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Habitat News

Hearts and Hammers 2022

12/29/2022

 
Thank you to all of our amazing Habitat volunteers and to everyone who attended our 2022 Hearts and Hammers celebration earlier this month! Check out photos from the event below:

HABITAT Merger featured in Rochester Business Journal

10/20/2022

 
Habitat for Humanity in Monroe, Ontario, Wayne counties to merge 
Will become Greater Rochester Habitat for Humanity 
By: Andrea Deckert October 19, 2022 

Flower City Habitat in Rochester, Ontario County Habitat in Canandaigua and Wayne County Habitat in Newark will join forces under the new name of Greater Rochester Habitat for Humanity in January. 
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The merger will make the local affiliate the second largest by production in New York and place it among the top 40 affiliates across the United States. 
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With the merger, the organization will be able to continue to serve low-to-moderate income families from Rochester to Geneva, as well as those in other communities in the three-county area. 
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Flanigan
Following completion of the merger, Matthew J. Flanigan will serve as the president and CEO of the combined entity. He currently leaders Flower City Habitat for Humanity.  

Flanigan said the three entities — with a combined 100-plus years of experience — will have a unique opportunity to serve more families in need of affordable housing with new homes and rehabs of existing homes, as well as critical repairs, to help owners remain in their homes.  
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“We will be able to deliver upon our mission to serve families with safe, decent housing they can afford in a new, unified service area,” Flanigan said. 
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Bock
In addition to Flanigan, Nash Bock will serve as chief business and innovation officer and JJ Cotter will serve as vice president of programs. 
Bock and Cotter will continue in their roles as executive directors of Ontario County Habitat and Wayne County Habitat, respectively, until the legal consolidation on Jan. 2.  

Flower City Habitat was founded in 1984, Wayne County began in 1988 and Ontario County was established in 1990. 

Combined, the organizations have served nearly 350 area families with new homes, rehabilitated homes and needed repairs. 

In 2021, the three entities reported collectively that:  
  • Volunteers logged a combined 55,000 hours with a total of 1,600 volunteers, serving in ReStores, on construction sites and in offices, and  
  • Homeowners-in-process across the region participated in financial education classes and collectively earned more than 4,000 hours of sweat equity toward the purchase of their homes.  ​
The new Habitat affiliate expects to retain current staff and all existing board members will be asked to join the new entity’s board. 

Cotter noted that the families the organizations have served will continue to be the focus. 
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Cotter
“By combining our resources, we are confident we will expand not only the number of families we assist but enhance the breadth and quality of the programs we offer – from financial counseling to aging in place resources,” she said.  

The news of the merger comes as Flower City Habitat for Humanity makes some changes of its own, adding new positions to reflect the growth the organization has experienced over the past year. Those positions will remain intact after the merger goes into effect. 
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The new positions include a chief operating officer and senior vice president of major gifts and planned giving.   
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Tim Guillemette was named chief operating officer, overseeing the day-to-day operations of the organization. He previously served as Flower City Habitat for Humanity’s director of family services. 
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Ethel Duble is the senior vice president of major gifts and planned giving. She previously served as the organization’s development and marketing director. 
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Duble
In her new role, Duble will focus on long-term goals that will contribute to the organization’s future financial stability.  

Additionally, Flanigan was recently selected to serve on the U.S. Council of Habitat for Humanity International, which was established by its board of directors to serve as the planning and policy recommending body to guide the growth of Habitat for Humanity’s work in the United States.  

In the role, Flanigan advises Habitat for Humanity International CEO, Jonathan Reckford, other senior staff and the International Board of Directors on the direction and priorities of U.S. programs.  

Flower City Habitat for Humanity has grown largely through its collaborations with other organizations, Flanigan noted.  

It has been a major contributor in the JOSANA Neighborhood revitalization project by partnering with the city of Rochester to build 100 homes to date, all within one-half mile of Enrico Fermi School 17.  

The work is part of the JOSANA Neighborhood Master Plan that includes the development of neighborhood associations, business investments and public space beautification projects.  

