HOME IS THE KEY: Three New Families Celebrate the Stability of Owning a Habitat Home
FORSYTH COUNTY, GA (October 25, 2018) –
The last week of September, two families received keys to their new Habitat for Humanity homes in northeast Forsyth County. The excitement of the dedication day was felt by all, from the homeowners, Scotty Smith and Marissa Blankenship, and their children to volunteers, to sponsors, to family members and friends.
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The happiness that shone on each face at the completion of these homes was contagious. When asked what this opportunity meant to them, both homeowners responded that home is the key to providing stability and security for their children. Scotty Smith, a single dad who has accepted the responsibility of raising his two children, stated, “As a father, it’s my job to make sure my children feel safe and secure, and this home will give them the stability they need to grow into the best people they can be.”
The two families were chosen from a pool of close to 100 applicants. The process for acceptance into the Habitat homeownership program is difficult and requires perseverance. Families must show a need, meet strict income guidelines, pass rigorous background and credit checks, attend homeownership education classes, and provide 200 hours of sweat equity on their home and other partner family homes.
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Helping to support the families’ efforts to secure a better quality of life, The Chalovich Family Foundation, Cisco, E*TRADE, Datascan, State Farm, Lambert High School, Pinecrest Academy, and The UPS Foundation provided the funding and the volunteer labor for the construction of the Blankenship home. The UPS Foundation, Schneider Electric, Travelers, Sawnee EMC, and Citrix provided funding and volunteer support for the Smith home.
On October 13th, the start of a new home a few miles away was officially recognized with a First Nail Ceremony. The Dilly Family is excited to have the opportunity to live in more permanent housing. Lili, the prospective homeowner, wrote in a note to the Habitat-NCG staff, “This journey is giving to us the opportunity to dream about having a better quality of life and stability. . . . Thank you for making the difference for us.”
Picture 1: The new home of the Blankenship Family in Northeast Forsyth County was dedicated on September 29, 2018.
Picture 2: The new home of the Smith Family in Northeast Forsyth County was dedicated on September 29, 2018.
Picture 3: The Dilly Family, along with her family and representatives from various sponsors, lift their hammers after driving in the first nails for this new home which started on October 13, 2018.
About Habitat for Humanity-North Central Georgia
Habitat for Humanity-North Central Georgia is a non-profit, Christian housing ministry that builds affordable housing for purchase by low- to moderate-income families who demonstrate a capacity for responsible homeownership. Since its inception in 1995, Habitat-NCG has built or rehabbed over 300 homes in North Fulton, Cherokee and Forsyth/Dawson counties. Partner families are required to attend educational classes related to homeownership and perform 200 sweat equity hours; they earn between 30% and 60% of the Atlanta area median income and purchase their homes through a 30-year, no-interest loan financed by Habitat-NCG. In 2014, Habitat-NCG started a home repair program targeted primarily at veterans and seniors. To date, 54 repair projects have been completed, bringing the total number of persons served by the ministry to over 1300, including more than 750 children. For more information regarding Habitat for Humanity-North Central Georgia, please visit www.habitat-ncg.org.
About The UPS Foundation
Established in 1951 and based in Atlanta, GA., The UPS Foundation identifies specific areas where its backing clearly impacts social issues. In support of this strategic approach, The UPS Foundation has identified the following focus areas for giving: volunteerism, diversity, community safety, and the environment. In 2017, UPS and its employees, active and retired, invested more than $118 million in charitable giving around the world. The UPS Foundation can be found on the web at www.UPS.com/foundation. To get UPS news direct, visit www.pressroom.ups.com/RRS.
About Travelers
Travelers is ensuring opportunity by contributing to efforts that create strong, vibrant communities and offer pathways to success. Through corporate funding and the Travelers Foundation, Travelers targets its giving to three key priorities: academic & career success, thriving neighborhoods and culturally enriched communities. With the primary focus of educating underrepresented students to lead tomorrow's workforce, Travelers also contributes to organizations that aid in developing communities through small business support and neighborhood revitalization, and enriching lives and learning through arts & culture. With tens of thousands of hours in volunteer time each year, Travelers employees are more than just strong corporate citizens; they are valuable assets to their local communities, with a personal dedication to helping shape their hometown's vitality. For more information about Travelers, visit www.travelers.com.
