Latest news with #HabitatForHumanity
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
General Mills partners with Joplin Area Habitat for Humanity on Veterans Build
Workers with General Mills participated in a workday with Joplin Area Habitat for Humanity's Veterans Build program, raising walls on a new Webb City home for Navy veteran Janene Houskeeper and her three children Friday. 'Veterans are so wonderful to build for because they served our country,' said Scott Clayton, executive director of Joplin Area Habitat for Humanity. 'We have an opportunity with Habitat that is like no other, to provide an opportunity for a house and to collaborate with local community partners. They gave to our country and now our country is giving back. It comes together so wonderfully.' The General Mills employees are with a group called the Veterans Network, a community made up of veterans and their allies — nonveterans — in the company. They worked to frame the house, raising walls and nailing in supports. 'We're working with our veterans and allies of the company to do what we can to reach out and help the community,' said Jared Sharkey, quality engineer at General Mills. The goal is get out into the community and support veterans, especially in times of need, Sharkey said. Recent projects the group has done include putting American flags on graves at Mount Hope Cemetery in preparation for its Memorial Day ceremony last week. It has several more service projects in the works. General Mills has collaborated with Joplin Area Habitat for Humanity since 2006, when the company helped Habitat purchase a trailer. Clayton said Habitat has done well over 20 workdays with General Mills, and the company has contributed over $300,000 to the program's housing efforts. 'General Mills has been an important partner with us for a long time,' Clayton said. 'Through grants and volunteerism, we've really benefited from our partnership, focusing on veterans. It's come in all different kinds of forms, the good work General Mills has done with us.' Bryan Davis, food safety and quality manager at General Mills, is an Air Force veteran. He said this is the third house General Mills has sponsored with Habitat, providing volunteers and monetary donations of $20,000 for the build. The company has been generous to let the group volunteer on a workday, he said. The last house that employees worked on was a concrete house with Habitat, which was an unusual experience, Davis said. In addition to framing, they often do things such as drywall and painting. 'Working on this house has a special place in my heart because I'm a veteran,' Davis said. 'You always want to give back, especially to veterans in the community. I take a lot of pride in being a veteran and helping those that have helped serve the country.' Davis said he's proud to have a large veteran population at the plant and many allies to volunteer with their projects. Since beginning the Veterans Build program in 2017, Habitat has constructed six houses for veterans. Habitat is looking for more veterans to assist through its new home construction and repair services. For more information, contact the organization at 417-782-6533 or visit Habitat's website at Since 1989, Habitat has built 192 homes in the area and completed over 500 repairs for homeowners. It currently has eight homes under construction and plans to begin two more this year, including its 200th home in Carthage.
CTV News
5 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
Habitat for Humanity Windsor-Essex receives $10,000 donation
ENWIN gives Habitat for Humanity Windsor-Essex a $10,000 donation. (Source: ENWIN) Habitat for Humanity Windsor-Essex has been given a $10,000 donation from ENWIN. ENWIN said the donation was possible through the Electricity Distributors Association (EDA) Performance Excellence Award and the Doane Grant Thornton Foundation. The foundation and LDC award gave ENWIN $10,000 to donate to a local charity of its choosing. 'Both ENWIN and Habitat for Humanity share a belief that strong communities begin with access – whether it's to housing, water, or energy,' said Garry Rossi, president and CEO of ENWIN. 'We're proud to support an organization that's making a real difference for families in Windsor-Essex.'
CTV News
6 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
Habitat for Humanity gives family keys to new Sandwich Town home
The Kashindi family, who moved to Canada in 2017, are new homeowners after receiving keys to their Sandwich Town residence on Wednesday evening. (Robert Lothian/CTV Windsor News) Habitat for Humanity handed over the keys to this Brock Street home to the Kashindi family on Wednesday. A Kenyan family settled in Windsor began their journey of home ownership on Wednesday evening after receiving keys to their new Sandwich Town residence. Habitat for Humanity Windsor-Essex provided the home to the Kashindi family after months of hard work. Dieu Kashindi, whose parents received the house, said the family has rented various homes since moving to Canada in 2017. 'Just looking around and like, man, we finally have a place where you can call home,' Kashindi said. 'It's not a place that you're looking like, oh, the rent is due, [or the] landlord wants this. It's like it's a home where you can have memories, laughter, holidays and good things.' 052825 - Habitat The Kashindi family, who moved to Canada in 2017, are new homeowners after receiving keys to their Sandwich Town residence on Wednesday evening. (Robert Lothian/CTV Windsor News) Kashindi noted the Brock Street home will provide more stability for the family of eight. 'They have an environment where they can grow up, make friends, go to school they don't like switch schools or houses, and I'm excited for them, to be honest, because it's something that I didn't have that much when I was their age,' he said of his younger siblings. To receive the home, the Kashindi's worked 500 hours of community service and will now pay a mortgage amount geared to their income. According to Fiona Coughlin, CEO of Habitat for Humanity Windsor-Essex, the Kashindi's home is their last build in Sandwich Town until they find more land. 'It's the last actual piece of land that Habitat for Humanity has in Windsor property. We do have plans to build out in the county, and that will be next year, but for the foreseeable future, we have no land left in Windsor,' Coughlin told CTV News. The organization has revitalized several properties previously hampered by dilapidated vacant homes. Coughlin noted they had worked with the City of Windsor to purchase the properties for one dollar. 'If you drive down the streets where our houses are, you can see they just brighten up the whole street,' Coughlin added. In the meantime, the Kashindi's will work to move into their new five-bedroom home. 'I can't describe any feeling better than this, to be honest,' Kashindi said.
