As part of the 2019 Leaders Build Week (presented by Brighton Securities), volunteers from Brighton Securities, Davie Kaplan Wealth Care Advisors, Edgcomb Financial Advisors, North Forest Office Space, and Xerox joined us for a day of networking and giving back to the community through construction volunteering.

Today's work was drywall installation at 39 Love Street (remodel sponsored by the Brighton Church Coalition) and painting at 129 Fernwood Street (vacant rehab sponsored by ESL Federal Credit Union).

Thank you to all of the volunteers and sponsors that are helping us turn these two houses back into safe, stable, and affordable homeownership opportunity for two more Habitat homebuyers!

The Autism Council of Rochester, Inc. has created a new partnership with Flower City
Habitat for Humanity to create a unique housing program for individuals and families
with children & adults living with Autism. This partnership is a first-of-its-kind in New
York State and its focus will be to remove barriers which prevent our families from fully
participating in homeownership, including the families in the build process and the
necessary accommodations for Sensory Needs Modifications, which may be a
challenge for individuals on the spectrum and possibly prevent them from being able to
enjoy their physical surroundings and comfort within their home.

The program currently has five applicants in the process.

"We are very excited about the new housing program and the steps being taken to
serve a vastly underserved group in our community. As a parent of someone living with
autism, I have first-hand knowledge of the challenges living situations can create on a
daily basis," said Lawana Jones, Founder & Executive Director of the Autism Council.

“We are truly gratified to be in partnership with the Autism Council of Rochester. We
look forward to providing homes that will allow each individual to be fully supported
and truly benefit from their living environment. We know the impact on our homebuyers
and their families will be a lasting one,” said Matt Flanigan, CEO, Flower City Habitat
for Humanity. “We look forward to continuing to work together to achieve our mission
of building homeownership, communities, and hope.”

Groundbreaking for the initial two homes in the program will begin in June 2019.

​For more information on the next round of applications for the housing program, please
email, info@theautismcouncil.org

We are grateful to have celebrated our 35th Flower City Habitat for Humanity Anniversary with our wonderful community supporters, donors, volunteers, staff, and sponsors! ​Together we raised over $125,000 to continue building strength, stability, and self-reliance in Rochester!

What a beautiful day to celebrate TWO Habitat Home Dedications!

Today we had the honor of celebrating the ceremonial and spiritual transition of two construction sites into two new Habitat Homes that were full of excitement, love, and plans for the future.

There's a few things left to finish up, but in just a few short weeks The Betts Family and The Sutton Family will be closing on their affordable mortgages, moving in, and building the next chapter of their lives in a quality, affordable, and stable home.

These two homes were made possible by the hard work of our partner families, Habitat staff and volunteers, and the faith-filled support of the Penfield Area Coalition of Churches, Thrivent Financial, and the Harvest Home Coalition.

All three of these faith-based organizations (along with many more) are already gearing up to partner with us again - and if you are interested in putting your faith into action with us, we invite you to learn more at: www.rochesterhabitat.org/faith

To learn more about our homeownership program, visit: www.rochesterhabitat.org/homeownership

"The help I had with Abi and my coach getting me through this year, when I had my ups and downs... You guys brought me through this year and made me stronger, to say that I can do this. I just want to thank everyone, thank you guys so much. And today is my grandbaby's birthday!"

To Regina and her family, we want to say thank you for partnering with us to help make your dream of homeownership come true - your strength and hard work make us all stronger too!

We also want to thank all of the volunteer and donors from our Women Build program who brought together the funding and volunteers to make this possible - the 14th Women Build house in Rochester!

Today is International Women's Day and we have been hosting a group of international volunteers (who just happened to be mostly young women) from our Canadian neighbors to the north all week!

For five years now, seniors from Villanova College (a high school in King City, near Toronto) have come down to build with us for a week! A huge thank you as well to St. Margaret Mary Church for giving them a wonderful place to rest and reflect between building!