Through shelter, we empower
Habitat for Humanity believes that no matter who you are, or where you come from, everyone deserves a decent place to live. We partner with people to help them build or improve a place they can call home.
Habitat homeowners help build their own homes alongside volunteers and pay an affordable mortgage. With your support, Habitat homeowners achieve the strength, stability, and self-reliance they need to build a better life for themselves and for their families.
Habitat homeowners help build their own homes alongside volunteers and pay an affordable mortgage. With your support, Habitat homeowners achieve the strength, stability, and self-reliance they need to build a better life for themselves and for their families.
Mission
Seeking to put God's love into action, Greater Rochester Habitat for Humanity brings people together to build homes, communities, and hope.
Vision
A world where everyone has a decent place to live.
All are welcome
Greater Rochester Habitat for Humanity has an open-door policy. We are willing to partner with all who believe in our vision, regardless of race, religion, age, gender, political views or any of the other distinctions that too often divide us.
Habitat for Humanity and its affiliate organizations will not proselytize. Nor will Habitat work with entities or individuals who insist on proselytizing as part of their work with Habitat. This means that Habitat will not offer assistance on the expressed or implied condition that people must adhere to or convert to a particular faith or listen and respond to messaging designed to induce conversion to a particular faith.
Habitat for Humanity and its affiliate organizations will not proselytize. Nor will Habitat work with entities or individuals who insist on proselytizing as part of their work with Habitat. This means that Habitat will not offer assistance on the expressed or implied condition that people must adhere to or convert to a particular faith or listen and respond to messaging designed to induce conversion to a particular faith.
Habitat International History
The idea that became Habitat for Humanity first grew from the fertile soil of Koinonia Farm, a community farm outside of Americus, Georgia, founded by farmer and biblical scholar Clarence Jordan.
On the farm, Jordan and Habitat’s eventual founders Millard and Linda Fuller developed the concept of “partnership housing.” The concept centered on those in need of adequate shelter working side by side with volunteers to build decent, affordable houses. Affordable mortgage payments paid by the new homeowners would be added to fundraising efforts to create “The Fund for Humanity,” which would then be used to build more homes.
Beau and Emma were the owners of the first home built by Koinonia’s Partnership Housing Program. They and their five children moved into a concrete-block home with a modern kitchen, indoor bathroom and heating system, replacing the unpainted, uninsulated shack with no plumbing where they had previously lived.
In 1973, the Fullers decided to take the Fund for Humanity concept to Zaire, now the Democratic Republic of Congo. After three years of hard work to launch a successful house building program there, the Fullers then returned to the United States and called together a group of supporters to discuss the future of their dream: Habitat for Humanity International, founded in 1976.
The times have changed, the build site locations have grown in number, but the very real change that Beau and Emma’s family experienced is shared by families today who partner with Habitat to build or improve a place they can call home. Thanks in no small part to the personal involvement of U.S. President Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalynn and the awareness they have raised, Habitat now works in all 50 states in the U.S. and in more than 70 countries and has helped more than 29 million people achieve strength, stability and independence through safe, decent and affordable shelter.
On the farm, Jordan and Habitat’s eventual founders Millard and Linda Fuller developed the concept of “partnership housing.” The concept centered on those in need of adequate shelter working side by side with volunteers to build decent, affordable houses. Affordable mortgage payments paid by the new homeowners would be added to fundraising efforts to create “The Fund for Humanity,” which would then be used to build more homes.
Beau and Emma were the owners of the first home built by Koinonia’s Partnership Housing Program. They and their five children moved into a concrete-block home with a modern kitchen, indoor bathroom and heating system, replacing the unpainted, uninsulated shack with no plumbing where they had previously lived.
In 1973, the Fullers decided to take the Fund for Humanity concept to Zaire, now the Democratic Republic of Congo. After three years of hard work to launch a successful house building program there, the Fullers then returned to the United States and called together a group of supporters to discuss the future of their dream: Habitat for Humanity International, founded in 1976.
The times have changed, the build site locations have grown in number, but the very real change that Beau and Emma’s family experienced is shared by families today who partner with Habitat to build or improve a place they can call home. Thanks in no small part to the personal involvement of U.S. President Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalynn and the awareness they have raised, Habitat now works in all 50 states in the U.S. and in more than 70 countries and has helped more than 29 million people achieve strength, stability and independence through safe, decent and affordable shelter.
Flower City Habitat History
In 1984, Roger and Barbara Cross founded Flower City Habitat for Humanity in Rochester, NY as an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International.
The first project involved moving a house from Wilson Boulevard to Cady Street. For the first several years, Flower City Habitat was completely volunteer run and built an average of one or two houses each year. As more volunteers, supporters, and professional staff were added, the number of houses built and families served grew.
In 2007, in partnership with the City of Rochester and neighborhood residents, Flower City Habitat launched a major, multi-year house building program in the JOSANA neighborhood.
In 2013, Flower City Habitat celebrated its 200th house, having built in several areas including concentrated development in the JOSANA, Upper Falls, and Bull's Head neighborhoods.
