​Today we dedicated two previously-vacant, now completely-rehabilitated houses on Fernwood Avenue and Del Monte Street.

We celebrated the transformation of two empty houses (and neighborhood eyesores), into two wonderful homes filled with families, new memories to be made, and a strengthening neighborhood.

After just a few more finishing touches, and closing on their affordable mortgage, we'll have two of Rochester's newest homeowners!

The rehabilitation of both of these homes was made possible through several partnerships including ESL Federal Credit Union, City of Rochester, NY - Mayor's Office, Rochester Land Bank, and Enterprise Community Partners.

And in just a few short weeks we will be finishing up the next one on Barberry Terrace!

​Before photos credits: Richard Margolis Art + Architectural Photography

It's going to be a great summer on the corner of Holworthy and Dakota, as we build FOUR new Habitat homes all within a few hundred feet of each other!

Three of these homes now have the foundations in place, the first floor on, and we're excited for volunteers from the Harvest Home Coalition with Thrivent, Habitat Interfaith Partnership, and Greece Church Coalition to start joining us on July 16th to build these homes! Thrivent, Caldwell Manufacturing, and an anonymous donor have also stepped up in a big way to help fund and build these homes.

Wall Raising Ceremonies are set for Habitat Interfaith Partnership on Saturday, July 27th, 10am; and the Greece Churches Coalition on Saturday, August 3rd, 10am.

Volunteers that build with us before these dates will see some of the exterior and interior walls go up beforehand - but we will be saving at least one exterior wall for some great group photos!

Join your faith coalition partners (or meet Habitat friends from other coalitions) as we share some fellowship, snacks, and our blessings for the construction of the homes and the partner families!

The fourth house on this intersection just broke ground and will be funded and built by Fastrac, Bank of America, and our Women Build program. More updates on that very soon!

Additionally, the Brighton Churches Coalition is currently remodeling a home on Love Street (just about a mile away); and the Penfield and Perinton Coalitions both finished building new homes in the past couple years and are gearing up for their next ones.

Rochesterians know how to put their faith into action!

Kitchen cabinets are built by our highly skilled and dedicated cabinet shop (part of our Hammer & Saw crew), and then our construction supervisors teach volunteers - including those from the Brighton Churches Coalition - how to installed in the house. On this house, the floors are also being refinished!

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