 years. This year, Lowe’s donated $2 million to Habitat for Humanity to support the 2018 National Women Build Week, and provides how-to clinics at stores to help equip women volunteers for the builds. Since 2003, Lowe’s has committed over $30 million to Habitat for Humanity International and helped more than 6,500 Habitat families improve their living conditions.

 

Both women and men of all experience levels can participate by signing up to volunteer with their local Habitat organization or by joining the conversation online. As part of National Women Build Week, Lowe’s and Habitat are activating a social movement to generate conversation about building one another up and sharing the message of women empowerment, positivity and action by using #BuildHer and #WomenBuild.

 

About Habitat for Humanity
Driven by the vision that everyone needs a decent place to live, Habitat for Humanity began in 1976 as a grassroots effort on a community farm in southern Georgia. The Christian housing organization has since grown to become a leading global nonprofit working in local communities across all 50 states in the U.S. and in more than 70 countries. Families and individuals in need of a hand up partner with Habitat for Humanity to build or improve a place they can call home. Habitat homeowners help build their own homes alongside volunteers and pay an affordable mortgage. Through financial support, volunteering or adding a voice to support affordable housing, everyone can help families achieve the strength, stability and self-reliance they need to build better lives for themselves. Through shelter, we empower. To learn more, visit habitat.org.

 

About Lowe’s in the Community

Lowe’s, a FORTUNE® 50 home improvement company, has a 60-year legacy of supporting the communities it serves through programs that focus on K-12 public education and community improvement projects. In the past decade, Lowe’s and the Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation together have contributed nearly $300 million to these efforts, and for more than two decades Lowe’s Heroes volunteers have donated their time to make our communities better places to live. For the latest news, visit Newsroom.Lowes.com or follow @LowesMedia on Twitter.

[1] The 2018 Lowe’s and Habitat for Humanity National Women Build Week Survey presents the findings of an online survey conducted by Toluna from April 5-8, 2018 among a random sample of 1,019 American women age 18+. The margin of error for a sample of this size is ± 3% at a 95% level of confidence.

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Wells Fargo builds, donates $15,000 to support affordable housing in Clayton County

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Media Contact: Trisha Pintavorn
trisha.pintavorn@schabitat.org
770-477-2367

LOVEJOY, GA [April 22, 2018] – A team of over sixty volunteers from Wells Fargo joined together with Southern Crescent Habitat for Humanity (SCHFH) to build a home for a family in need in Lovejoy, GA.

Southern Crescent Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit housing ministry that builds and repairs homes for low-income families in Clayton, Henry, and Fayette counties. New home builds are funded by grants, individual donations, and corporate partnerships. Wells Fargo donated $15,000 to the project and hundreds of volunteer hours to a new home build for Southern Crescent Habitat for Humanity partner family Ms. Toyea Casey.

Ms. Casey is a single mother who works two jobs to provide for her three daughters.  She currently works 39 hours a week at Title Max and 24 hours a week at McDonald’s. Of how her life will change once she moves into her Habitat home, Ms. Casey says that, “I think it’ll just make me feel so much more confident, somewhere where now I can call my own, this is my house…. Just the security that this is always going to be home, [having my kids know that] if they were to leave, they can always come back home. Even if something happened to me, this will still be home to them.”

Volunteers put together the walls of Ms. Casey’s home, as well as painted the siding on another Habitat for Humanity home. This was part of a multi-state volunteer effort on Wells Fargo’s part for National Volunteer Month. 

This volunteer event was one of many in a longstanding partnership between Southern Crescent Habitat for Humanity and Wells Fargo. In recent years, Wells Fargo has donated to support neighborhood revitalization efforts across all three counties, volunteered on multiple builds, and helped repair a home for a senior in Fayetteville. The homes Wells Fargo worked on are part of a new 28-home Habitat for Humanity development in Lovejoy, Georgia called Hannah Springs. “We’re so grateful to Wells Fargo for their continued support of our mission,” said Robin Malone, SCHFH Development Manager. “They truly have been a champion of affordable housing in the South Metro Atlanta area.”

