Habitat for Humanity of Schenectady County, Inc.

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ReStore is Open (Thurs/Fri 10-5; Sat 10-2)

	Read the Spring/Summer 2010 edition of the Carpenter's Journal (the HFHSCNY Newsletter)
	Donate a car to Cars for Homes – Habitat for Humanity’s car donation program

President's Message

As incoming President of the Board of Directors for Habitat for Humanity of Schenectady County for 2009, I was particularly concerned about the effect that the recession would have on our donations. The Board set ambitious goals to build more houses per year than in the past. I wanted to meet that goal. Well, our affiliate will not meet the goals planned for 2009, but aspires to do the very best we can under the current economic challenges.

The good news is, however, that there will be five good homes completed this year. This means that five Partner Families will benefit from Habitat's efforts to help eliminate substandard housing for low income, inner-city residents. Even though our corporate partners and individual benefactors have all felt the effects of the economic downturn, they have continued to support us. All of us involved with Habitat for Humanity of Schenectady County are thankful for our financial supporters and volunteers. They enable us to continue our efforts because of their devoted support.

Habitat for Humanity's roots lie in a Christian mission to give a hand up to those around us. Its goal to eliminate substandard housing is well recognized not only in communities around the country, but literally around the world. If you are not a part of this effort, I invite you to be a part of it. Donate to Habitat for Humanity of Schenectady County.

Choose one of three ways to help make a difference:

	First, be a volunteer. We need volunteers with many talents, not only in construction. Our ReStore needs sales associates to help customers and our administrative staff needs help keeping us all organized.
	Second, donate your gently used home improvement materials, e.g. kitchen cabinets, refrigerators, washers, dryers, kitchen and bathroom vanities & fixtures, and lighting. All these items can be recycled and sold though the ReStore. The ReStore saves over 50 tons of building materials each year from the landfill.
	Third, donate financially. Your donation will change lives for generations to come.

Thank you to all of you who have supported us in the past, and I look forward to working with you as we continue our mission to provide simple, decent housing for everyone in our community.

Matthew A. Staccone
HFHSCNY Board President

About Habitat for Humanity of Schenectady County

Habitat for Humanity of Schenectady County, Inc. is a locally run affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing organization. Habitat for Humanity acts as Social Advocate, Builder and Banker. This unique model enables low income, inner-city families unable to qualify for conventional mortgages, an opportunity to own a new, simple, decent home for about the same monthly money as they would pay for a flat or apartment in the inner-city. Volunteer labor helps reduce the cost of the homes. Habitat lends the approved families a 30 year 0% mortgage. Their mortgage payments go into a revolving Fund for Habitat for Humanity of Schenectady County which is used to build more houses. Families must qualify financially and demonstrate need based on current living conditions deemed as “substandard” housing, and agree to partner with Habitat in fulfilling their required “sweat equity” hours.

Individual, faith-based and corporate donors and sponsors provide money and materials to build Habitat houses. Partner families themselves invest hundreds of "sweat equity" hours of labor into building their homes, assisting in administrative Habitat activities, and volunteering in the Habitat ReStore.

The Habitat for Humanity International web site contains more information on Habitat's history, mission, volunteer opportunities and contact information for other Habitat affiliates around the world.