Summer 2017 Newsletter Vol XXII No. 2

OUR MISSIONSeeking to put God’s

love into action, Springfield/Eugene

Habitat for Humanity brings people together

to build homes, communities, and hope.

OfficePhone: 541-741-1707

Fax: 541-741-6743info@sehabitat.org

Office Hours:Mon-Fri 9:00-4:00

ReStorePhone: 541-344-4809

Store Hours:Tues-Sat 10:00-6:00

Donation Hours:Tues-Sat 10:00-6:00

www.sehabitat.org1210 Oak Patch Rd.Eugene, OR 97402

2017 Board of DirectorsRyan Bishop, President

Kristin Kyle, Vice PresidentJered Souder, TreasurerHelen Torres, Secretary

Don ColganCory Dawson

Tyler HarrisAlain Rebeyrol

Sarah-Kate Sharkey

also serving Walton to McKenzie Bridge, Goshen, Pleasant Hill, Marcola, Coburg, Dexter, Lowell, Jasper and Fall Creek

Groundbreaking Ceremony On June 29th we broke ground on a home for Ann and her son. Thank you to the Chambers Family Foundation and the Oregon Association of Realtors Home Foundation, with support from the Eugene Association of Realtors, for sponsoring the house, and to our land sponsor, HACSA, for making Ann’s dream a reality.

Ann looks forward to building her own home after struggling with high housing costs and low housing quality. She can’t wait to have a stable home where her son can focus on school!

Welcome RachelRachel and her son Daniel were recently accepted into Habitat’s Homeownership Program and are excited to be working toward a safe and affordable home of their own. Rachel is a single mom who is going to school and working while raising her son. Despite her hard work, Rachel struggles with increasing housing costs and unhealthy conditions, including a rampant flea problem in her apartment complex that aggravates Daniel’s allergies.

Welcome BobBob, a US Navy veteran, has lived in overcrowded and unsafe housing for years. Because a disability makes full time work difficult, Bob applied to Habitat in search of a home he could afford. Once selected, Bob began taking financial education classes and putting in required “sweat equity” hours. As Bob works on the homes of other Habitat families he looks forward to making his home a reality soon.

On June 24th we celebrated the completion of our 56th house, the last in Habitat’s 10-home community in Springfield, known as Meyer Estates. Sponsored by the American Forest Resource Council, this house will be a safe, stable home for Nayeli and her daughter Alitza.

Nayeli, who works hard to make ends meet, always thought that owning a home was out of her reach. She put in over 300 hours of volunteer “sweat equity” to prepare for homeownership and to help build her house and others like it. She has purchased this home with an affordable Habitat mortgage. Congratulations, Nayeli!

FAMILY UPDATESNayeli Gets Her Keys

Summer 2017 HABITATIONS 2

Love Habitat for Humanity but don’t want to swing a hammer? Help support affordable homeownership in our community by serving on a committee! We are currently recruiting for:

Family Partnership CommitteeThe Family Partnership committee is responsible for providing Habitat homeowners and prospective homeowners with a mutual support system, homeowner education opportunities, and a forum for discussions relating to homeownership and maintenance, all for the purpose of helping Partner Families become successful homeowners.

Construction CommitteeThe Construction Committee is responsible for the planning, implementation, and completion of the construction and repair projects undertaken by the affiliate. The tasks undertaken by this committee include the development of house plans, development and review of house construction standards, development of and support for site supervisors, and solicitation of donated materials.

JOIN A COMMITTEE!

FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S CHAIR

On what will certainly be a gorgeous day, Habitat friends and supporters will soon gather in Springfield for a groundbreaking ceremony for Fischer Village. Habitat’s new 12-house subdivision will be built as six two- and three-bedroom tandem units. It will be a joyous occasion for all whose hands will help fulfill the dreams of future homeowners.

We expect to start the first two-house tandem unit this fall after completing necessary infrastructure elements including building an access road, incorporating storm water management elements, and installing utility lines. Future homeowners for these two homes are already participating in a variety of homeowner readiness activities and earning “sweat equity” hours. Our homeowner selection committee is at work to identify additional families.