ABOUT SOUTHERN CRESCENT HABITAT FOR HUMANITY:

Southern Crescent Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit housing ministry that helps low-income families find opportunity, achieve stability, and improve their quality of life. SCHFH builds stronger families and neighborhoods by partnering with donors and volunteers to construct attractive and affordable homes, to repair existing homes, and to address community needs through neighborhood revitalization. Since its founding in 1986, SCHFH has built 200 homes and repaired 150 homes. Learn more at www.schabitat.org.

ABOUT WELLS FARGO:

Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) is a diversified, community-based financial services company with $1.9 trillion in assets. Wells Fargo’s vision is to satisfy our customers’ financial needs and help them succeed financially. Founded in 1852 and headquartered in San Francisco, Wells Fargo provides banking, investments, mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance through 8,200 locations, 13,000 ATMs, the internet (wellsfargo.com) and mobile banking, and has offices in 42 countries and territories to support customers who conduct business in the global economy. With approximately 265,000 team members, Wells Fargo serves one in three households in the United States. Wells Fargo & Company was ranked No. 25 on Fortune’s 2017 rankings of America’s largest corporations. News, insights and perspectives from Wells Fargo are also available at Wells Fargo Stories.

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The Case for Sustainability in Affordable Housing

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There has been a continued need for affordable housing and with the advances in sustainable practices and products, it may be possible to do more for residents and the environment at a lower cost. Agents have noted an increased desire for green homes or more energy-efficient homes from buyers and this interest will be likely to continue as energy costs soar and many become aware of how construction and transportation related to housing can add to greenhouse gas emissions. Sustainable design practices and energy-efficient materials and products make green and affordable housing a real possibility.

More Interest in Affordable Sustainable Homes

More affordable neighborhoods can be one of the boons of continuous efforts toward sustainable housing. The use of green design and construction, improved transportation options and compact development can do much to keep construction costs down while protecting the environment, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency. It has been found that through the use of green building materials, appliances and techniques, homeowners can expect an average reduction of energy consumption of 33 percent.

A decrease in water use follows closely behind with an estimated 30 percent. This can help potential homeowners reduce much of their energy costs and keep more of their after tax income. An aim to reduce water consumption will be particularly helpful in drought-prone areas. Water-efficiency becomes more important as communities across the nation head into the future. Homeowners benefit from lower energy costs with sustainable homes, while fewer resources are consumed in the environment to satisfy energy demands.

How to Build Sustainably

There have been mistakes on the road to sustainable housing that failed to account for the need for homeowners to live connected to a grid that included transportation and commerce options. Affordable housing design values have changed much since their inception and designers now consider energy-efficiency, context-responsiveness, and healthy environments in the construction of an affordable structure. How can sustainability in design and construction help drive down costs while keeping the practical needs of owners or tenants in mind? Sustainable development can be achieved through:

  • Choosing sites in proximity to schools, public transportation and other needs for more walkable communities.
  • Building structures within town centers or cities with existing infrastructures.
  • Designing units and outdoors spaces with passive design strategies in mind to reduce energy needs naturally.
  • Utilizing LEED and Energy Star checklists to decrease energy consumption.
  • Selecting durable fixtures, equipment, hardware and finishes that are easy to repair.

The choice of incorporating environmentally responsible materials with clean manufacturing process that demonstrate low embodied energy, as well as picking materials and finishes that are not known for creating an unhealthy interior environment, will be useful in meeting environmental needs and those of residents in sustainable communities. Individuals will be able to easily maintain such residences and have many of their needs met within walking distance or through public transportation options when sustainable design techniques and products, and affordable housing needs, are brought together.

Why Think Sustainable?

“Green” affordable housing is becoming a national movement. There are sustainable affordable housing developments in different areas of the country, such as Pittsburgh, PA and Washington, DC. Many states press forward to reduce energy demand as outlined in the EPA’s Clean Power Plan. It is possible to retrofit existing housing as well as construct new sustainable affordable housing to meet growing housing demands.

