Habitat MidOhio Monthly Musing
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CEO Corner
Seems there’s a month for just about everything these days. Sometimes, however, there’s one that catches our eye at Habitat MidOhio. Specifically, this one is set aside as National Home Furnishings Month…and that makes me think of our ReStores!
As I’ve shared before, our three Habitat MidOhio ReStores provide numerous opportunities to donate gently used home furnishings for resale, or shop, purchase and repurpose those goods – all of which produces sales revenue at the counter that supports our overall mission.
I’ve had supporters ask me, “How much effect does my donation (or purchase) really have on the mission of Habitat?” Fair question, for sure. The answer is, “…quite a bit!”
Specifically, during last fiscal year that ended on June 30th, the combination of donations and subsequent sales generated $3.3 million in gross retail sales. That figure illustrates how much those individual transaction mean to our mission, whether it’s a donation or purchase at the counter.
So, when everyone does a little up front, that result on the back end can truly be transformational in providing us the ability and resources to serve more families.
Allow me to focus on furniture that is now being donated to our stores. In just the last two months, we have been lucky to attract the attention of several large retailers who are now consistently making quality donations that are then sold to the general public. And in an effort to enhance the shopping experience for our patrons, we are in the process of launching a new on-line shopping site where patrons will be able browse and make purchases. We will be releasing that link soon, once the team has completed all Beta testing. Once accomplished, folks can either pick up what they’ve bought, or utilize another new feature, our delivery service.
As our ReStore operations continue to evolve, know that our overriding goal is to make the experience more convenient, efficient and fun! We hope you’ll stop by in September during National Home Furnishings Month. As always, thank you for your support of our affiliate and mission, as you really do make it all work for our families.
Homeowner Services
Dedication of Lawson Home, August 9
Congratulations to the Lawson family on their new home! The new home was funded thanks to our long-time Licking County sponsors including Park National Bank, Licking Memorial Health Systems, Ohio Capital Corporation for Housing, The Energy Cooperative, and the City of Newark. Welcome home, Lawson family!
Dedication of Lee Home, August 19
We gathered one beautiful morning to celebrate with the Lee family as they received the keys to their new Habitat MidOhio home! Led by John Fisher, the volunteer team worked through the cold winter into the warm summer to make sure everything was perfect for the new homeowner!
Thank you to the Northwest Adopt-A-House partnership for your 31st home sponsorship and Mifflin Presbyterian Church for your 16th home sponsorship! Churches in the NWAAH include: St Agatha Church, Upper Arlington, Ohio, Covenant Presbyterian Church, First Community, Holy Trinity, Northwest Christian Church, Riverside Church, Saint Mark's Episcopal Church, and Atonement Lutheran Church.
Wall Raising of Warsame & Elmi Home, August 19
We officially kicked off a new build in Linden with the Warsame & Elmi family! Joined by sponsors Simpson Strong-Tie, Wells Fargo, and State Farm, we set a floor joist with the happy family. Thank you to the sponsors and volunteers for helping make this dream a reality for the Warsame & Elmi family!
Wall Raising of Mohamud Home, August 19
We had a busy month at Habitat MidOhio! We also joined the Mohamud family to start their path to homeownership! Sponsors Montei Foundation and Hexion were on-site to help commence construction on this 5-bedroom home alongside the new partner family. We can't wait to follow along through the building process and see the Mohamud family receive their keys in no time at all!
Wall Raising of Rhodes Homes, August 29
We officially kicked off construction for the Rhodes family with help from our long-time partners Alan & Bobbie Weiler! The excitement was in the air as the family lead our opening and closing blessings and the kids eagerly picked out their new rooms! It won't be long before they will get the keys!
Construction
Needed Home Repairs Include Varying Scopes
Many families throughout central Ohio have homes in need of repairs that they simply cannot afford to get done without the help of Habitat for Humanity-MidOhio. The scope of these repairs varies from family to family and home to home. Our repair program focuses on health, safety and code-related needs and that list of needs is large. We are fortunate to have a skilled team of staff who orchestrate the repair program by assessing the homes and determining the greatest needs. They work diligently to determine which repairs fit into the budget while keeping the families in decent housing situations. This task is often challenging, but we are confident that the work we do continues to make a large impact in the lives of those we serve.
