April 2024 Newsletter

Economic Impact

The impact of Habitat’s work goes beyond each house that we work on. Building and repairing homes stimulates other sectors of the economy – driving additional spending and creating local jobs. In 2022, our investments in construction and housing repairs had a ripple effect on the local economy. Our economic impact analysis shows how much our initial investment is multiplied as the dollars circulate through the community. See the entire economic report online.

Thank You, Volunteers!

National Volunteer Week is April 21-27, 2024. It is an opportunity for us to recognize and thank our volunteers who use their time, talent, voice, and resources to meet the critical needs of affordable housing in Hanover and King William Counties. Thank you!

Recycling

Novelis and Habitat for Humanity have partnered again to promote recycling in local communities. Over the next six months, we will be collecting cans and aluminum to support a grant competition. The Habitat affiliate that gathers the largest amount of aluminum will receive a grant of over $7000 for their programs. In the last grant cycle, we received $3000 from Novelis!

You can drop off your metal in our recycling bins located outside the ReStore, or bring larger items to the back entrance between 9 am and 4 pm from Monday to Saturday.

Recycling helps build and repair homes locally, so start collecting!

We would like additional volunteers to help out the recycling crew. Every 3 weeks, we will sort and load cans to take them to the recycling center. It can be a messy job but is necessary to continue our program and hopefully be successful in the Novelis Grant Competition. If you are interested, please visit our volunteer portal to sign up. Feel free to also reach out to Amanda Gunter by email or at 804-569-6108 x104 with questions.

Golf Tournament Sponsorships

Our annual golf tournament still has sponsorship opportunities available! We are looking for beverage cart, driving range, putting green, and tee sponsors. If you are interested in being a sponsor, please visit our website or contact Michele McCabe by email or 804-569-6108 x103.

Ways to Support Habitat

For more than 45 years, people have partnered with Habitat for Humanity to build a better life for themselves and their families. This April, support our #HomeIsTheKey campaign. This campaign brings people together to unlock futures and change lives so that even more families have access to decent housing. Consider donating to the organization or rounding up your purchase at the ReStore.

The Rotary Club of Mechanicsville, Virginia Foundation and the Richmond Flying Squirrels will welcome Hanover County to The Diamond on Thursday, May 16 for a community night to celebrate Hanover with baseball and fireworks. This event benefits those who serve our community. Profits from tickets for the evening go to several nonprofits, including Habitat! Grab your $10 ticket online at https://givebutter.com/baseballtickets.

Want to see their flyer? Download it here.

Habitat Programs & Homeowner Support

National Financial Literacy Month is recognized each year in April to raise public awareness of the importance of financial literacy and maintaining smart money management habits. As part of Habitat's required sweat equity, home buyers attend financial education classes to build a solid foundation for long-term personal success. Household finances can be a source of stress and Habitat wants to help alleviate concerns or barriers on the path of homeownership.

STAR neighbors learning with Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development

April is Fair Housing Month and highlights the importance of Fair Housing. During this month, we are reminded of Habitat’s commitment to advancing equitable opportunities and expanding homeownership. Every person deserves a place to call home, regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, elderliness, familial status, disability, source of funds, sexual orientation, gender identity, or military status.

ReStore

Did you know you can order solid wood cabinets through the ReStore? We have lots of colors and styles to choose from, including grays and whites! Come into the store and talk with Rick, the manager, to order your new kitchen or bathroom cabinets!

Housing in the News

We love to see localities get creative with what to do with government-owned property. This article shows a great example of how surplus property owned by a locality can be turned into affordable housing for many!

https://ow.ly/K62350QTmWN

You can’t miss the trend of collaboration happening across the region in an effort to provide more affordable housing opportunities. This article speaks to an exciting development in our region with a partnership between the YWCA, Maggie Walker Community Land Trust, and the Children’s Home Society of Virginia. We hope for developments like this in Hanover and King William in the future! https://ow.ly/PoCE50QVvFM

The numbers in this article are why affordable homeownership programs like ours are necessary – otherwise, individuals would continue to spend more than 50% of their income on rent and never be able to afford to purchase a home. https://ow.ly/QmJQ50R3kMt

Kee Kee, our second home buyer in the STAR development, was in the Mechanicsville Local talking about her housing journey and Habitat. Check out the article at https://ow.ly/n6zR50QW1S 1

Hanover and King William Habitat for Humanity | www.hkwhabitat.org | 804.569.6108