Affordable housing and green housing is not only a trend that will benefit low-income residents. Sustainable housing, passive design and green products and systems are attractive to millenials looking to cut energy costs and are willing to pay a bit more to purchase a home when a home is built sustainably or has green upgrades to reduce their long-term energy costs. Different demographic groups can benefit from the trend to make housing greener and more affordable.

Guest post by realtor Gary Ashton with The Ashton Real Estate Group. You can find Gary on Twitter and LinkedIn. Contact our team at development@schabitat.org for guest post inquiries. 

SCHFH invites the faith community to join together for “Lent Build” in 40 days of prayer, service, and sacrifice

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Media Contact: Trisha Pintavorn
trisha.pintavorn@schabitat.org
770-477-2367

Lovejoy, GA [February 13, 2018] – Southern Crescent Habitat for Humanity (SCHFH), a local affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, is launching its first ever Lent Build. Lent Build provides an opportunity for congregations to grow in their faith by giving back to support affordable housing. The public is invited to participate in this time of prayer, fellowship, construction, and fundraising between February 14th and March 29th in Fayette County, Clayton County and Henry County.

“Habitat is a ministry built on demonstrating the love of Jesus with a vision of providing decent and safe housing.  This season of Lent, we are bringing people together to not only build homes, but to build fellowship in our communities and focus on our shared future and the hope of our faith,” said Cynthia E. Jenkins. “You can participate in several ways in each of the counties in our service area.  We hope you will join us in prayer, our weekly devotional, building, and fundraising for families in need in your county. We also have a prayer request list online for all of our families and community members who are in need this Lenten season. Visit our website to obtain the daily prayer list, blessings donation calendar, sign up for a build day, and find the nearest location for the devotionals.”

Since 1986, Southern Crescent Habitat for Humanity has been using volunteer-led construction to build, repair, and rehab affordable homes for low-income families in Clayton, Henry, and Fayette counties in South Metro Atlanta. Southern Crescent Habitat homes and neighborhoods are located in cities all around the area such as Forest Park, Riverdale, McDonough, College Park, and Jonesboro. Habitat homeowners make between 30% and 80% of the area median income. They must pay a monthly affordable mortgage and contribute 250 hours of “sweat equity” in the construction of Habitat homes, in addition to taking 50 hours of home maintenance and financial literacy courses so they are prepared to pay for and maintain their homes. To date, SCHFH has impacted the lives of 300 hardworking families with a hand-up, not a hand-out.

To sign up and learn more, please visit www.schabitat.org/lentbuild, call the organization at 770.477.2367, or email Trisha Pintavorn at development@schabitat.org.

If you would like to make a contribution by mail, please send checks to:

Southern Crescent Habitat for Humanity

9570 Tara Blvd

Jonesboro, GA  30236

Memo: Lent Build
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Ms. Gloria Saussy, a senior living in Riverdale, needs your help today.

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Media Contact
Name: Trisha Pintavorn
Title: Marketing and Communications Manager at
Southern Crescent Habitat for Humanity
E-mail: Trisha.Pintavorn@schabitat.org
Office:  770-477-2367 

RIVERDALE, GA [November 14, 2017] — Ms. Gloria Saussy is one of a dozen senior homeowners currently in need of repairs on our Home Repair waitlist. She worked as an office manager for 42 years and raised three children as a single mother.  She currently is retired due to disabilities and lives in Riverdale: “I moved into the home in 2006, and then just two years later I had both my knees replaced. But even after that I went back to work and things were working out just fine, but four years later, here we go again. My health just deteriorated, and it deteriorated so quickly that it was scary.”

Ms. Saussy suffers from fibromyalgia, a painful disease which does not currently have a known cause or cure: “I’ll be fine one day, then the next day, I’m flat on my back. But we found out what the issues were and started working on it. I won’t get cured but I can live. And with Habitat for Humanity, I can live with contentment.”

