 Tithe Partners - Nepal & EthiopiaThe tithe is a foundational principle of Habitat for Humanity, based on our biblical roots as an ecumenical Christian ministry, and it's also a principal that people of all faiths and no particular faith can participate in. Through the financial commitment of a tithe, all U.S. Habitat organizations are able to participate fully in building Habitat’s vision of a world where everyone has a decent place to live. While each country is different, it takes an average of only $4,500 to build dramatically improved, permanent housing solutions with our international partner families! Flower City Habitat for Humanity designates our tithe funding to Habitat Nepal and Habitat Ethiopia; two countries that Habitat for Humanity International has designated as having particular need for tithe support. As we work together, we hope you will join us in building long-lasting, impactful, and deepening relationships with our global brothers and sisters. Nepal 2020 trip cancelled We were scheduled to send a team of 12 to Terai, Nepal in October 2020, but as you may suspect, the COVID-19 pandemic made it impossible this year. Donations made to our 2020 trip will be held for our next trip, and the 12 people that committed to the 2020 trip will have the first chance to join our next trip. If you are interested in joining a future Global Village trip, please stay tuned and we'll share information when trips begin again. If you have questions about your donation towards the 2020 trip, please email development@rochesterhabitat.org. What you can do today While of course we are disappointed about not being able to travel and build in Nepal this year, it is a great time to learn more about the work being done in both Nepal and Ethiopia.
Please help us build a deeper relationship with these two Habitat organizations by visiting their websites and following them on social media today: Habitat Nepal: Website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram Habitat Ethiopia: Website, Facebook  As many of us reflect on our faith during the holy times of Passover, Easter, and Ramadan, we're especially grateful to be able to share this homebuyer update. Zuleika and her family have moved into the home co-sponsored by a generous individual donor, Caldwell Manufacturing, and our local Habitat Interfaith Partnership! We are so thankful to each and every one of you for coming together to make this home possible. Zuleika & Family move in
Painting and kitchen cabinet installation on Breck StreetWhile construction has slowed down without having our regular construction volunteers to build with us, work is continuing on our Breck Street rehab. This week, our Construction Manager (Isaac) installed kitchen cabinets, and the homebuyer (who is asking for privacy) has been spending long hours painting the entire house. New drywall really soaks up a lot of paint, but it's getting there — and the blue bathroom looks great! To help ensure maximum social distancing, they are wearing protective gear including masks and are working at different times or different rooms as much as possible. Check out the pictures below to see what it looks like now, and for what it looked like a couple months ago, visit www.rochesterhabitat.org/news/breck-street-rehab  In a time when the need for safe, affordable housing is even more clear, we are thankful to be celebrating the completion of four new Habitat homes on Holworthy Street. Over the past few weeks, our construction team has been working with staff only (no volunteers) and maximum health and safety precautions to finish homes that were nearly complete. Last week, we turned over four sets of keys and each family is moving in as they can, and as safely as possible. Kiomy & Family move in!Although our CEO, Matt Flanigan had to keep his distance, he was grateful to be among the first to say, "Welcome home!" to Kiomy and her family on move-in day. Check out interviews with Kiomy and Matt from Spectrum News, WHEC News 10, and WROC News 8 who helped us share the great news! And our biggest thanks to the Greece Coalition of Churches for sponsoring this home! What's next?The other three families on Holworthy Street are in the process of moving in as well, and we will share updates when possible. We also look forward to having in-person celebrations with the families and house sponsors once it is safe to do so.
Though we have had to make a lot of adjustments, Flower City Habitat's commitment to a world where everyone has a decent place to live is as strong as ever. You can view our broad operational updates at any time, but please help us keep you informed by updating your email preferences so we can get you more specific information on the topics that you are most interested in. Our work building homes, community, and hope continues and we thank you for your continued support! Act now: Tell Congress you support housing stability and Habitat during COVID-19 pandemic  With the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, families are facing both a public health and an economic crisis. The longer it goes on, the more this pandemic also becomes a housing emergency.
