News Archive
Habitat for Humanity International's Cars for Homes program reaches $10 million milestone
ATLANTA (June 7, 2011) –Habitat for Humanity's Cars for Homes program has distributed more than $10 million to Habitat affiliates since the program's inception in 2003.
Habitat's Cars for Homes has helped fund the construction of Habitat homes like the one pictured above in Mobile, Ala. Read related Habitat World blog post.
Cars for Homes is Habitat for Humanity's national vehicle donation program that provides donors a quick and easy process for donating cars, trucks, boats, RVs and other vehicles to help build homes in partnership with local low-income families in need of decent, affordable shelter.
"We are very pleased to have reached this major milestone with the Cars for Homes program," said Marcia Rundle, the director of the program. "Thanks to our generous donors, Habitat affiliates have been able to use the funds earned from the recycling of used and idle vehicles to help address affordable housing needs in their communities."
The Cars for Homes program began in the state of Washington in November 2003 as a pilot program. In 2005, it was approved as a national program of Habitat for Humanity International. The Cars for Homes program was created specifically to assist Habitat affiliates by generating funding from the sale of donated vehicles. Revenue is distributed to affiliates based on the zip code of the donor.
More than 1,100 Habitat affiliates nationwide and five Habitat national offices around the world have received funding from the program.
To learn more about Cars for Homes, visit: http://www.habitat.org/carsforhomes/default.aspx.
About Habitat for Humanity International
Habitat for Humanity International is an ecumenical Christian ministry that welcomes to its work all people dedicated to the cause of eliminating poverty housing. Since its founding in 1976, Habitat has built, rehabilitated, repaired or improved more than 400,000 houses worldwide, providing simple, decent and affordable shelter for more than 2 million people. For more information, or to donate or volunteer, visit Habitat.org.
Habitat for Humanity to restore problem homes in Ogden
By JaNae Francis
Standard-Examiner staff
Sun, 04/24/2011 - 11:26pm
OGDEN -- Dixie Story knows exactly how overwhelming the job of cleaning up a meth house can be.
That's because she purchased one about five years ago in North Ogden and then had it torn down, just so her grandchildren wouldn't have to walk past the dilapidated house, and the people who had been renting it, on their way to school.
Story, a volunteer for Habitat for Humanity of Weber and Davis Counties, said she called authorities and she couldn't get anyone to help with the problem. She ran through a long list of demolition companies before she found one that had experience with such houses and could help.
"When we talked to the pharmacist, he said it was dangerous," Story said.
That's why she's impressed with a new Habitat for Humanity Utah initiative that will transform these problem homes into affordable places of residence for those with low incomes. In the past, Habitat for Humanity programs have focused on building houses from the ground up.
"I'm amazed that Habitat would take this on," Story said. "I'm amazed every time I see the many people who are willing to donate their time and their products to help better the community."
The program is called the Meth House Rebuild project. Utah Gov. Gary Herbert recently signed the Utah initiative into law.
The program will be funded by donations from Utah businesses and the community.
Residents were asked to donate on their tax forms this year and will be asked again next year. Currently, the initiative is being done on a trial basis.
If enough people agree to donate as they fill out their tax forms, the opportunity to help in that way will continue, said Joel Lee, incoming president of Habitat for Humanity of Weber and Davis Counties.
This year's tax donations won't be received until November, Lee said.
But it will take that long for his group to get set up to begin the project anyway.
"We have to apply for a list of houses through the GRAMA Act," he said.
But Lee said the effort will definitely be worth whatever his group puts into the program.
"We've tried very hard to find low-cost lots," Lee said, noting that recipients of Habitat for Humanity houses have to repay any costs outside of donations associated with their houses.
"In Davis County, we're especially limited because of high value," he said. "We sometimes have to spend $50,000 for a lot."
But with this program, Lee said, he sees an opportunity to get lots and houses for a much lower cost, giving the program opportunities to expand.
"If we can get into houses that are already built that we could just decontaminate, we could serve more families," he said.
Lee said his program often gets as many as 50 applications for one home.
Habitat for Humanity achieves No. 8 on the "Builder 100" list
The combined building efforts of Habitat for Humanity's U.S. affiliates, volunteers and donors has led to Habitat achieving the rank of No. 8 on the 2009 Builder 100 list. This marks the first time Habitat has been among the top 10 biggest builders in the United States. Read more in this Wall Street Journal article titled Charity Joins Top Home Builders' Ranks"
(posted: August 28 2010)
Special Thanks following our January 2010 Home Dedication
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On January 18, 2010 we celebrated Martin Luther King Day with the Dedication of the Habitat for Humanity house at 133 Doxey Street in Ogden to the Noorda family. What a wonderful, rewarding celebration. Quoting from JaNae Francis' article in the Standard Examiner: ... it wasn't the cold outside that caused everyone to sniffle -- it was the emotion they felt after three and a half years of work to bring about such a gift. "You guys have just made our lives 100 times better," Sarah Noorda said at the ceremony. "You've given us something we'd never have any other way."