Currently, the organization is in the process of planning additional neighborhood revitalization projects that will help strengthen the communities of Beechwood and Emma in partnership with Connected Communities.  

“All of our efforts are focused on the heart of what we do … to ensure everyone has a decent place to live,” Flanigan said.    ​
Original RBJ Article Here

THREE HABITAT FOR HUMANITY AFFILIATES TO MERGE to INCREASE IMPACT FOR GREATER ROCHESTER AREA FAMILIES

10/13/2022

 

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (October 13, 2022) – Board members of Habitat for Humanity affiliates in Rochester, Canandaigua and Newark have voted unanimously to embark on a strategic merger of the three affiliates, creating one organization with a mission to serve more families more effectively than any of the three organizations could do on their own. Flower City Habitat in Rochester, Ontario County Habitat in Canandaigua and Wayne County Habitat in Newark will join forces under the new name of Greater Rochester Habitat for Humanity in January 2023. With this merger the organization will be able to continue to serve low-to-moderate income families from Rochester to Geneva, with other communities to be included in the three-county area.

“With a combined 100-plus years of experience, we will have the unique opportunity to serve more families in need of affordable housing in our communities with new homes, rehabs of existing homes as well as critical repairs to help owners remain in their homes,” said Matthew J. Flanigan, Flower City Habitat CEO. “We are extremely excited by the increased impact Greater Rochester Habitat for Humanity will have in our communities. We will be able to deliver upon our mission to serve families with safe, decent housing they can afford in a new, unified service area.”

The merger will create one new affiliate, serving a 3,400 square mile three county area. It will be the second largest Habitat affiliate by production in the state of New York and in the top 40 U.S. affiliates. The new organization will retain a presence in all three counties, including offices and ReStores. Following completion of the merger, Matthew J. Flanigan will serve as the President & CEO of the combined entity, Nash Bock will serve as Chief Business and Innovation Officer, and JJ Cotter will serve as Vice President of Programs. Bock and Cotter will continue in their roles as Executive Director of Ontario County and Wayne County Habitat, respectively, until the legal consolidation on January 2, 2023.    

“The three ReStore locations in Rochester and Canandaigua are a critical part of our funding model and will continue to operate with the help of our donors and dedicated volunteers,” said Nash Bock, Executive Director of Ontario County Habitat for Humanity. “We look forward to building on our already strong support over the years and leveraging our combined talents to deliver greater impact for families and communities in each of the areas we have historically served.”    

Together the three local Habitat for Humanity affiliates have a long and impressive history. Flower City Habitat was founded in 1984, Wayne County began in 1988 and Ontario County was established 1990. Combined, they have served nearly 350 area families with new homes, rehabilitated homes, and critical repairs. In 2021 alone, volunteers logged a combined 55,000 hours with a total of 1,600 volunteers, serving in ReStores, on construction sites and in offices. Homeowners-in-process across the region participated in financial education classes and collectively earned more than 4,000 hours of sweat equity toward the purchase of their homes.    

“At the heart of the Habitat program is the hard-working families we serve,” said Wayne County Executive Director JJ Cotter. “By combining our resources, we are confident we will expand not only the number of families we assist but enhance the breadth and quality of the programs we offer—from financial counseling to aging in place resources.”     

The new Habitat affiliate expects to retain current staff and all existing board members will be asked to join the new entity’s board. Combining the talents and resources of the three-county area is expected to create a powerful and experienced team, with additional resources to serve the community. The merger will bring operating efficiencies and the new entity expects to deploy financial resources into expanded or new programs and services.     

Volunteers are critical to the success of all three local Habitats and will be vital to the continuing success of Greater Rochester Habitat for Humanity. Whether volunteering on a construction site or lending a hand in the ReStore, office or serving on a committee, there will continue to be opportunities to support the mission.    

Between now and the merger’s expected effective date January 2, the three affiliates will continue to function as independent organizations.    

Dedication of 377 Jay Street

8/31/2022

 
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The Builders Exchange of Rochester and Flower City Habitat Continue Build at Saxton Street with New Community Support

7/15/2022

 
Assemblymember Demond Meeks and the Catholic Charities YouthBuild join build effort.