Our Home Repair program requires about 48 “sweat equity” or volunteer hours for seniors in our home repair program. But Ms. Saussy has doubled her hours. She put in time by helping out at the Habitat office and at our outreach tables at community events.  She loves the homeowner education and financial literacy classes she has taken with us, especially the Dave Ramsey Financial Peace University courses.

As Ms. Saussy waits on our wait list, her home becomes more and more damaged by water from her leaking roof. A hole has opened up in her garage ceiling, and water stains have begun to spread into her living room. We are fundraising all month along for Ms. Saussy’s project, along with other senior homeowners in need.

If you would like to give to help with Gloria’s repairs, please consider contributing at schabitat.org/gagivesday. 

ABOUT SOUTHERN CRESCENT HABITAT FOR HUMANITY:

Southern Crescent Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit housing ministry that helps low-income families find opportunity, achieve stability, and improve their quality of life. SCHFH builds stronger families and neighborhoods by partnering with donors and volunteers to construct attractive and affordable homes, to repair existing homes, and to address community needs through neighborhood revitalization. Since its founding in 1986, SCHFH has built 200 homes and repaired 150 homes.

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Can you help us repair the roof over her head?

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Media Contact
Name: Trisha Pintavorn
Title: Marketing and Communications Manager at
Southern Crescent Habitat for Humanity
E-mail: Trisha.Pintavorn@schabitat.org
Office:  770-477-2367

 

FAYETTEVILLE, GA [November 7, 2017] — Volicia Scott is one of a dozen senior homeowners currently in need of repairs on our Home Repair wait list. She has committed her entire life to serving others. Ten years ago, Ms. Scott bought her home in Fayetteville, Georgia. Over the years, she has fostered 15 children and adopted two kids: her special needs 8-year-old son (pictured) and her 15-year-old daughter who they had nowhere else to go. She now works with another nonprofit in tandem with the SNAP program and Grady Hospital to help homeless people with HIV/AIDs.

When asked what defines her life, she says that “It’s about service. I’ll be 65 this year, and I think in the last 20 years I’ve really come full-circle in terms of being humble and serving.” Now, we hope to come together and give back to this lifelong giver by repairing her leaking roof, water damage, and damaged ductwork among other repairs.

As Ms. Scott lingers on our waitlist, her home becomes more and more damaged by water from her leaking roof. We are fundraising all month along for her project, along with other senior homeowners in need. Please help us fund her project today with a donation.

Click here to give today to repair homes and restore hope.

 

ABOUT SOUTHERN CRESCENT HABITAT FOR HUMANITY:

Southern Crescent Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit housing ministry that helps low-income families find opportunity, achieve stability, and improve their quality of life. SCHFH builds stronger families and neighborhoods by partnering with donors and volunteers to construct attractive and affordable homes, to repair existing homes, and to address community needs through neighborhood revitalization. Since its founding in 1986, SCHFH has built 200 homes and repaired 150 homes.

ABOUT GA GIVES ON GIVING TUESDAY:

GAgives, rooted in the Thanksgiving season, has raised more than $13.5 million in donations for nearly 2,700 Georgia nonprofits since 2012. Led by the Georgia Center for Nonprofits, the GAgives initiative maintains an online fundraising platform, GAgives.org, free to use for any registered 501c3 in the state; it also helps teach and mobilize everyone with a stake in the community – organizations, corporate sponsors, government agencies, media partners, and citizens – to raise awareness and support for nonprofits.

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Georgia Gives on Giving Tuesday: Southern Crescent Habitat for Humanity is fundraising for seniors in need of home repairs

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Media Contact
Name: Trisha Pintavorn
Title: Marketing and Communications Manager at
Southern Crescent Habitat for Humanity
E-mail: Trisha.Pintavorn@schabitat.org
Office:  770-477-2367
Mobile: 404-694-0507

JONESBORO, GA [November 1, 2017] —Southern Crescent Habitat for Humanity (SCHFH) is joining 2,000 other Georgia nonprofits this month as they participate in Georgia Gives on Giving Tuesday. Georgia Gives is a statewide event run by the Georgia Center for Nonprofits that helps the community balance holiday “getting” with community “giving.”

