Newsletterspring2017

building

strength, stability, self-reliance and shelter “This means everything for my daughter and me. There’s no other way that I would’ve become a homeowner as a single mother,” she said. “But now, I’m going to own a home.”

Adilene left Douglas, Arizona to pursue her education in Tucson. She attended Pima Medical Institute and worked tirelessly to finish dental school in just one year. She is now a practiced dental assistant who loves her job, but has yet to find a love of home.

That’s because Adi and her daughter currently live in a one-bedroom apartment that suffers water leaks, termites and mold.

The room they share is uncomfortably small and Adi knows her rent isn’t helping her build a solid foundation for her family’s future.

But Adilene dreams of bright rooms, a garden, and the smells of home cooked meals wafting from the kitchen. She wants her 10-year-old daughter to know the independence that comes with having her own room.

habitat newsletter | spring 2017

These dreams will soon be a reality for the duo who have worked so hard to make a better life for themselves. Soon, they will purchase a Habitat home.

letter from our CEO

It’s not just the swinging of hammers or the thank you notes that keep volunteers and donors coming back to Habitat Tucson — it’s the stories of hope. It’s the smiles.

Here are four stories that made us smile this spring: A foster mother was granted the adoption of the two young kids who have been living with her. A Sudanese refugee obtained citizenship with her sons. A high school basketball player was scouted by the U of A. A baby took her first steps.

All of these things happened in Habitat homes.

At Habitat, we know this to be true — safe and stable homes help build safe and stable communities. Dreams are built in homes that foster peace and prosperity. We all win when we all have foundations for a bright future.

At Habitat, we believe that working together, side by side, promotes understanding and self-reliance.

We also believe that working together, side by side, promotes understanding and self-reliance. These are our tools to leave a legacy in our community — to build opportunity for our neighbors to share their own stories and smiles. It starts with us. It starts with hope and it starts at home.

Will you join us in celebrating our diverse community of dreamers, doers and neighbors? Will you help us tell their stories? Will you help us build foundations for more families in your neighborhood?

Your gift today will help us write the next chapter in hardworking families’ lives. You will help us tell their stories of success. Build with us.

In partnership,

T. VanHook CEO, Habitat Tucson

Sometimes, a smile says it all.

This is the smile of Ron Hutter. Ron’s home was in dire need of repair and with the help of Habitat staff and volunteers, he received the help he needed.

For years, rain water had been eroding the foundation of Ron’s beloved home. The wood siding had started to rot, compromising the health and safety of the 67-year-old homeowner.

“You don’t know how much it’s affecting you until it gets fixed,” Ron said after receiving repairs on the home he has lived in since 1981.

Ron says his home is a place to live and have family come visit. And now, he has a revived pride in his home’s appearance and integrity.

Volunteers from Pantano Rotary Club teamed up with Habitat Tucson to replace wood panels and paint the home’s exterior. New gutters were installed to help guide water away from the house.

These repairs are going to allow Ron to live a healthier and safer life in the home that he loves.

Habitat for Humanity Tucson is dedicated to maintaining the integrity of Tucson communities and neighborhoods. Home repairs restore dignity to aging homes.

every smile is a victory

volunteers

build with their coworkers

“Everyone, everywhere deserves a safe and decent place to call home.”

On March 1, more than 250 employees of California-based Simpson Strong-Tie joined forces with Habitat Tucson to help construct homes alongside our current homebuyers.

Simpson Strong-Tie volunteers in local communities during their annual “Put Something Back” activity. Simpson Strong-Tie shares a similar mission to Habitat Tucson and works to build safer, stronger homes.

“Your organization changes lives. We are proud to be a part of that,” said one Simpson Strong-Tie employee.

In addition to supplying volunteers on March 1, Simpson StrongTie also gave $80,000 to help Habitat Tucson build hope.

Thank you!

It costs $90,000 to build a Habitat Tucson home, but even the smallest gift can make a difference. Support homeownership programs today by visiting HabitatTucson.org/give

Quick Gift Guide Your gift can buy:

$500 = Rough Plumbing $1,000 = Water Heater $2,500 = Roofing $10,000 = Framing $45,000 = Concrete Foundation $90,000 = One Safe Home!

growing up

a part of the Habitat family

“I don’t know where I would be without habitat and my family.”

An unruly 16-year-old boy raised in a trailer on the wrong side of the tracks was on a path to fail high school. To get the credits he needed, he joined a carpentry class that was building a house — a Habitat home.

Joshua “J.J.” Swinney found Habitat through the High School Build program — an initiative to educate students in the field of construction while helping families in need.

Years later, he now oversees all new construction and home repair projects as Director of Construction at Habitat Tucson.

“I feel like I grew up here,” he said. “I love the fact that every day I can help children and families build a safe place to live.”

Above all, J.J. says the thing that sets Habitat apart from other nonprofits and keeps it so dear to his heart is Habitat’s ability to bring people together by asking what a community needs and listening to the dreams of neighbors.

“We build community first,” he explained. “We build what the community needs.”

J.J. credits Habitat Tucson for inspiring his passion for building and helping others.

“I don’t know where I would be without Habitat and my family,” he said.

More than anything, J.J. wants to build a world where everyone has a safe place to live. He hopes that all children have opportunities to become passionate about something bigger than themselves.

“I’ve learned so much from volunteers and staff — I want to take the pieces that they’ve given me and be the best leader that I can,” he said.

Build with us. We welcome volunteers of all skill levels on the build site. Consider volunteering today. HabitatTucson.org/volunteer

building a family and a dream

“Home means a solid foundation for our family.”

Yvonne Falzone waited patiently by the phone. It had been days, and she had received no word on two important matters – had she been selected for a Habitat home? And had she been granted the adoption of Jacob and Abrianna, the two young children who had lived with her for the past three years?

The phone rang. Yvonne’s heart was racing as she answered, and was told, “ You have been selected into Habitat Tucson’s homeownership program.”

“I was so excited,” she said. “Everyone at work just started hugging me and it was good!”

The very next day, she received the call that the adoption of Jacob and Abrianna had gone through. Yvonne’s family was finally complete, and soon she would begin building them a home to be proud of.

“Home means a solid foundation for our family,” she said. “Home is where we make memories. I think the memory part is really important. It’s about establishing tradition.”

In addition to the new home, Yvonne is acquiring new skills on the job site. She’s also gained new friends – friends that will soon become her neighbors.

Last month, Yvonne also learned that she would be the proud owner of Habitat’s Women Build home — a home built and funded entirely by women in the Tucson community. She will receive the keys to her home on May 13th, the day before Mother’s Day. Women Build does not exclude men — it empowers women. Get involved. Learn more about Women Build at HabitatTucson.org/WomenBuild

your impact in local neighborhoods

Last year, your time and gifts helped make dreams possible.

Thank you.

Each house built, renovated or repaired — each family served and each life forever changed — starts with one person like you who decided to join the cause of safe, decent & affordable housing.

Thank you for a successful year of building together. Read our Annual Report for 2015-2016 at HabitatTucson.org/AR16

in Tucson benefited from the kindness of 246 individuals Habitat supporters & volunteers. moved into new, safe and stable homes with 18 families their 37 children. repair projects improved the of lives of 195 61 home seniors, veterans, families and individuals. helped build and repair homes in and around 5,004 volunteers the Tucson community. were donated by these volunteers to build a more 55,153 hours compassionate world.

7,580 sweat equity hours completed by homebuyers. donors supported home building and repair 1,941 individual projects in our community.