Southern Crescent Habitat for Humanity celebrates 37th Anniversary with the dedication of their 216th home!

The Miller Family prepares to cut the ribbon of their new home standing with Southern Crescent CEO Cynthia Jenkins and Board Members, Jule Segner and Dave Hesterlee.

On Tuesday October 3, 2023, Southern Crescent Habitat for Humanity celebrated 37 years of building homes and hope in our service communities. What better way to celebrate than by hosting the dedication our 216th home! We welcomed the Miller Family to their new home with a dedication and blessing ceremony. The day was filled with fun, food, and fellowship as members of our team, past volunteers, and our partner family all shared stories about working together to get to this momentous day.

A new beginning

Nyesha is a hardworking single mother of three who never thought homeownership would be possible. Although she is a Texas Native, she has called the South Metro Atlanta area home for many years. With an entrepreneurial spirit, she currently runs a balloon business while working her regular 9-5 to make sure she can provide for her family.

Due to rising rent and unforeseen circumstances, her oldest daughter and father have now moved in with her and her youngest son. The idea of multigenerational living is becoming the new normal with the inflated cost of living. Nyesha says that she is “looking forward to building from this investment (home) and leaving something to her children.”

This home dedication would not have been possible without the sponsorship of Publix Supermarket Charities and Clayton County Government. We are beyond grateful for your continued support of our affiliate and help to make the dream of homeownership possible for all.

The Class of 2023 Habitat Grads!

At Southern Crescent Habitat for Humanity, our mission extends far beyond the construction of homes. It’s about building stronger communities and providing a stable foundation for families to thrive. We proudly celebrate a remarkable achievement – the graduation of several students from various levels of schooling, all of whom are the children of our Habitat homeowners.

Research consistently shows that stable housing plays a crucial role in a child’s success as they grow up, and these graduates exemplify this truth. The positive impact of homeownership on a child’s development cannot be overstated, and their stories are a testament to this fact.

Introducing our Class of 2023 Southern Crescent Grads!!!

Pharaoh is a graduating senior and has been in a Habitat Home for 9 years.

These young ladies are siblings and their family has been in their Habitat Home for 8 years. Kashara is a graduating senior, Tamya is graduating from elementary school and Daria is graduating from Pre-K.


Rayne is graduating from elementary school and her family has been in their Habitat Home for 12 years.

We are beyond proud of our Habitat Grads for accomplishing these milestones. We wish you all nothing but the best in achieving your goals and endeavors!

Southern Crescent Habitat for Humanity wins award for “Raising the Bar” in the state of Georgia

Southern Crescent Habitat for Humanity Team accepting Raising the Bar Award

Around the state of Georgia, many people aren’t familiar with the region known as Southern Crescent, but we are continuing to make our mark on the a vital issue of affordable housing. Southern Crescent Habitat for Humanity represented well for the Metro Atlanta area by winning the “Raising the Bar” award at the Habitat Georgia Affiliate Conference in Savannah, GA.

Since 1986, Southern Crescent Habitat has been building safe and affordable housing in Clayton, Henry, and Fayette counties. Over the last 36 years, we have provided over 450 families with stability through our homeownership and home repair programs. This year alone, we have helped 15 families, many who are seniors and veterans.

We were selected for the award out of 45 Habitat affiliates in the entire state of Georgia. The “Raising the Bar” award is given to a Habitat affiliate who uses innovation and creativity to amplify Habitat’s mission of building, homes, community, and hope through social media and marketing campaigns. Southern Crescent Habitat for Humanity was selected for our inaugural “Homecoming Week” in which we celebrated our 36th anniversary, mortgage payoffs, a home dedication, and even hosted a community tailgate at their McDonough ReStore.

Southern Crescent Habitat for Humanity's Raising the Bar award
Raising the Bar Award
Southern Crescent Habitat for Humanity team with Savannah Mayor Van johnson
SCHFH team with Savannah Mayor Van Johnson

In addition to receiving the award, CEO Cynthia Jenkins and Development Director Tiffany Cadogan spoke on panels geared towards their areas of expertise. Southern Crescent Habitat Homeowner, Shaneeka Grant, also left the attendees feeling motivated and hopeful after sharing her journey to homeownership.