Georgia Gives on Giving Tuesday will happen this year on November 28th, 2017, the Tuesday following Thanksgiving.  SCHFH is asking the South Metro Atlanta area community to come together to help low-to-moderate income seniors with home repairs in Fayette, Henry, and Clayton counties. Last year, SCHFH raised more than $7,000 towards building a home for a veteran in need. This year, SCHFH hopes to raise $10,000 for senior home repairs.

“Unfortunately, our wait list for home repairs has grown longer and longer. We simply don’t have enough funding for all of the repairs this year. Right now, there are a dozen senior homeowners in need,” said Cynthia E. Jenkins, CEO of Southern Crescent Habitat. “Seniors are especially vulnerable since many are living on fixed incomes. They want to stay in the homes that they have purchased, but they are in need of accessibility improvements as they age in place.”

All month long, Southern Crescent Habitat for Humanity will be highlighting the stories of the senior homeowners in need of repairs. One homeowner, Volicia Scott, is a senior living in Fayetteville, Georgia. Her home has damage from a leaking roof. She fostered kids throughout her life, and currently works with homeless people with HIV at a small nonprofit. As a senior, she adopted two of the children that she was fostering: a 15-year-old girl and an 8-year-old boy with special needs.

“At this point, I’m not ahead of this house. Now, we’re having a lot of rain and I find that the roof is leaking. I would love to be able to leave [this house] to these children if I can, if it’s liveable,” says Ms. Scott.

Another homeowner, Gloria Saussy, lives in Riverdale. She also has a leaking roof that has caused a hole to open up in her garage ceiling. She is a single mother of 3 and worked for 40 years as an office manager before having to retire due to disabilities.

“Water coming into my home is what got me,” says Ms. Saussy. “It started in the garage and so it started very small, I didn’t notice it at first, and the next thing I noticed was that the hole kept getting bigger and bigger. Then water started coming through my chimney, and in my living room, there are some water spots coming in.”

Perhaps most dire of all is the home of Gloria and Alvin Johnson, seniors living in Jonesboro, GA. The roof is leaking in multiple places, opening up a hole in their bedroom, causing their living room to sag. Mold has become a problem as well.

The couple tries their best to keep their faith and hopes up: “At least we’re not under the bridge. That’s how we look at it. I just pray on it. If God sees it fit for us to have it, He’ll put it there,” says Mrs. Johnson.

SCHFH hopes to raise $10,000 in order to help complete some of these repairs.

“We know that $10,000 is a tall order, but we are confident that our community can come together and raise the funds needed,” said Cynthia E. Jenkins.

Donors can give online at schabitat.org/gagivesday or mail checks to 9570 Tara Blvd. Jonesboro, GA 30236, written out to “Southern Crescent Habitat for Humanity.”

ABOUT SOUTHERN CRESCENT HABITAT FOR HUMANITY:

Southern Crescent Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit housing ministry that helps low-income families find opportunity, achieve stability, and improve their quality of life. SCHFH builds stronger families and neighborhoods by partnering with donors and volunteers to construct attractive and affordable homes, to repair existing homes, and to address community needs through neighborhood revitalization. Since its founding in 1986, SCHFH has built 200 homes and repaired 150 homes.

ABOUT GA GIVES ON GIVING TUESDAY:

GAgives, rooted in the Thanksgiving season, has raised more than $13.5 million in donations for nearly 2,700 Georgia nonprofits since 2012. Led by the Georgia Center for Nonprofits, the GAgives initiative maintains an online fundraising platform, GAgives.org, free to use for any registered 501c3 in the state; it also helps teach and mobilize everyone with a stake in the community – organizations, corporate sponsors, government agencies, media partners, and citizens – to raise awareness and support for nonprofits.

ABOUT THE GEORGIA CENTER OF NONPROFITS:

The Georgia Center for Nonprofits builds thriving communities by helping nonprofits succeed. Through a powerful mix of advocacy, solutions for nonprofit effectiveness, and insight building tools, GCN provides nonprofits, board members and donors with the tools they need to strengthen organizations that make a difference on important causes throughout Georgia. Learn more at gcn.org.

