Lehigh Valley, Pa, August 18, 2016 — After many years of strong community support and organizational improvements, Habitat Lehigh Valley is proud to once again report a successful  year in both services provided and financial management.  And, it looks forward to a busy agenda next year, including a change in daily leadership, reports Board Chair Kelly Berfield.

During its 2015-16 fiscal year Habitat Lehigh Valley served nearly 1,200 residents with its Neighborhood Revitalization programs begun just four years ago.  These program activities expand beyond the construction of new housing to include older home renovation, exterior preservation projects (known as “Brushes with Kindness”), community clean-ups, and flower box construction. The traditional activity of building new homes continues and during 2016 four families became first-time homeowners through the purchase of Habitat homes.  The Habitat ReStore (opened in 2013 next to the Lehigh Valley Mall on Grape Street), sells donated home construction and home furnishing items and continues to grow and expand its impact. Habitat Lehigh Valley has formed several strong neighborhood revitalization partnerships with several non-profit, corporate and faith based organizations. According to Berfield, “Habitat Lehigh Valley is well positioned to continue its work.”

During 2015-2016, Habitat has had 10 partnership families, four of which have already moved into their homes.  During that time Habitat has completed over 32,500 volunteer hours as an organization and by the end of 2016 will have completed 20 exterior renovation projects and the rehab of four houses.

Ms. Berfield also announced that after 6 years of leadership Debrah Cummins, Chief Executive Officer of Habitat Lehigh Valley is leaving Habitat to pursue other opportunities “We will miss Deb and wish her well in her new endeavors in non-profit education. She has transformed our organization under her tenure. Our capacity to serve more families has grown exponentially. She leaves behind a strong leadership team that will continue to manage the affairs while the Board searches for a new executive director.”

A world where everyone has a decent place to live.

Building strength, stability, and self-reliance through shelter.

Habitat for Humanity of the Lehigh Valley is a non-profit organization that works to build simple, decent homes for hardworking, disadvantaged families in the Lehigh Valley. We are an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI), a global organization that has provided housing for more than 2 million people in communities in America and around the world. As one of 1,500 U.S. affiliates, Habitat Lehigh Valley embodies the mission and goals of HFHI at the local level.

Founded in 1989, Habitat Lehigh Valley brings together people from all walks of life to help others. Habitat Lehigh Valley works by partnering with local businesses, individuals and faith-based groups to build and renovate housing for families in need in our community. Our objective is to provide our families with a decent home in a safe neighborhood. Additionally, our families help to revitalize neighborhoods and increase the local tax base.

The Habitat mission is to offer families in need a hand up, not a hand out, and to walk alongside them as they realize the dream of home ownership.  Each of our families contributes 250 hours of sweat equity to help build their home and the homes of their neighbors.  Once in residence, they make monthly mortgage payments. Since most of our families are new to home ownership, HLV stays in contact with them, guiding them and providing support to ensure their successful transition to home ownership.

The Habitat Home Ownership program provides deserving families and children with a stable home and a safe neighborhood in which to grow and thrive.

For more information, www.habitatlv.org