CTV News
6 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
High school students help build affordable homes in Fergus with Habitat for Humanity
Students from John F. Ross Collegiate Vocational Institute in Guelph, Ont. helped build Habitat for Humanity homes in Fergus, Ont. on May 28, 2025. High school students from Guelph are learning what it takes to build affordable homes by teaming with Habitat for Humanity Guelph Wellington. On Wednesday, Grade 11 students from a construction class at John F. Ross Highschool were at an active build site, where crews are doing work on what will soon be a 32-unit townhome community. 'I really like hands on work, and I think it's what we're doing. It's a good cause,' said student Rowan Lamarre. 'It's really fun that you get to miss a whole day of school for this.' It's not all fun and games. Students will learn framing, plumbing, dry walling and painting. 'In Canada we are short of tradespeople and I'm trying to encourage a lot of students in my care and in classes to move into the trades,' said their teacher, Gethin Walters. Walters is hoping the program helps inspire young minds. 'Get them exposed to new tools, machines, skills, etcetera, early on in life is definitely a life skill for them for the future,' he said. Even if they don't take up trades as a career, there are lessons that will resonate long after leaving the worksite. 'Having the basic skills on how to operate machines and learn how a house works, then you are saving yourself thousands of dollars in the future. If you know these particular skills,' Walters said. Habitat for Humanity Guelph Wellington students A Habitat for Humanity Guelph Wellington project on Hill Street in Fergus, Ont. Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit organization that works with families worldwide to provide affordable housing. Habitat for Humanity's goal is to build affordable homes to create a stable future for vulnerable families. 'It's needed because we're in the midst of a housing crisis in Ontario, in Canada. And what we're trying to do is create generational wealth and security by allowing people in unstable rental situations a chance to afford their own home,' said Karyn Boscariol, director of communications and resource development for Habitat for Humanity Guelph Wellington. The program in Guelph Wellington runs all week and is thanks to a $20,000 sponsorship from the Co-Operators. 'We've implemented a program where companies can actually sponsor a school, a skilled trades class, to come on site and experience an active field site,' said Boscariol. The affordable townhomes on Hill Street are expected to be move-in-ready by the fall of 2025.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Stephens named Audubon Area's new housing director
Jeremy Stephens will officially leave his post as executive director of Habitat for Humanity Owensboro-Daviess County on May 30. The organization made the announcement last week that Stephens was stepping down for a new job opportunity but it was unknown at that time where he was landing. Stephens said on Thursday that he accepted Audubon Area's housing director position. 'It's the same field — affordable housing,' Stephens said. 'It's just on the rental side of it, managing the seven multi-unit facilities they have there.' Stephens was hired in November 2021 to become Habitat's second executive director, taking over for Virginia Braswell, who served in the role for 29 years before she retired. 'It was a whirlwind following her around,' Stephens said. Prior to coming to Habitat, Stephens, a 47-year-old Owensboro native, had been the director of operations of the Owensboro Symphony for eight years. Stephens described the transition as going from 'music to mortar,' admitting he had no background in construction when he took over. 'The board took a chance on me and I will forever be grateful for that,' he said. According to Stephens, his goal from the start was to increase Habitat's footprint within Daviess County. 'I think it's why they hired me because in the interview I said I wanted to grow the mission,' Stephens said. '…I know what it's like to struggle for affordable housing. I remember straight out of college with a baby, a family with one income, and what my wife and I went through in those days was hard. 'So when I got the job, I went to the (Habitat) board the very first meeting, and said I want to build more houses per year. I've had their support the whole time.' When Stephens started, there were 141 Habitat houses built within Owensboro-Daviess County. When he leaves, the number of homes will be at 167. Under development is the Carter Community Court, a 10-home Habitat neighborhood that broke ground in April 2024. It currently has two homes under construction and foundations poured for others. Stephens said he had been working on the Carter Community Court project almost since the beginning of his Habitat tenure. Stephens added that he wanted to ensure the project, which was funded through a state grant and a $1 million contribution from Daviess Fiscal Court, would be on sound footing before he left. 'In a perfect scenario, I would have liked to have seen it all of the way through,' Stephens said. '…Walking away from this project knowing that the infrastructure component is complete, houses are being built and can be until they're finished; they have enough materials — already purchased — to build almost 100% of the houses. …It's huge for me knowing that even with me leaving it will still go.' Along with the Habitat homes, Stephens led the effort to build the Ms. Virginia's Education & Training Center, 2900 West Fourth St., that opened in September 2024. Its purpose is to educate both the agency's clients and the general public about the intricacies of home ownership, from building codes to repairs. Stephens said it was being awarded a $100,000 Impact100 grant that made possible the training facility, which is the only one of its kind in the country. 'That's definitely one of the high marks of my career here,' Stephens said. 'First, to win the Impact100 grant is huge; I came from an organization that had never won it and I had written it a lot there.' For Stephens, the decision to leave Habitat wasn't an easy one, calling it 'fulfilling' as he plans to remain on as a consultant until his replacement is found. '…It's not that I'm getting paid more; it's that I'll have more time at home,' said Stephens about a deciding factor to move to Audubon Area. ...I'll be able to call it a day, go home and coach ball teams — be more present for my family.' Habitat is accepting applications for its executive director position until July 1, with the goal to have a new director in place by Sept. 1. And in the future, Habitat will also be looking to develop an even larger area than Carter Community Court after Owensboro Health announced earlier this month the donation of 17 parcels of land near its Parrish Avenue campus. Stephens said it has been the homeowners who put in the sweat equity and the volunteers who have made Habitat special for him. 'I think what I'm going to miss the most are the applicants; it's going to be very easy to cheer from a distance when they get into their homes,' Stephens said. 'But it's going to be difficult not being the person handing them the keys.'
