Local Habitat for Humanity raising bar
By Kathleen Folkerth
GREATER AKRON — The local chapter of Habitat for Humanity is in growth mode.
That’s the opinion of new Executive Director Rochelle Fisher, who took the helm of Habitat for Humanity of Summit County in June.
“In the structure of Habitat
for Humanity International, we’ve been in the
level of affiliates that builds less than 10 homes a
year,” she said. “We would like to move
beyond that point to the 10 to 20 level. We’re
in growth mode.”
Fisher said she thinks it’s
possible for the local affiliate to up its commitment
to the cause. She said the Canton chapter builds 20
houses a year and Cleveland’s builds 30.
Habitat for Humanity is an international
organization that builds and rehabilitates homes with
the help of the homeowner, or partner families. With
volunteer labor and donations of money and materials,
houses are sold to partner families at no profit and
financed with affordable loans.
This year, the organization celebrated
30 years since its founding by Millard Fuller and his
wife, Linda.
Locally, the Summit County affiliate
will mark its 20th anniversary next year, which is partly
why Fisher wants to see the group expand on its achievements.
In nearly two decades in the
Akron area, Fisher said Habitat has built 135 homes.
“We figure it’s been
about 200 adults and 300 children who’ve been
housed” as a result of the group’s effort,
Fisher said. “We are so fortunate and blessed
to have had the support for the 20 years we’ve
had.”
To make the leap to the next
level, Fisher said Summit County needs more coalition
groups and corporate partners.
Coalition groups are made up
of corporations, churches and individual groups that
work together and commit to raise $70,000 to build a
home and provide volunteers. Right now there are two
coalitions active in Summit County — one in Hudson
and the other in Fairlawn.
“The Fairlawn Habitat Volunteer
Builders have 12 members and they’re building
their 15th house this year,” Fisher said.
Corporate partners are needed
to provide funding and volunteers to the effort. Fisher
said FirstEnergy has been a generous corporate sponsor,
as has Lowe’s. Locally, Summa Health System and
Rockynol have become involved as well.
Fisher encourages companies to
think about how their own employees would benefit from
a Habitat house.
“They can help their employees
for the first time own their own home,” Fisher
said.
Fisher said there are many misconceptions
about Habitat. One is that the homes are given away
for free.
“People often think there’s
no purchase price to the home,” she said, adding
that most homes Habitat builds in this area are valued
at about $70,000. “It is a 20-year mortgage. It
averages $420 a month, and that
includes taxes and insurance.”
Partner families must put hundreds
of hours of work — or “sweat equity”
— into their home. They also are provided with
help on understanding their mortgage and budgeting.
Another myth about Habitat that
many have is that President Jimmy Carter founded
the organization, but that isn’t true, Fisher
said. Carter did become very involved in the organization
after his presidency and each year sponsors the Jimmy
Carter Work Project, a weeklong building blitz that
takes place in a different part of the world.
Despite the push for more companies
and groups to get involved, Fisher stressed that anyone
can help Habitat by becoming a volunteer. The experience
is very meaningful, she said.
“One of the things volunteers
really start to understand is they have an opportunity
to provide a direct means to help a person,” Fisher
said. “A lot of times I’m cleaning closets
and I donate clothes, but I never know about the person
who gets it at the end. [With Habitat] you get to meet
the children and the adults and their family members.
You see that every nail you hammer in or
every stroke of your paint brush is helping that family
own a home for the first time ever.”
The Summit County affiliate’s
annual volunteer recognition dinner will take place
Nov. 8 at 6 p.m. at Guy’s Party Centre in South
Akron. Tickets are $20 each. For more information on
the dinner or how to volunteer, call Habitat for Humanity
of Summit County at (330) 785-2700 or go to the Web
site www.hfh summitcounty.org.
Rochelle Fisher
Members of the Fairlawn Habitat
Volunteer Builders work on a project. The group, consisting
of members from the Fairlawn and Bath areas, has completed
15 projects for Habitat for Humanity of Summit County.
Photos courtesy of Habitat
for Humanity of Summit County
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