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Paving the Way for Homeownership
Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanity has a record-setting year. by terry troy
As it celebrates its 35th anniversary this year, the most interesting question for Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanity is, “What’s next?”
“We are really coming off a very big year where we set three records,” says John Habat, president and CEO. “We set records all the time, but these are very important.”
The organization produced more houses this year than ever before, a total of 26 homes. It’s a staggering amount when you consider that Greater Cleveland Habitat, at its low point in 2010, produced just one home.
“We also set a monthly record in December with nine Habitat homeowners moving into their homes just in time for the holidays,” adds Habat. “It’s incredible to close on this many houses in one month, but what makes it even better is that now these families received the best holiday present — a home to call their own.”
The third record are the sales at Greater Cleveland Habitat’s two ReStores. Now, having locations in Cleveland on the West Side and North Randall on the East Side, these home improvement stores and donation centers sell new and gently used furniture, appliances, home goods, building materials and more. In 2010, total sales amounted to just more than $250,000. Last year, the organization’s ReStores had sales approaching $2.7 million, which helps fund Habitat’s efforts throughout the community.
What makes these records all that much more significant is that they were all set in yet another COVID-19 year.
“This means we had fewer volunteers,” says Habat. “Even though we had fewer volunteers, those who did show up worked that much harder and contributed more hours.
“In addition, our funders responded more generously than ever before,” he adds. “When you think about it, I think we actually set four records last year because we also raised more money.”
So why all of the records?
“I think Habitat has established itself as a brand name for what it does,” says Habat. “Homeownership is really transformative for families.
“We have also established ourselves among funders as an organization that is reliable and produces what it says it will produce,” he adds. “And, we often exceed expectations.”
Throughout the years, Habitat has also demonstrated that it has accountability and fiduciary integrity.
“But, we’re also successful because of the goodness that we attract,” Habat admits. “We have committed volunteers and generous donors.”
That includes donors to Habitat’s two ReStores, who know that they are also contributing to its mission. Whether you are a shopper or a donor, patronizing the ReStores provides a lot of money that goes directly into Habitat’s construction program.
“We also have a fantastic staff who are committed to our mission, so they sacrifice,” Habat adds. “They could be making more money elsewhere, but you can’t
put a price on our mission, which they advance. They connect to it.
“Obviously, we can’t be competitive with the private sector in terms of salaries, but we offer a lot more purpose than what you might find in a normal job.”
Partnerships also play an important role.
“The Cuyahoga County Land Bank has enabled so much of our work, and they continue to be a very significant partner,” says Habat. “I also have to give credit to the city of Cleveland. While working with city governments can be difficult, our relationship with the city of Cleveland has been very beneficial.”
To be sure, Cleveland Habitat’s efforts are transformative for neighborhoods. Since 2016, Cleveland Habitat has built and rehabbed more than 50 homes in the Buckeye/Woodhill neighborhood alone.
“So we have been able to demonstrate that we can and do revitalize neighborhoods,” says Habat. “When you look at the number of houses we build citywide, 26 in a year might not seem like a large number. But, when you focus that number on a couple of neighborhoods, it has a tremendous impact.”
While Cleveland Habitat provides homeownership for larger families with children, Habat stresses that it also offers housing options for smaller families.
“In fact, we serve families as small as one or two people,” he says.
In the city of Euclid, Habitat has a very successful program rehabbing townhouses for ownership by these smaller families.
“We’re a part of a transition from rental to homeownership,” he says. “To date, we have acquired 17 townhomes and sold 12. It has been a very successful program. People need to know that we’re not just about building and providing homes for families with children. We also provide homes for smaller families of one or two.”
While Habitat’s recent work has been focused on two neighborhoods, it’s expanding to a new neighborhood this year with an ambitious street-wide project that includes building infrastructure.
“It’s in the Bellaire/Puritas neighborhood and includes the development of an entire street of houses,” says Habat. “It’s a short street, so it’s only five houses, but it’s a major project for us because we really have to be the developer.”
That includes the installation of sanitary and storm sewers, as well as repaving the street.
This year, Habitat also has formed a partnership with the City Mission for Laura’s Home Women’s Crisis Center,
This Heat Map shows how the incidence of crime reports have dropped with homeownership as Cleveland Habitat performed its upgrades from 2016 to 2020.
which provides homes for victims and families who have suffered from domestic abuse.
“In fact, we’re doing a house for them in early 2022,” says Habat. “We’re very excited about it because we expect it to be a long-term partnership.”
As you might expect, Cleveland Habitat is well into the planning stages for 2023 and 2024.
“It’s usually an 18- to 24-month planning process,” says Habat. “So, we are already underway for new homes in the Buckeye/Woodhill area.”
So, what will the next 35 years hold?
“I think the sky is the limit,” says Habat. “I think it will be easier going from 25 to 50 houses than it was going from one house to 26 this year.
“In the future we will continue to be aggressive, not because we want to grow, but because the need is so extreme,” he says. “We could build 1,000 homes a year and still have a line of applicants.”
