Strength, Stability And Self-Reliance Through Shelter
It is hard to believe that in 2018 we will celebrate our 30th anniversary. Since 1988, we have built or rehabbed almost 500 homes and impacted more than 1,000 Springfield residents’ lives! As I say when asked how many houses we are building, “we aren’t in the house building business…we’re in the people helping business.”
This past year we transformed even more lives by helping four new homebuyers purchase their Habitat home. Best Habitat day ever! We also completed more than 80 home and property improvements. We grew our Neighborhood Revitalization partnership with Woodland Heights by completing two “Rock the Block” and one “Rally in the Alley” events among many other activities.
That’s a lot of impact. It would not have been possible without the generous support and participation of our donors, volunteers, board members, staff and numerous other hearts and hands who joined in our mission of bringing people together in God’s name to build and repair homes, communities and hope.
But there’s more to do. Springfield continues to be challenged with the highest poverty rate in Missouri. The availability of decent, affordable housing continues to decrease as median rent continues to rise and the existing housing stock ages.
Habitat is good at ‘bricks & mortar’ but we can’t put food on the table or provide needed jobs. That’s why we need other organizations to join us in Neighborhood Revitalization. Together we can help people gain strength, stability and self-reliance through shelter.
Blessings,
Larry Peterson
Executive Director, Habitat for Humanity of Springfield, MO