Reflecting on a Successful Women Build Event: Southern Crescent HFH Empowers Women and Builds Home for a Brighter Future

Every May, people around the country prepare to pay homage to their mothers or mother figures in their life. This year, several women from the Metro Atlanta area joined Southern Crescent Habitat for Humanity and this year’s Women Build title sponsor, Camille Rose Naturals, to help a single mother in their community achieve the dream of homeownership. Through the Women Build initiative, women nationwide devote at least one day to build decent and affordable housing in their local communities. Women-led crews along with our Women Build ambassadors worked on a new construction home in Riverdale, GA for five days straight, May 2nd – 6th.

Participants not only invested their time but financially contributed to addressing the vital issue of affordable housing and equity building. Statistics show that women, especially those who serve as head of their families and women of color, disproportionately face obstacles that make accessing decent, affordable housing seem impossible. The week-long build also provided a platform for women volunteers to flex their muscles and showcase their construction skills.


SCHFH was able to exceed the fundraising goal of $35,000 thanks to our sponsors and donations from various organizations, including 100 Ladies Who L.E.A.D, ExecuSource, HFHI BEST, iThink Financial, Southern Crescent Women In Business, and many others. Our sponsors were Jacobs, SCB Video TV Marketing and Camille Rose Naturals as our Title Sponsor. The event also saw the participation of female executives from these organizations who lent their support in various building activities.

“When this opportunity came to us, I jumped at it! So thank you guys, I know you’re thanking me, but I’m thanking you, for allowing our brand to be a part of something that is just this huge blessing to you and your family.” said Janell Stephens, Founder & CEO of Camille Rose Naturals and Women Build 2023 Ambassador as she shared words with the future homeowner.

Southern Crescent Habitat for Humanity is deeply grateful to all the volunteers, sponsors, and partners who helped make this year’s Women Build Week a great success. Special thanks to our other ambassadors Michelle Amara of SCB Video TV Marketing, Danielle Smith Clayton County Tax Commissioner & Owner of the D. Smith Agency, and DeBlair Tate Author & Wellness Coach. The organization remains committed to building more affordable homes for families in need, with a vision of creating a world where everyone has a decent place to call home.

PHOTOS

Day 1: SCBTV and friends

Day 2: HFHI Best, iThink Financial

Day 3: Execusource, Southern Crescent Women in Business

Day 4: Jacobs, Progress Residential

Day 5: Camille Rose and friends

Southern Crescent Habitat CEO Cynthia Jenkins presented with Leadership Award at South Metro Development Outlook Conference

SCHFH CEO Cynthia Jenkins (center) presented with Leadership Award by Adrienne Goolsby, Senior Vice President of U.S. and Canada at HFHI (left), and The Collaborative Firm’s Michael Hightower (right) at the South Metro Development Outlook Conference.

ATLANTA, GA (March 22, 2023) – On Wednesday, March 8, 2023, The Collaborative Firm hosted the 21st South Metro Development Outlook (SMDO) Conference at the Georgia International Convention Center.  The annual summit presented this year by Amazon, attracted over 700 attendees with a vested interest to receive integral insight from the Southern Regions’ leading elected officials, government leaders, and corporate executives.  This year’s featured speakers included City of Atlanta Mayor Andre DickensCollie Greenwood, General Manager & CEO of MARTA; Balram “B” Bheodari, General Manager of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and many others.    

“I am very pleased with the feedback our firm received regarding SMDO2023.  It was projected to be as successful and informative as our past two decades, and we delivered with a record number in attendance,” said Michael Hightower, Managing Partner of The Collaborative Firm and host of the South Metro Development Outlook. “Our powerhouse line up of speakers which included subject matter experts, professionals, and community leaders offered in-depth as well as candid discussions and strategies regarding the transformation of South Metro Atlanta and contributed to the success of this year’s conference.”  

Program highlights from this year’s theme “Transforming the Future”, included Economic Forecast & Regional GrowthExploring Georgia’s Political Landscape TodayImpact of Innovative and Emerging Technology; MARTA On the Move in South Metro; among others.   

