In 1976, when Habitat for Humanity was organized, the world had just over 4 billion inhabitants; this year, the statisticians tell us, the global population will pass the 7 billion mark. In 1976, I was barely a teenager; today, I have a son older than I was then. Undoubtedly, your own life’s arc in those years can astound if you think about it. Thirty-five years ago, Habitat was mostly the seed of an idea—a dream and a vision of a small group of people who believed that everyone who grew sleepy at night should have a safe, decent place to lay his or her head. Today, Habitat has fulfilled the better-housing hopes and dreams of about 500,000 families. We have been richly blessed, and Habitat for Humanity has been a blessing to families around the globe.

The coming year will be an important one for the Habitat movement. We begin work that will lead us to the 1 millionth family served not that many years from now. And we undertake work on a strategic plan to guide the organization from FY2014-18.

We will do so with the backdrop of refreshed core documents—vision, mission statement and principles. As most of you know, we have been studying the core documents for some time with the goal of making them more durable, more memorable, more strategic and more globally applicable. The mission statement has been in use for at least a couple of decades, the mission vision and principles for going on a decade. They needed some polishing, and that’s what we did.

Jonathan T.M. Reckford
HFHI, CEO

Rawlins, Cross and Killebrew residence halls will be no more.

The three buildings at Austin Peay State University will be torn down and replaced by a new $25.5-million, 416-bed residence hall. But the buildings aren’t a total loss.

APSU, in partnership with American Constructors, donated an estimated 1,000 pieces of furniture from the dormitories to Clarksville’s Habitat for Humanity ReStore.

“We’re thrilled about it,” said ReStore Manager Kathryn Norbeck-Dayley. “It’s mostly beds, close to 395 beds, about 100 night stands, 50 chests, over 300 chairs and about 35 desks.”

Leaf Chronicle Article

Habitat for Humanity A.I.M (Applicant Information Meeting) for Homeownership will be held 9am to 11am, 12-noon to 4pm, Friday June 10, 2011 at the Habitat for Humanity office at 400 Madison Street, downtown Clarksville (in the Dollar General plaza) Seminars will start every hour on the hour with a staff lunch break from 11am to 12 noon.

The Habitat A.I.M for Homeownership is a seminar for anyone interested in Habitat homeownership. Attendees will learn about Habitat mission and ministry, program requirements and how to complete the application. This is also a good opportunity for the general public to attend and learn more about Habitat and how they can help through volunteering.

Habitat for Humanity application requirements are a stable income to afford a 20-year, zero interest mortgage, willingness to partner starting with completing an application, and currently living in unsuitable housing.

Since 1992, Habitat has partnered with 74 qualified applicants who invest sweat equity into building simple, decent and affordable housing to achieve homeownership through a twenty-year, zero-interest mortgage. Habitat collaborates with faith, civic, and business organizations who envision neighborhood revitalization through new home construction.

Please contact the Affiliate office at (931) 645-4222 or visit www.habitatmctn.org.