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The Two Largest Valley Habitat for Humanity
Affiliates Merge

posted August 2008

central

The new affiliate name is Habitat for Humanity Central Arizona. The merger increases the overall capacity of both affiliates to better serve families, volunteers and donors. Additionally, the merger will strengthen existing partnerships with cities, corporations, faith communities and individuals.

Over the last twenty three years, the two affiliates have partnered with 698 families to make the dream of homeownership a reality. Faith partners, corporations and individuals have supported the mission of Habitat creating opportunities for over 14,000 volunteers this last year to build homes for deserving families.

Habitat for Humanity Central Arizona moves forward with a combined Board of Directors and all staff members.

Visit Habitat for Humanity of the West Valley Website »

Learn More »

Press Release »

AmeriCorps Project

posted August 2008

On Saturday, June 14th, not a single AmeriCorps member could be found on a build site. They weren’t skipping out on their duties; instead, they spent the day helping create a safe, soothing haven for victims of violence.

Bench Damage

For thousands of women and children each year, the Sojourner Center, a domestic violence shelter in Phoenix, is a safe place of refuge. However, the refuge lacked a refuge of its own. Inside the shelter it is important that the occupants have a quiet, secure place where they can relax and focus on healing. At the Sojourner Center’s Hope Campus, one of the main courtyards was full of overgrown trees, cracking benches and peeling fascia, to the point where it was no longer a calming retreat.

With the help of a dozen volunteers, the six AmeriCorps members worked to remedy the problem. For nine hours, the group worked to disassemble benches, sand and stain replacement slats, repaint the bases of the benches, repair and repaint aging fascia, trim trees and bushes, spread new gravel, clean old fixture, and install new solar-powered lighting.

Americorps Project

Volunteers carried loaded wheelbarrows through the center’s lobby while residents gaped. Peering through the window into the bustling courtyard, several women asked, “Is that for us?” After being assured that it was indeed for them, they paused for a moment to watch the transformation. Gasping in shock, one exclaimed, “Wow! It’s going to look amazing!”

At the project's end, the courtyard certainly was visibly brighter, cleaner and more welcoming. The splintering old benches had been replaced with newly-stained wood and freshly-painted bases, the peeling turquoise paint replaced by new white trim and fresh gravel and new lights brightened the grounds.

final

The AmeriCorps volunteers -- James Ball, Camila Domonoske, Katie Frost, Steph Garman, Andrew Hodgson and William Klemt - organized the courtyard’s clean-up as their AmeriCorps Community Development Project. Every AmeriCorps volunteer serving with a Habitat affiliate completes an annual project to help improve their community outside of their service with Habitat. By partnering with the Sojourner Center, the AmeriCorps have helped their community by providing a soothing haven for victims of abuse.

Summer Volunteer Opportunities

posted August 2008

Although we are finished building homes for the summer, we still have volunteer opportunities available. We are moving out of our warehouse at 135 E. Watkins in Phoenix and need help packing up our construction supplies so we are ready to start building in the fall. Work begins at 7 a.m. on Saturdays. We also have opportunities in our ReStores to help get merchandise ready to sell. The stores are located at 115 E. Watkins in Phoenix and 1135 S. Dobson in Mesa. Shifts are available Monday-Saturday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.. We ask for a three hour commitment. If you'd like to volunteer, please contact us at 602-268-9022. If you are a new volunteer, please register for an orientation at www.habitataz.org

Oro Vista Update

posted August 2008

Land has been cleared and dirt has been moved to make way for Habitat's newest subdivision in Oro Vista. The new subdivision will have 32, one- and two-story homes with a garage and a scenic park in the center of the neighborhood. This new community will be a great place to live and raise any family.

Land Trucks

AmeriCorps Farewell

posted August 2008

This past year Habitat for Humanity has been blessed with the participation of seven outstanding individuals. These AmeriCorps have made huge contributions in Construction, Volunteer Services, and our A Brush with Kindness program. By the end of July, all of their individual years of service will be over and they will all be moving onto new and exciting adventures. Each of them, in their own unique way, has touched our lives in the last year and we are sad to see them go. But because they are now forever a part of the Habitat family, we are also glad to know that they won’t be far from our hearts.

So to Camilla, Step, Suzie, Katie, Andrew, William, and James, from all of the staff, families, and volunteers here at Habitat for Humanity, thank you! Good luck and may God bless you in all that you do!