We need you to add your voice now to tell Congress to act for housing stability. More than 18 million families in the U.S. pay more than half of their income on housing, leaving little or no margin for lost income or increased health costs. Many of those families are facing additional economic hardship from lost wages or layoffs and are now confronted with impossible choices between trying to pay their rent or mortgage and life’s other essentials. Even before the pandemic, far too many families were already facing these circumstances. These are the families with whom we partner. They are going to need our hand up now more than ever. Congress needs to act to support these families. It also needs to support nonprofits like Habitat for Humanity that serve our communities. Congress is considering additional economic relief legislation, and Habitat is hard at work leading efforts to provide support for our homeowners and other low-income families financially impacted by the pandemic. We’re also fighting for financial support for Habitat organizations and other nonprofits, whose work will be so vitally important as we recover from this pandemic. The CARES Act included some measures to provide economic relief for families and businesses, but Congress needs to go further to support families struggling to afford life’s essentials and nonprofits like Habitat for Humanity that serve our communities. Join us in calling on members of Congress to prioritize the needs of low-income families and the organizations that work hard to serve them. Local restaurants help Flower City Habitat for Humanity complete 5 new homesThank you again to Amiel's the Original Submarine, Benuccis Restaurant, and Starbucks for helping keep our construction team energized as we put the finishing touches on our Holworthy Street new builds! We have five houses that are now completed or wrapping up and we're working with each family on an individual plan regarding safety, logistics, and timing of move-ins. Check out the photos below and coverage by 13-WHAM. Today is a day where far too many are struggling to make rent payments, often for substandard housing. We know how big the task is before us, but we are also fortunate to share some good news today. Today is move-in day for Rochester's newest Habitat homebuyers; with several more expected to be ready in the next few weeks! Both our construction and family services teams continue to practice maximum social distancing and we are working with each family on an individual plan regarding safety, logistics, and timing of move-ins. This first family has asked for some privacy, so we are respecting that, but we can share that they are excited to now know that "staying home" means the safety, security, and stability that we all deserve. The kitchen appliances were delivered just after these photos were taken and of course we'll be back to help with landscaping when it's safe for volunteer groups again. This home, at 96 Holworthy Street, was made possible by generous donations from Thrivent Financial and the Harvest Home Coalition. THANK YOU! We miss seeing all of our supporters in person, but hope you will join us in saying "Welcome home!" to Rochester's newest Habitat homebuyers! Habitat partner families pay lower mortgage payments (for a quality home that they own), than they were paying in rent for substandard housing. That swing of often saving hundreds of dollars every month and starting to build equity has always been a critical piece of Habitat for Humanity's home-ownership program. Where for many “stay at home” means figuring out logistics and adjusting mindsets, for others it only exacerbates the conditions with which they have struggled for so long. Affordable and stable housing continues to be a foundation for us all to build our lives on, and as long as we are able to do so safely, we will continue to build. Construction has been deemed essential by New York State, so our construction is continuing with staff only (no volunteers) and maximum health and safety precautions. Our construction supervisors are working with maximum social distancing (usually on different houses) to finish five nearly-complete new builds and two remodels. On Tuesday we worked on driveways on the Holworthy Street new builds and finishing touches on an Orange Street remodel. These homes are near completion and we will be working with each family on an individual plan regarding safety, logistics, and timing of move-ins. Habitat affiliates around the world (including us) are working with local officials to donate our excess stock of protective masks and goggles to local hospitals. We are in this together. ❤️ Broad-view operational status[Updated Oct 21, 2020 - Most recent updates in bold]
Flower City Habitat for Humanity family and friends, Below is a brief "status of operations" by department. A more detailed letter from our CEO is also available here (sent on May 11). Office & Family Services:
Construction:
Events, Fundraising, & Non-Construction Volunteering:
ReStore:
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