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

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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.

CEO & Founder of Camille Rose, Janell Stephens
The Camille Rose Team

“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

We’re Building Healthy Homes this Giving Tuesday!

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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.

SHANEEKA, Habitat Homeowner
NILKA, Future Habitat Homeowner

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.

Homecoming Week

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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.

100 Women Who L.E.A.D. Kickoff Breakfast a success!

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Southern Crescent Habitat for Humanity hosted our inaugural 100 Women Who L.E.A.D. Kickoff Breakfast on September 13th at Living Faith Tabernacle in Forest Park, GA. The event was a great opportunity for women to network and learn more about our mission.

Shaneeka Grant, our newest homeowner, shared her family’s journey and how Southern Crescent Habitat helped her fulfill a life long dream of homeownership. By the end of her testimony, the room was filled with tears and applause. The face of housing affordability is changing and Ms. Grant is a prime example of how everyone could use a hand up.

Barbara Coleman, a past Women Build Ambassador, shared her Southern Crescent Habitat experience and encouraged other women to get involved in their community.

100 Women Who L.E.A.D. (Link, Empower, Advocate, Donate) is an initiative created by our CEO, Cynthia Jenkins. The goal is to draw women from Clayton, Henry, and Fayette counties who may not be able to volunteer regularly, but believe in our vision that everyone deserves a decent place to live. Each member will donate $100 quarterly to a Habitat initiative in each county. That’s 4 events, $400, for a forever impact! One of the biggest events hosted by the 100 Women is our annual Women Build. 

Southern Crescent Habitat for Humanity receives grant from Lowe’s!

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Lowe’s Partnership Renewal

Southern Crescent Habitat for Humanity is excited to share that we were selected as a recipient of the Lowe’s Housing Plus Grant. This funding is a 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.

This year, 100 local Habitat affiliates will complete 628 projects, including 67 critical home repairs, 276 home preservations, and 285 housing plus projects to provide aging-in-place solutions that help make homes safe and accessible.

Helping families, fixing homes

Across our country access to quality, affordable home repair, and modification services are almost inaccessible to those with low to moderate incomes. With the support of this grant, we will be able to further help 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.

Cans for Homes

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Joining the Cars for Homes Novelis partnership

Novelis and Southern Crescent Habitat for Humanity have joined forces for an initiative to encourage our local communities to recycle more. Novelis is providing recycling bins and monetary grants to help Habitat for Humanity increase neighborhood sustainability across the U.S. and Canada. Novelis and Habitat for Humanity have also joined forces for an initiative to encourage local communities to recycle more. Novelis is a global producer of aluminum rolled products and recycler of aluminum. Their employees have volunteered on various Habitat house builds and have initiated fundraisers to help build homes in partnership with families in their communities.

Southern Crescent joins the fun

Here at Southern Crescent, we take recycling seriously. We joined this partnership with Novelis to help build more homes for families in need. Each can we collect helps build homes in our areas of Fayette, Clayton, and Henry counties. We can’t do this without you. Please bring in your aluminum cans to our ReStore at 1465 GA-20, McDonough, GA 30253 or schedule a pickup from our office. Schedule a time to drop off your cans between Tuesday – Thursday at our office or our ReStore. We will be collecting cans until the end of the year. Thank you for your support in helping our families.

Older Americans Month Celebration

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During the month of May, we celebrate Older Americans Month. Throughout this month, we highlight older Americans that have been aging in place gracefully with Southern Crescent Habitat for Humanity’s help. We also acknowledge the Gray Ghosts volunteers who give their time and knowledge to help our staff with builds and repairs.

Aging in Place

At Southern Crescent Habitat for Humanity, they strive to keep older Americans in their homes. Installing bars in the bathroom shower and railings up the stairs are some of the ways they help to give older citizens help while they still keep their sense of independence. Throughout our time working to repair and help keep them in their homes, new floors have been added, wheelchair and mobility access has been added, doorways have been widened and bathrooms have received mobility updates. Southern Crescent Habitat for Humanity has also built a community geared towards the older population in the counties it serves. Because of this, they can live in their homes with a better sense of self-reliance. Their homes have been built with their age in mind. They have a greater sense of community, they know their neighbors and they help each other if needed.

Gray Ghosts

Southern Crescent Habitat for Humanity’s Gray Ghosts gives their time to volunteer and their knowledge to help our staff on home build sites and repairs for families. They are included in projects and have input. They do more than donate their time, they share their experience and knowledge with us. Each time a Gray Ghosts helps us, we know that the homeowner is getting the best.

Celebrating our Older Americans

Mr. Jones working with Home Depot to build the walls of his future home.

Over the past month, we’ve had the opportunity to speak with several of our older homeowners about celebrating Older Americans Month and Aging in Place. We recently did an interview with one of our homeowners named Mr. Jones. We spoke about future plans, what homeownership means to him and if he has any advice for those applying to our program in the future.

1. What made you apply to us? “A friend of mine created a flyer of the opportunity meeting for potential homeowners and insisted that I should attend.”

2. How was your experience working with us? “Working with Southern Crescent Habitat for Humanity was wonderful.”

3. What does home ownership mean to you? “Homeownership means peace of mind, security, stability, joy and so much more.”

4. Do you have any recommendations for us? “I encourage you to continue God’s work pertaining to Southern Crescent Habitat for Humanity’s mission.”

5. Do you have any future plans for your home? “I’m thinking about putting in some rose bushes.”

6. Do you have any advice for others wanting to apply to our program? “Apply immediately and believe. Have faith in God and trust in Him. God is Love, love God, love others. Amen. Thanks for your patience.”

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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