On Friday, July 15th, Flower City Habitat for Humanity (FCHH) and The Builders Exchange of Rochester (ROBEX) gathered at 226 Saxton Street, Rochester, NY to continue a build with some added community support. Assemblymember Demond Meeks (137) and the Catholic Charities YouthBuild were onsite aiding in the construction of a home for a local family in need. With this added support, this build has new levels of community coming together.

Assemblymember Demond Meeks shared “I am elated to be a part of the incredible work being done on Saxton Street. By providing safe and reliable homes to low-income families, we create an opportunity to build generational wealth and to escape the cycle of poverty. Affordable housing developments like these are essential for bringing support and resources to our families and individuals throughout the city of Rochester. I want to thank Flower City Habitat for Humanity for their dedication to the families of our community” about the experience.

The build, which marks the second partnership between FCHH and ROBEX, began September 2021, when both parties came together to break ground at 226 Saxton St. FCHH and ROBEX have gathered the Rochester building community over the past year to support a deserving homeowner as they work toward achieving the “American Dream” of homeownership. In this partnership, they will be building a home to be earned by a local family through sweat-equity and an affordable mortgage.

Additionally, FCHH and ROBEX hope to bring awareness of the viability of a career in the construction trades, by using the site as a training ground for high school students and job seekers interested in pursuing a career in this industry as the build continues. The build is completely supported by ROBEX and their construction industry members, who are donating time, funding, and materials to make this specific build possible. Completion of the home and dedication ceremony are anticipated in early fall of this year.

Flower City Habitat for Humanity CEO, Matthew J. Flanigan stated “We (FCHH) would like to thank Assemblymember Meeks for joining us on this particularly special build day, working with young people, building a Habitat home across the street from the high school he graduated from. The work that the Assemblymember and YouthBuild members completed today takes us one step closer to another brand new Habitat home and another stable homeowner in the JOSANA Neighborhood.”

Builders Exchange of Rochester CEO Kim Gaylord added “The Builders Exchange of Rochester is proud to rally the generosity of the local construction industry to give back to the community through our support of Flower City Habitat for Humanity and the YouthBuild workforce development program. Habitat homeownership and good paying jobs in the construction trades are both great ways to build economic stability in Rochester.”
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Junior Builders Exchange Volunteer and Present Check To Support Flower City Habitat For Humanity

6/15/2022

 
Help us thank the Rochester Junior Builders Exchange for their generous donation and volunteer crew!

226 Saxton Street is being built through our partnership with The Builders Exchange of Rochester and Rochester Junior Builders Exchange. Learn more at https://robex.com/habitat-build/

JP Morgan Corporate Challenge Returns With $25K Donation to Flower City Habitat for Humanity

6/14/2022

 
Thank you JP Morgan for including a generous donation of $25,000 to Flower City Habitat for Humanity as part of this event! Funds from this gift will be used towards a new Habitat home to be built in 2023!
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Progress at 170 Parsells Avenue

6/9/2022

 
We broke ground at 170 Parsells Avenue on May 7th and in just a few weeks we now have the basement in, first floor subfloor installed, and the first wall going up!

​Thank you to the McDermott Family for making this home possible!

2022 Hope Builds Gala Raises over $175,000

5/26/2022

 
Last Friday, the Rochester community showed that it continues to be ready to come together in support of building strength, stability, and self-reliance in Rochester.

Thanks to the generosity of sponsors, guests, bidders, and donors - we raised over $175,000 at the 2022 Hope Builds Gala!

Jonathan's Call From The Heart


​THANK YOU AGAIN TO OUR GENEROUS GALA SPONSORS!!

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Second Floor Joists at 383 Jay Street

4/27/2022

 
Second floor joists have been installed at 383 Jay Street and a special "Happy Birthday!!" to Flo, one of our weekly Hammer & Saw volunteers on the Wednesday crew!

Next up is second story subfloors. Check out the buttons below for upcoming volunteer opportunities for both construction and ReStore.
Individual Volunteering
Group Volunteering
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