We are delighted to finally be at this point. It’s been a long time coming and we’re grateful for the patience shown by donors,

volunteers, and friends who are eager for us to begin. We especially appreciate the tremendous support provided by Habitat for Humanity of Oregon, whose John Gray fund helped make the land purchase possible, and Meyer Memorial Trust, whose support has enabled us to secure many other grants as well as corporate and individual donors.

We’re also working on securing house sponsors for the upcoming builds. If you, your church, or business, would like to know more about a house sponsorship, please contact Habitat at 541-741-1707.

-Don Griffin, Executive Director

CARS FOR HOMES

Donate your car to help fund the construction of a local home, giving a family a more secure future for generations to come. Vehicles of many conditions are accepted and pickup is avaliable. Get started at sehabitat.org/cars-for-homes

Site Selection CommitteeThe Site Selection committee is responsible or identifying areas of the community in which to develop projects, researching and investigating the availability of property, and recommending property to the Board of Directors for purchase. The committee works in conjunction with the construction committee to evaluate the suitability of potential sites prior to purchase.

To learn more, please contact Amanda Adams, Volunteer Coordinator, at (541)741-1707 or amanda@sehabitat.org.

Summer 2017 HABITATIONS 3

HABITAT HAPPENINGS

We are extremely grateful to the Oregon Community Foundation for their recent grant of $20,000 in support of the infrastructure for Fischer Village. Our largest development ever, Fischer Village will be life-changing for 12 families in need of a safe, decent place to call home.

Thank you to the sponsors, speakers, volunteers, attendees and guests who made the 2017 breakfast a huge success, raising more than $75,000! A special shout out to our challenge hosts, Coconut Bliss, Eugene Eye Care, and KPD Insurance for their generous support.

Keynote speaker Dr. Nancy Golden, who served as Springfield’s Superintendent of Schools and Oregon’s Chief Education Officer, talked about the incredible impact stable housing has on a child’s education, and homeowner Sarah Ross shared her family’s journey from housing insecurity to paying off a Habitat mortgage.

Next year’s breakfast will be held at the Hilton on Tuesday, April 24, 2018.

JOIN US!

August 8: Plank Town346 Main Street, Springfield

A portion of the evening’s proceeds will benefit our programs

September 5: Ninkasi, 272 Van Buren Street, Eugene

$1 from every pint sold at the tasting room will go to S/E Habitat

October 10: McMenamins North Bank, 22 Club Road, Eugene

Family and Friends Night, 50% of all proceeds will go to S/E Habitat

Benefit Breakfast Results

CONSIDER A PLANNED GIFTPlanned giving is a way to both preserve your family’s future and support Springfield/Eugene Habitat for Humanity for years to come. Benefits of planned giving include:-Giving more than your current income allows-Giving an asset other than cash-Receiving tax benefits-Receiving income for a set number of years or for life.

Planned giving can include gifts of real estate, stocks, life insurance, property, investments, beneficiary proceeds, cash, mutual funds, and annuity proceeds.

For more information, or to make a planned gift to benefit Springfield/Eugene Habitat for Humanity, please contact Esther Pomeroy at esther@sehabitat.org or 541-741-1707.

Homeowner Sarah Ross speaks at the 2017 Benefit Breakfast

2017 Benefit Breakfast

Thank You, OCF!

Our Donor List Has MovedThis year, S/E Habitat will begin publishing an annual report covering the recently concluded fiscal year and providing highlights of the past year’s activities and achievements. The donor list will be included in this report instead of in the newsletter, allowing us to more accurately acknowledge our generous supporters as we move forward. Keep an eye out for this new publication in the fall!

1210 Oak Patch RoadEugene, OR 97402

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Habitat helps families achieve strength, stability, and self-reliance

With the support of Children First for Oregon, Habitat for Humanity of Oregon recently completed a statewide homeowner impact study that found:

86% of families, when asked how long they planned to stay in their Habitat home, responded with either “they can’t ever imagine” leaving or plan to stay “for a very long time”

63% of children we served earned better grades since moving into their Habitat homes

92% of children raised in Habitat homes graduated from high school, 17% higher than Oregon’s average

email info@sehabitat.org to sign up