In FY23, we completed eighty-eight home repair projects. Below are some stats and breakdown of scopes of work:
- The average cost of construction on repair projects was $7,130
- The average cost to the homeowner was $2,182 (about 30% of total construction)
A breakdown of some of the more frequent needed repairs completed:
- 18 tree removal or trimming projects
- 13 full roof replacements
- 7 conductor/exterior drain line installations
- 6 stair handrail installs
- 4 basement/foundation repairs
- Other scopes included kitchen renovations, porch and deck rebuilds, tub and shower replacements, window and door replacements, soffit and fascia repairs, gutter replacements and many other miscellaneous items
Members of 'The A Team' worked to do major structural repairs to the wall of a home that had damage from a falling chimney. This repair also included foundation wall repair and a new roof.
As we move toward the second quarter FY24, we continue to work hard with the help of all our wonderful donors and volunteers to find ways to best help families to continue living safely and comfortably in their homes.
ReStore
ReStore Online Launch
Check our new online store to see what featured products we have available at our Westerville and Newark locations. You can even purchase online and pick up in store!
Have a fall project? Our donation processing areas are ready to take your used home furnishings and décor! Or, drop by any of our three locations to see what exciting new merchandise is arriving—we have new offerings in appliances, furniture and much more. Our goal is to provide affordable home furnishing goods at a value that you would not be able to find in a normal retail setting. Sometimes it feels like a treasure hunt in our stores and there’s always something for everyone!
Locations and hours:
ReStore Westerville Road: 3140 Westerville Road, Columbus, OH 43224
Open Monday-Saturday from 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. (Donations Drop-offs 9:00 A.M. to 4:30 P.M.)
ReStore Bethel Road: 2555 Bethel Road, Columbus, OH 43220
Open Monday-Saturday from 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. (Donations Drop-offs 9:00 A.M. to 4:30 P.M.)
ReStore Newark: 1660 N 21st St, Newark OH 43055
Open Monday-Saturday from 9:00AM to 5:00PM (Donations Drop-offs 9:00 A.M. to 4:30 P.M.)
Did you know that Habitat for Humanity-MidOhio offers deconstruction services?
The Habitat ReStore Deconstruction Team provides removal of salvageable materials from your home or business. As a locally recognized and respected organization, we offer efficient service and experienced personnel to complete your job on time.
For more info, check out our new webpage dedicated to Deconstruction!
Please join us in welcoming another new team member to the Newark ReStore, Jeff!
Jeff enjoyed shopping at our ReStore and saw the opportunity to work for a great company. He is excited to help grow the store and has a goal to double revenue! Outside of work, Jeff enjoys watching his children play sports and tuning in for Pittsburgh Penguins hockey games. He also stays busy by coaching recreation basketball in Granville. Fun fact about Jeff: He has been to 49 states! Wonder which one is left?
We want to welcome our newest ReStore team member, Andy!
Andy first was introduced to the Habitat ReStore when his church group volunteered with us. He liked the work we did and thought he would be a good part of the team! He is excited to get started and start organizing, making sales, and helping get more products into customers' hands. Outside of work, Andy likes to work with his hands, draw, and paint and he is also involved with this church, Five14 Church. Fun fact: Andy loves to watch Ohio State football games!
Volunteer Services
Please welcome our newest AmeriCorps members, Aly Ludwig and Joyce Quaye!
Aly is serving as the AmeriCorps Volunteer Services Coordinator. Aly chose to serve a year with Habitat to gain some experience in the world of volunteering as well as gain a better understanding of where she would like to take her career. A few of Aly’s interests include: records/cassettes, movies, hiking, and traveling (road trips especially). Aly’s favorite holiday activity would be the big meals around the dinner table with family where no one leaves hungry. Her favorite dessert is tiramisu. Aly would describe herself as reserved, flexible, creative, and kind.