In 2022, Flower City Habitat celebrated its 250th home built or renovated in the City of Rochester, with 100 of those homes located in the Greater JOSANA Neighborhood (within a half mile of Enrico Fermi School #17).
Flower City Habitat construction projects continue across the city, with work currently focused in the Greater JOSANA, Beechwood, and Emma Neighborhoods.
In January 2023, Flower City Habitat, Ontario County Habitat in Canandaigua and Wayne County Habitat in Newark joined to become Greater Rochester Habitat for Humanity. The merger makes the local affiliate the second largest in production in New York State.
The first project involved moving a house from Wilson Boulevard to Cady Street. For the first several years, Flower City Habitat was completely volunteer run and built an average of one or two houses each year. As more volunteers, supporters, and professional staff were added, the number of houses built and families served grew.
In 2007, in partnership with the City of Rochester and neighborhood residents, Flower City Habitat launched a major, multi-year house building program in the JOSANA neighborhood.
In 2013, Flower City Habitat celebrated its 200th house, having built in several areas including concentrated development in the JOSANA, Upper Falls, and Bull's Head neighborhoods.
In 2022, Flower City Habitat celebrated its 250th home built or renovated in the City of Rochester, with 100 of those homes located in the Greater JOSANA Neighborhood (within a half mile of Enrico Fermi School #17).
Flower City Habitat construction projects continue across the city, with work currently focused in the Greater JOSANA, Beechwood, and Emma Neighborhoods.
In January 2023, Flower City Habitat, Ontario County Habitat in Canandaigua and Wayne County Habitat in Newark joined to become Greater Rochester Habitat for Humanity. The merger makes the local affiliate the second largest in production in New York State.
100 Habitat homes within a half mile of School 17
In 2001, the tragic death of 10-year-old Tyshaun Cauldwell devastated the JOSANA Neighborhood. In a 13 WHAM story, Ralph Spezio, Tyshaun's principal at the time recalled, "the most difficult thing I ever did was deliver his eulogy. That boy was loved."
Spezio recalls neighbors marching and singing "We Shall Overcome," as church bells rang out from locations all over the city. Then, community outrage became community action. "The people in this community said, 'We have to take things into our own hands. We have to do this for ourselves,'" said Spezio.
Among the many initiatives brought forth by the neighborhood, was the JOSANA master plan and a commitment from Flower City Habitat for Humanity to build 100 homes in the neighborhood. In June 2021, construction began on the 100th home.
Spezio recalls neighbors marching and singing "We Shall Overcome," as church bells rang out from locations all over the city. Then, community outrage became community action. "The people in this community said, 'We have to take things into our own hands. We have to do this for ourselves,'" said Spezio.
Among the many initiatives brought forth by the neighborhood, was the JOSANA master plan and a commitment from Flower City Habitat for Humanity to build 100 homes in the neighborhood. In June 2021, construction began on the 100th home.
July 13, 2021: Golden shovel and wall raising ceremony
Representatives from Thrivent and the Harvest Home Coalition, whose sponsorship made this home possible, joined Habitat staff and Habitat homebuyer, Natasha for a golden shovel and wall raising ceremony to celebrate the early stages of construction at 757 Jay Street.
Representatives from Thrivent and the Harvest Home Coalition, whose sponsorship made this home possible, joined Habitat staff and Habitat homebuyer, Natasha for a golden shovel and wall raising ceremony to celebrate the early stages of construction at 757 Jay Street.
July 20, 2021: Planting begins for the Tyshaun Cauldwell Memorial Garden
Flower City Habitat for Humanity and the Seneca Park Zoo Society begin planting an expanded memorial garden to honor Tyshaun Cauldwell, the 10-year-old whose tragic death 20 years ago helped galvanize the JOSANA Neighborhood. We hope the garden will beautify Tyshaun’s existing memorial site, and serve as a symbol for the continued efforts to strengthen the community and make the City of Rochester a better home for all children.
Plans for the garden include native plants and flowers, as well as walkways to be enjoyed by the community. Flower and plant species will be identified with signage so the garden can serve as an educational site for local youth, particularly the students from Enrico Fermi School No. 17, where Tyshaun was a student.
Flower City Habitat for Humanity and the Seneca Park Zoo Society begin planting an expanded memorial garden to honor Tyshaun Cauldwell, the 10-year-old whose tragic death 20 years ago helped galvanize the JOSANA Neighborhood. We hope the garden will beautify Tyshaun’s existing memorial site, and serve as a symbol for the continued efforts to strengthen the community and make the City of Rochester a better home for all children.
Plans for the garden include native plants and flowers, as well as walkways to be enjoyed by the community. Flower and plant species will be identified with signage so the garden can serve as an educational site for local youth, particularly the students from Enrico Fermi School No. 17, where Tyshaun was a student.
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July 28, 2021: While construction continues on the 100th house, we also caught up with Lissette, the owner of the FIRST Habitat house in JOSANA!
"My house is everything to me," she said. "When I walk in through those doors, this is my sanctuary. This is where I raised my kids. I wanted them to see that if I could reach a goal, this girl from Brooklyn owning her own home, that they could reach any goal they wanted to reach." Hear more from Lissette (1st house) and Natasha (100th house) in the story below. |
