Dear friends,
A word that’s been on my mind lately is resiliency. There have been a lot of “big moments” in just 24 months. We’ve been through a pandemic together. There have been huge social and political movements.
But our community is resilient. Our team is resilient. The families and individuals we serve are resilient. Despite the challenges we’ve faced I’m so proud of what we’ve accomplished. COVID-19 continues to have a huge impact on our operations with safety concerns, fewer volunteers, staff shortages, drastically increased material costs, and material delays. This is tough on our team, and most of all this is tough on the families that are depending on us. But we haven’t stopped building, and your support kept coming. This year we sold a home, began construction on three homes to be sold in the next fiscal year, and completed 24 critical home repairs. For that we will be forever grateful.
We’re dedicated to ending the cycle of poverty and believe that every person should have a decent and affordable place to live. The strength, stability, and self-reliance that come from a safe place make a lifelong impact. We always remain committed to making affordable homeownership a reality, keeping people in their homes through our home preservation program, and investing back in the community that we operate in through neighborhood revitalization.
“I can be changed by what happens to me. But I refuse to be reduced by it.” Maya Angelou
The people that we serve and their stories inspire me. They’ve overcome so much and continue to work toward a better life, especially during a pandemic that disproportionately affects them. The people that I work with inspire me. And it all comes back to that one word, “resiliency.” We’ve been through a lot. We are forever changed. But we are not reduced. We continue to work harder than ever to create sustainable, long-term housing solutions in the Ozarks. We’re on track to complete 4 to 5 homes in the next fiscal year, and we need your continued support to make this happen. Click here to review the July 2020-June 2021 annual report – scroll to the bottom and select “2021 Annual Report.”
Moving forward with the Habitat mission is a team effort, and you are part of that team. We’re honored that you’ve chosen to stand by us on this journey. On behalf of our board, staff, and those that we serve – thank you.
Chris Tuckness, Habitat for Humanity of Springfield, Missouri Executive Director