One important life skill she thinks everyone should have would be to always stay receptive to new ideas, experiences, and information, no matter your age or experiences. Two role models include: her mom and her grandmother. Her mom: she’s been through a fair share of trials and always comes out of them stronger, with wisdom to share. She is always open to learning and hearing new perspectives. She has a hunger for knowledge that Aly has always admired and tried to take with her into adulthood. Her grandmother: she has also been through so much, but always pushes through with a smile on her face and a humble attitude. She is incredibly altruistic, making sure everyone else’s needs are met before even thinking of her own. One goal Aly would like to accomplish would be to serve with Peace Corps.
Joyce is serving as an AmeriCorps Construction Crew Lead. Joyce chose to serve a year with Habitat to get the chance to give back to the community and also to provide her with the opportunity to learn new and practical life skills. Joyce volunteered on several of our sites this spring before applying to the AmeriCorps program. (Thanks, Alex and Dan, for encouraging Joyce to apply!)
One thing that makes her laugh would be puppies playing. Joyce would describe herself as curious, kind, disciplined, and an introvert. One important life skill she thinks everyone should have would be empathy. Two role models include: Joyce’s parents and Oprah Winfrey. Joyce’s parents: they allowed her to make her own life choices and provided the support that she needed. Oprah Winfrey: she is a true example of empowerment. Joyce’s hobbies and interests include: sewing, reading, word search, and cooking/baking. Her favorite dessert would be cheesecake, and if she could try a new activity, it would be skating. Her favorite holiday activity would be the fun and games with her family. One goal Joyce would like to accomplish would be to empower young females to follow their dreams.
We are actively recruiting for AmeriCorps members! AmeriCorps members are needed in the areas of Construction and Resource Development to serve a year with Habitat MidOhio. Members receive a modest living allowance, basic health benefits, an education award upon completion, and a monthly housing assistance stipend.
What’s new with Habitat Young Professionals?
Join our Habitat Young Professionals chapter for another installment of Leader Lessons, featuring Carlie Boos of the Affordable Housing Alliance of Central Ohio, on Thursday, September 28 at 5:30pm. The event will be held at Seventh Son, who is generously donating a $1 of each drink purchased to Habitat!
Are you passionate about Habitat's mission? Are you willing to table at events or engage with your community? Join us for our next Habitat Ambassadors Training on 10/10 or 11/4!
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
According to research from Habitat for Humanity International….
- When levels of education, income and employment are equal, Black populations are equally civically engaged compared with their white counterparts. However, when Black and Hispanic/Latino populations have lower educational, income and employment opportunities — often as a result of structural racism — their rates of civic engagement are significantly lower compared with white populations.
- Increasing access to homeownership for Black and Hispanic/Latino adults can increase civic participation by 8% among these groups. Addressing systemic inequalities, such as improving access to higher education, would increase civic participation by 33%.
- According to a Kaiser Family Foundation poll, Black and Hispanic/Latino adults vote at greater than expected rates compared with their homeownership rates, partially because they are more likely to live in disinvested neighborhoods that require collective action to maintain and improve.
- Increased residential stability of Black and Hispanic/Latino households through homeownership and home repair programs enables marginalized groups to remain in their homes for longer, increasing their ability to build social capital and mitigating barriers to social and civic engagement resulting from low income, low educational attainment and less lucrative employment.
September is National Hispanic Heritage Month!
Each year, Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15, by celebrating the histories, cultures and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America.
The day of September 15 is significant because it is the anniversary of independence for Latin American countries Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on September 16 and September18, respectively.
Resource Development
The RED (Remember Everyone Deployed) Friday 9/11 Day of Service and Remembrance is a part of AmeriCorps’ efforts to partner with other faith-based, local, and national organizations to expand volunteering that honors the sacrifice of families, first responders, recovery workers, and veterans impacted as a result of the September 11, 2001 attacks. This month, in collaboration with AmeriCorps and Habitat for Humanity’s Veterans Build Program, we commemorated the event by hosting three volunteer days with local veterans and AmeriCorps members. Please consider joining us in our efforts to Remember Everyone Deployed by wearing red on Fridays throughout the rest of September!