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Our sincere thanks to each of you who helped us convert that old house into a safe, warm home for this family. Some of you may have been out there back in October 2006 when we started demolition on the houses at 127 and 133 Doxey. Now both of these houses are homes for deserving families and are bringing new life to that block in Ogden. And it took the heart and hands of many to provide the materials, labor, funds and prayers to do this. Thank you.
(posted: August 28 2010)
Habitat Board of Directors Annual Planning Meeting
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The Board of Directors of Habitat for Humanity of Weber and Davis Counties meets each year for an all-day Annual Planning meeting for the purpose of conducting strategic planning for the next fiscal year and beyond. This year's combined Annual Planning meeting and July board meeting was held on Saturday, June 26th at Weber State University. Pictured from left to right: Lindsay Powell (Weber State rep); Mike Houston (Fund Raising chair); Kim Smith (Family Selection chair); Joel Lee (President-Elect); Tom Hart (President); Jason Hansen (Treasurer); Diane Miller (Volunteer Coordination chair); Paul Starkey (Faith Relations chair). Also in attendance: Brian Van Gorp (Construction chair) and Lynn Kelley (grant writer and Past President).
Among the highlights of the meeting:
- A revised drawing for the home located at 706 21st Street in Ogden was presented and the board approved the architect's recommended changes.
- New Construction chair, Brian Van Gorp, presented a timeline for the completion of the home that we are building for the Miller family on 21st Street. Based on Brian's report, we plan to complete the construction of this home by October 2010.
- Although we obtained an occupancy permit for the home located at 128 Doxey Street in Ogden during December 2009, some work still needs to be completed before the Guerreros can move in. Brian will begin oversight of that project soon.
- Treasurer, Jason Hanson, presented a proposed operations budget for the fiscal year that begins on July 1. The board reviewed it, made a few revisions, and approved the budget.
- The board committed to locating and purchasing one additional building lot by the end of 2010, and another one before the end of the next fiscal year, June 30, 2011.
- The board discussed ways to improve fund raising.
- We discussed ways to improve our effectiveness as a board.
- The board discussed ways in which we can "grow" our affiliate so that we can help more low-income families to achieve homeownership.
- We discussed the need for a paid Executive Director in order to take our all-volunteer affiliate to the next level.
- Lindsay Powell was elected to serve as our new Representative from Weber State University.
- Tom Hart will continue to serve as our President through the end of the next fiscal year.
- Joel Lee was elected to serve as President-Elect.
- Paul Starkey was elected to serve as Vice President.
(posted: June 28 2010)
Citi Awards $10,000 Grant to Weber and Davis Counties Affiliate
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Tom Hart, President, and Kim Smith, chair of Family Selection committee, represented our Habitat affiliate at a "Citi Town Hall" meeting at the Citi Layton facility on May 27th. During that meeting, Heidi Toone, Utah State Director of Community Relations for Citi, presented a $10,000 check to Tom and Kim. This check represents a $10,000 grant that Citi awarded to our affiliate in support of our new 21st Street Project. All of these funds will be used to purchase construction materials for the home we are building at 706 21st Street in Ogden. This home is being built for the newly-selected Miller family, who currently lives in an overcrowded apartment in Layton.
Citi continues to be one of our Habitat affiliate's biggest supporters. This most recent check represents only a portion of their regular funding support. Additionally, Citi employees have graciously volunteered their time to participate in several Citi work days at our construction sites. Citi employees also participate in an event called "Citi Idol: Citi's Got Talent," an employee talent competition held on an annual basis at the Citi Layton site as a fun way of raising additional funds for our Habitat affiliate.
(posted: June 02 2010)
Building Tools Needed!
We are in critical need of building tools. If anyone has tools you would like to donate, contact the office at 801-475-9821. You generosity is much appreciated and will do a lot to help some wonderful families and our community!
- Squares
- Shop Vac
- Circular Saw
- Sawsall
- Air compressor and hoses
- Framing nailer
- Tape measures
- Chalk lines
- Levels (2 ft, 4 ft, and 6 ft)
- Drills and bits
(posted: June 13 2009; updated: June 14 2009)
Habitat for Humanity Home Dedication
Noorda Family Home Dedication
on Monday, January 18, 2010
at 12:00 noon at 133 Doxey St., Ogden, Utah
Come join us to celebrate this momentous occasion. This home renovation is now ready for the Noorda family to move in - what a huge blessing for this wonderful family and for everyone who helped make it possible.