Habitat for Humanity U.S. Affiliation Agreement

posted June 2008

Habitat for Humanity International and its affiliates around the country have entered into a U.S. Affiliation Agreement. The purpose of the U.S. Affiliation Agreement is to help protect the goodwill that has become synonymous with the Habitat for Humanity name. The Agreement will standardize the relationship between affiliates and Habitat for Humanity International. Habitat has developed a Quality Assurance program to ensure uniformity and consistency among Habitat for Humanity International-affiliated organizations. All affiliates must be in compliance with the program by June 30, 2008 and are expected to execute the Quality Assurance Checklist once a year. Through the process of completing the checklist, affiliates are able to quickly identify and strengthen areas needing improvement. Habitat for Humanity Valley of the Sun is a strong affiliate and meets the majority of the standards. Some of the areas we are working to improve include consistent language and signage with the Habitat for Humanity trademark. We are also working to implement new policies required through the Agreement. One key policy requires affiliates to begin checking for the presence of sex crime offenders. This policy will help further strengthen the safety concerns for homeowners, volunteers, staff and all our partners. Another key policy will be the tracking of volunteer hours. The tracking of volunteer hours will play a huge roll in helping Habitat for Humanity Valley of the Sun acquire new grant monies.

We will keep you updated on new policies and improvements as they are implemented.

Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project

posted July 2008

On May 11-16, Habitat for Humanity Valley of the Sun’s National Direct AmeriCorps members joined more than 2,000 volunteers from around the world at the 25th Annual Carter Work Project. Across the Gulf Coast, the 2008 Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project volunteers worked on a total of 250 houses in hurricane-ravaged areas of Louisiana, Texas, Alabama and Mississippi. Habitat for Humanity Valley of the Sun’s six AmeriCorps members, along with Volunteer Services Manager Luke Black, traded Phoenix’s dry heat for the intense humidity and torrential downpours of Mississippi. All week long, they wielded hammers and paintbrushes as they helped with new construction in Biloxi and rehab projects in Gulfport. “The houses they build there are a little different from the ones we build, which was interesting,” said William Klemt, Construction AmeriCorps at Habitat for Humanity Valley of the Sun. “Mostly, it was great just getting to put on my tool belt and get to work.” Work continued at a steady pace all week, with volunteers working ten to twelve hour days as they attempted to complete construction of the houses. Unfortunately, heavy rains and lightning near the end of the week limited work and put many sites behind schedule. As soon as the block leaders gave the go-ahead for safety, volunteers braved the rain and mud to continue their work, and spirits remained high despite the weather. For the Valley of the Sun volunteers, the rain was even a welcome novelty… at first.

The Carter Work Project fell right in the middle of National AmeriCorps Week, May 11-18, and fittingly enough, the hundreds of AmeriCorps National Direct members from Habitat affiliates across the country were all gathered together at the Project. “It was nice to come together with all the national AmeriCorps members and share each others’ experiences,” said James Ball, Construction AmeriCorps at Valley of the Sun.

“It gave me a greater context for the work I’m doing here in Phoenix.” For the Valley of the Sun AmeriCorps, working on the Carter Work Project was a rewarding experience that left a lasting impression of continuing need. Hurricanes Katrina and Rita destroyed more than 500,000 homes along the Mississippi Gulf Coast, and although the memory of the storms may be fading for most of the country, along the Gulf Coast the damage remains. Since the storms, Habitat’s Gulf Coast Recovery program has completed or begun construction on 1,300 homes; an astounding and noteworthy effort, but much work remains to be done. At the Carter Work Project, one phrase was often repeated: “Going the distance in the Gulf Coast.” There’s a long road of recovery yet before us, but Habitat affiliates across the country, including Valley of the Sun, will be there all the way.

Custom Home Built from ReStore Items

posted June 2008

Habitat ReStore Customer Dick Finley helped spread the good news about shopping at the ReStore recently on Channel 3's Your Life A to Z. Dick spent some time speaking to Lisa Haffner about the purchases he made for his 16,000- square foot Paradise Valley home. He showed a photo of the door to his wine cellar that he found at the Mesa Restore and a great utility sink, complete with faucet, that he purchased for the laundry room.

(A photo of the door and sink are shown below)

Dick also spoke about the importance of reusing and recycling materials and how much he liked finding this kind of treasure at the ReStores. We appreciate Dick sharing his time and going "on camera" for Habitat.