In addition to examining the current economic trajectory, SMDO2023 recognized individuals and businesses who have left an indelible impact on the industry. This year’s honorees included: Amazon, Presenting Sponsor Award; City of Stockbridge Amphitheater, Public Impact Award; Myrna White, Assistant General Manager, Office of Public & International Affairs, at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Legacy Award recipient; Chris Pumphrey, President of Elevate Douglas Economic Partnership, Economic Development Award recipient; Eldrin Bell, former Clayton County Chairman, Public Service Award recipient; Joy B. Day, former Mayor City of Jonesboro; and Cynthia Jenkins, CEO of Southern Crescent Habitat for Humanity, Leadership Award recipient.   

Additional key sponsors include ATL Airport CID, HNTB, and The Collaborative Firm.

Southern Crescent Habitat Kicks Off Women’s History Month with Sip & Shop hosted by Camille Rose Naturals CEO

Southern Crescent Habitat for Humanity celebrated Women’s History Month and their Women Build kick-off last night at the McDonough ReStore. Women from around the South Metro Atlanta area joined fellow entrepreneurs, professionals, and those wanting to make a difference in their community for a fun filled evening. Hosted by Janell Stephens, the Founder and CEO of Camille Rose, attendees received gift bags filled with their latest products and had the opportunity to shop over a dozen women-owned businesses.

In addition to photo and networking opportunities, attendees received motivational gems from our all women panel which consisted of SCHFH CEO Cynthia Jenkins and Women Build Ambassadors: Janell Stephens of Camille Rose and Danielle Smith, the 1st African American woman to serve as Tax Commissioner of Clayton County, GA.

The vendors included:

Walmart Health, Lady Moss Boss, Bind & Loose Clothing, Life in Tee, Academy Properties, Lemongrass Spa, The Irby Clothier, Moxie Mats, Derek Campbell Insurance, Geeked About Treats, Unique Expression by Design, and Snapfinger Scoops.

Additional Sip & Shop Photos

The Lake Spivey Chapter of Jack and Jill Thanksgiving Build

Caleb Robinson is a senior at Woodward Academy who has a passion to help his community. Serving as the Youth Engagement Intern at Southern Crescent Habitat for Humanity, he has done everything from build walls to generate creative ideas.


Caleb decided to enlist the help of his friends and fellow members of The Lake Spivey Chapter of Jack and Jill to help a family get one step closer to living in their own home. The group painted and built a shed for our next homeowner in McDonough, GA. With the help of fellow students, Caleb and The Lake Spivey Chapter of Jack and Jill were able to raise over $2,150!


Southern Crescent Habitat for Humanity builds affordable homes and completes home repairs for income-qualified families, who need a hand up, not a handout. Through education and financial literacy, families are prepared to be successful homeowners. By partnerships with volunteers and donors in Henry, Clayton and Fayette Counties, their mission of building homes, communities and hope is possible. Since 1986, we have built, renovated and repaired more than 400 homes. For more information, please visit us at www.schabitat.org.

We’re Building Healthy Homes this Giving Tuesday!

This #GivingTuesday Southern Crescent Habitat hopes to surpass our $50,000 goal with your help!

Southern Crescent Habitat for Humanity is on a mission to ensure that individuals in Clayton, Henry, and Fayette counties don’t have to choose between which basic necessity they are able to provide for their families. Because of our homeownership and home repair programs, many of the families we partner with are able to focus on adequate heath care instead of spending the majority of their income on housing or repairs.

Housing and health equity are deeply intertwined. Poor housing conditions and the lack of affordable housing are associated with negative health outcomes. In Georgia, 1 in 7 households are severely cost-burdened — those spending more than 50% of their income on housing — and devote 57% less of their total expenditures to health care than non-cost-burdened households at similar income levels. 

Whether through campaigns for our essential workers or ensuring that or older population is able to age in place, we know housing has a huge impact on health. In fact, it’s proven that providing access to stable and affordable housing improves health and reduces health care costs.

As we celebrate 36 years of building homes and hope, we know that the work we do is only possible because of your support! Your gifts have impacted thousands of individuals, giving them healthy environments to thrive and building a community of neighbors – but there is still much work to do.

Your gift today means families like Nilka’s and Shaneeka’s will have a stable, healthy foundation on which to build a future. As seen throughout the pandemic, home is vital to your health and we are doing our part to build healthy homes through our programs.