Our sincere thanks for helping make this dream come true by donating your time, talents, resources, materials and funds.
(posted: January 14 2010)
Thanks from Habitat for Humanity
Saturday, December 5, was International Volunteer Day. We are sorry that we missed that opportunity to thank you for your support of Habitat for Humanity of Weber and Davis Counties. It is thanks to you that we are able to partner with very-low-income families to help them to build or renovate, and then to buy, their own homes. Habitat homes are simple, basic, decent, and affordable because much of the construction labor is donated by volunteers.
(posted: December 14 2009)
Special Thanks to the Harrison Regent Residents and Staff!
Harrison Regent, a senior living apartment complex, provided lunch for our volunteers on Saturday, July 11. Four of the residents and one from the office staff came to serve food prepared by the Harrison Regent dining room cooks. The picture above shows Billy Rutter and Keith Cravotta and other volunteers with the people from Harrison Regent in Ogden. Thank you to the Harrison Regent for your continuing interest in and support of our effort to provide safe, affordable housing for families like the Guerreras and Noordas. (posted: July 26 2009)
Wells Fargo Foundation Grant!
Wells Fargo Foundation, on behalf of Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, has awarded our Habitat affiliate a $10,000 "Team Member Volunteer Program (TMVP)" grant to support the completion of our current Doxey Street Project. We look forward to hosting a big work party for local Wells Fargo team members at the Doxey Street worksite sometime in August (TBA). Since we also received a $17,500 TMVP grant from the Wells Fargo Foundation during 2006, the Foundation has now provided funding support for our Doxey Street Project in excess of $27,500! Thank you Wells Fargo for your generous and ongoing support of our mission to help local low-income families build, and then buy, their own safe, decent, and affordable homes! (posted: July 03 2009)
Rocky Mountain Power Foundation Grant
We would like to thank Rocky Mountain Power Association for their generous grant of $2500 on 09 September 2008. This grant will directly benefit one of our current projects located at 133 Doxey Street in Ogden. Grants like these make it possible for us to continue our mission of eliminating poverty housing. (posted: June 03 2009)
Thanks for the Successful Habitat Yard Sale!
Great News and Thanks To All who helped with our April Yard Sale. The proceeds from the Sale were $2,220.75. They will go a long way toward helping cover costs such as furnaces, water heaters, and roofing and siding materials for the houses at 128 and 133 Doxey Street for the Guerrera and Noorda families.
These two houses are taking shape and beginning to look like the homes they will become. Stop by and see what's happening. Construction work continues each Saturday this summer through August beginning at 9:00 am and going until about 3:00 pm.
Our sincere thanks to all of you who helped make the Yard Sale a success by sorting, pricing, selling, picking up and delivering yard sale items. Thanks also to those who donated items and those who came and shopped at the sale. And special thanks to the Kier Management Corporation for their generous donation of the old Foods ETC building for our use for the Yard Sales.
Our next Yard Sale will be June 19 and 20 from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm at the same location. We'll schedule a couple of drop-off days for those who have items to donate. We'll also need volunteers to help once again with sorting, pricing, selling, pickup and delivery. If you'd like to help, please call or email our office.
Habitat for Humanity is truly a community effort of individuals, businesses and organizations who donate their time, talents and treasures to help local families into safe, affordable homes of their own. Thanks for being part of that effort here in Weber and Davis Counties. (posted: June 03 2009)
Hall Endownment
During February 2009, Billy Rutter and Dr. Kari Petersen of Weber State University submitted a funding request on our affiliate's behalf to the Alan E. and Jeanne N. Hall Endowment for Community Outreach. The Hall Endowment granted their request for $3000 to purchase new energy-efficient windows for the home located at 133 Doxey in Ogden. Thank you so much to the Hall Endowment for your generous $3000 gift! And thank you, Billy, Kari, and Weber State University for your ongoing support of our mission to help low-income families build or renovate, and then buy their own safe, decent, and affordable homes here in Weber and Davis counties! (posted: May 2009)
We have purchased a new house!
During late December 2008, we purchased the house located at 128 Doxey. With that purchase, our Doxey Street Project became a three-house project (rather than just a two-house project). Despite the fact that the houses at 128 and 133 Doxey require a great deal of work in order to make them safe and decent homes, we are excited about contributing even more significantly to the revitalization of this Ogden neighborhood. (posted: March 2009)