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Outhouse no more! Southern Crescent Habitat for Humanity finishes bathroom for Fayetteville senior Walter Prayor

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Media Contact
Name: Trisha Pintavorn
Title: Marketing and Communications Manager at
Southern Crescent Habitat for Humanity
E-mail: Trisha.Pintavorn@schabitat.org
Office:  770-477-2367
Mobile: 404-694-0507

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FAYETTE COUNTY, GA [October 27, 2017] —On Friday, October 27, 2017, Southern Crescent Habitat for Humanity (SCHFH) celebrated the completion of a bathroom installation and home repair for senior Fayette County citizen Walter Prayor. Mr. Prayor, 82, had been using an outhouse and bucket showers his entire life. Mayor Ed Johnson from the City of Fayetteville said a few words of welcome, and Pastor Stephen Palmer from the Church of the Harvest Fayetteville blessed the home at a small ceremony. Volunteers, SCHFH staff, SCHFH board members, and donors from the project were also in attendance.

Mr. Prayor was referred to Southern Crescent Habitat for Humanity by his Meals on Wheels Coordinator, Marie Doyle, at Fayette Senior Services. In December of 2016, Ms. Doyle asked Mr. Prayor’s daughter, Francine Prayor, what her dad wanted for Christmas.  She told her that he wanted a bathroom. Ms. Doyle then put Francine and Walter in touch with Southern Crescent Habitat for Humanity.

 Southern Crescent Habitat for Humanity was able to raise enough funds to complete the $25,000 repair.  The project was funded by the following organizations: a GoFundMe campaign, a grant from a Coweta-Fayette EMC, a grant from the Wells Fargo Housing Foundation, a grant from the North Georgia Housing & Homeless Council, hundreds of volunteer hours, proceeds from the Pinewood Studios Winter Gala, and a donated septic tank system and labor from Terry Long’s Backhoe & Grading. SCHFH completed the bathroom installation with an ADA walk-in shower, as well as other home modifications including a small kitchen renovation and new exterior paint, in September 2017.

At the ceremony, Francine Prayor read a letter out loud that Walter had written to the organization: ” Everyone went above and beyond for me. They were truly incredible. I shed a tear each and every day.”

“We’re so happy to have met Mr. Prayor, and along with many, many volunteers and donors, to have been able to affect change within his life. I know everyone was surprised when we heard that someone has an outhouse in 2017 [and thought] we’ve got to do something about this. And with your help, and with the skillset of people within our organization, we were able to give Mr. Prayor a bathroom. Mr. Prayor, we count it a privilege to have been able to do this for you,” said Ms. Cynthia E. Jenkins, Southern Crescent Habitat for Humanity CEO.

“I want to commend Habitat for Humanity for recognizing the community responsibility to be our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers,” added Mayor Johnson, City of Fayetteville. “Habitat for Humanity is fulfilling that by seeing a man like you, who is just humble beyond measure but has continued to contribute to our community, and building that restroom for you. I am delighted to say on behalf of the City of Fayetteville congratulations! We celebrate with you.”

Southern Crescent Habitat for Humanity will launch a fundraising campaign this November for senior homeowners living in Fayette, Clayton, and Henry Counties who are in need of home repairs, just like Mr. Prayor. If you would like to learn more or donate, please visit schabitat.org. If you know of a family in need of home repairs, please ask them to email SCHFH’s Family Services Coordinator Megan Hepker at megan.hepker@schabitat.org.

View more photos from the project here. 

ABOUT SOUTHERN CRESCENT HABITAT FOR HUMANITY:

Southern Crescent Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit housing ministry that helps low-income families find opportunity, achieve stability, and improve their quality of life. SCHFH builds stronger families and neighborhoods by partnering with donors and volunteers to construct attractive and affordable homes, to repair existing homes, and to address community needs through neighborhood revitalization. Since its founding in 1986, SCHFH has built 200 homes and repaired 150 homes in Clayton, Henry, & Fayette Counties.

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