Giving Tuesday is November 29th and Southern Crescent Habitat invites you to join us as we continue to build healthy homes in the South Metro Atlanta region

Here is how you can get ready to give:

  1. Mark your calendar: Add Giving Tuesday 
  2.  Give. Now through November 29th, go to www.schabitat.org/gagives and donate. You can also support our organization by joining a committee, starting a fundraiser, or volunteer on a build site. All donations are 100% tax-deductible.
  3. Spread the word. Encourage your friends and family to join you in creating real impact on November 29th by sharing what our mission means to you and why you support our organization . Make sure to use hashtags #BuildwithSCHabitat #GAgives #GivingTuesday #gagenerosity and tag us so we can share!

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 helped over 430 families with homeownership and home repairs.

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.

Southern Crescent Habitat for Humanity addresses home safety and health in South Metro Atlanta region thanks to $30,000 grant from Lowe’s

Thanks to the Lowe’s Grant, Ms. Crawford received a new roof, bathroom repairs, HVAC servicing, and more.

JONESBORO, GA (October 27, 2022) —Southern Crescent Habitat received a $30,000 grant from Lowe’s to help complete three Critical Home Repair projects for seniors in the South Metro Atlanta region. The funding is part of Lowe’s partnership renewal with Habitat for Humanity that includes a donation of $2.5 million to support 100 local Habitat organizations undertaking home repair and rehab projects across the U.S.

“With the state of the economy, so many people are trying to maintain and preserve the homes that they’ve worked so hard to build. We are excited that through the Lowe’s grant, we have helped three more families with extensive repairs that they may not have otherwise been able to afford,” exclaims COO Elizabeth Duncan.

Southern Crescent Habitat focused its efforts on aiding seniors who were in dire need of critical home repair. With 10,000 people turning 65 each day, the need for safety and home modifications is growing in communities. Not only did the home repairs provide the seniors with a peace of mind, but it will allow them to age in place. Some of the projects included roofing, bathroom modifications, and HVAC replacements.

Homeowner Ms. Bryant is a cancer patient that is currently in the process of receiving her repairs. She contacted Sothern Crescent Habitat because her “house of 27 years needed some repairs, and she didn’t have the money.”

Access to quality, affordable home repair and modification services continues to be out of reach for low to moderate income households across the nation. With the support of this funding, Southern Crescent Habitat can further its efforts of helping families in Clayton, Henry, and Fayette counties address critical health and safety issues in their homes.

Lowe’s and Habitat began their partnership in 2003. Since then, Lowe’s has supported many of the global housing nonprofit’s efforts, including the Women Build Program and Habitat’s Neighborhood Revitalization program. Lowe’s has also supported Habitat’s Cost of Home national advocacy campaign and sponsored local Habitat builds and employee volunteer days, in addition to providing affiliate grants and donated products. Lowe’s commitment through 2022 will bring the company’s total contributions to Habitat to more than $84 million.

About Southern Crescent Habitat for Humanity

Southern Crescent Habitat for Humanity builds affordable homes and completes home repairs for income-qualified families, who need a hand up, not a handout. Through education and financial literacy, families are prepared to be successful homeowners.  By partnerships with volunteers and donors in Clayton, Henry, and Fayette Counties, their mission of building homes, communities and hope is possible.  Since 1986, they have built, renovated and repaired more than 420 homes.  For more information, please visit us at www.schabitat.org.

About Lowe’s

Lowe’s Companies, Inc. is a FORTUNE 50 home improvement company serving approximately 19 million customer transactions a week in the United States and Canada. With fiscal year 2021 sales of over $96 billion, Lowe’s and its related businesses operate or service nearly 2,200 home improvement and hardware stores and employ over 300,000 associates. Based in Mooresville, N.C., Lowe’s supports the communities it serves through programs focused on creating safe, affordable housing and helping to develop the next generation of skilled trade experts. For more information, visit Lowes.com.

Homecoming Week

Our Inaugral Homecoming Week will take place October 3rd-8th, 2022. Check out all the great events and come celebrate with us! Please download our #CostofHome flyer and take a photo for our socials Monday, October 3rd. Celebrate at our Alumni Mixer October 4th, Sign-a-Stud at our ReStore event Thursday Oct. 6th. Join us Friday, Oct. 7th for Markysa’s home dedication, and finally join us Oct. 8th at our Restore for our anniversary sale and tailgate experience! You don’t want to miss this! We’re so excited to celebrate with you!

Please click above to download the #costofhome flyers.