"A hand up, not a hand out"
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Habitat for Humanity was originally founded in Americus, Georgia in 1976 by Millard and Linda Fuller. Habitat, although originally a Christian organization, focuses on involving any and all members of the community regardless of race, religion, or gender. This organization is currently led by CEO Jonathan Reckford. The goal of this organization is to build better communities. Habitat is widely known as an international nonprofit, but it is also locally known. We actually have a local affiliate in Smyrna here in Cobb County!
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How it works:
As a club at Hillgrove, we serve as a driving force to help our Coalition meet its fundraising goal to achieve our mutual goal of building a better community. The Hillgrove Chapter, founded 2016, is a part of the Cobb County High School Habitat Coalition. We are pleased to be working with other Cobb high schools and Habitat for Humanity of NW Metro Atlanta to fund and build a house each year!
Hillgrove HFH partners with NW Metro Atlanta and the Cobb High School Coalition to build a home in Cobb each year. To do this, our member high schools must raise $110,000 for building materials. With the rising cost of land in Cobb County, and building materials going up, our cost has been rising as well. Each school chapter or club fundraises to donate funds, and each schools' volunteer build slots are proportional to the amount it donates.
Students build on 9 consecutive Saturdays, usually Feb-Apr. Each build Saturday allows 30 student volunteers plus an expert leader crew from NW Metro Atlanta HFH. Over the course of the build, 300+ students from member high schools get the opportunity to build together with their peers, the homeowners of this house and future Habitat homeowners that are putting in their 100 hours of sweat equity.
At Hillgrove, we use a point system to determine which students will fill our designated slots. For example, if we donate funds for 1 day of the build (~$12,250) then we will have 30 slots. Students with the most points (for their participation in club events and fundraising) will be given the first opportunity to fill Hillgrove's volunteer slots. So, participation is paramount if students want to be considered as a build volunteer.
WE DO NOT GIVE AWAY HOUSES! Homeowners are selected and vetted through NWMetro Atlanta HFH, and must go through 100 hours financial of training, and they must put in sweat equity on others' houses and their own house to qualify. When we dedicate the home in May, the homeowners have qualified for a low-cost mortgage. For more details on home ownership through HFH, see our affiliate's website.
We strive to instill a legacy of giving back in our members. Students from Hillgrove Habitat for Humanity have gone on to be leaders in their college chapters. If you have some ideas of ways we can give back to our community and advocate for safe, clean, affordable housing, please contact us and share your thoughts.
Students build on 9 consecutive Saturdays, usually Feb-Apr. Each build Saturday allows 30 student volunteers plus an expert leader crew from NW Metro Atlanta HFH. Over the course of the build, 300+ students from member high schools get the opportunity to build together with their peers, the homeowners of this house and future Habitat homeowners that are putting in their 100 hours of sweat equity.
At Hillgrove, we use a point system to determine which students will fill our designated slots. For example, if we donate funds for 1 day of the build (~$12,250) then we will have 30 slots. Students with the most points (for their participation in club events and fundraising) will be given the first opportunity to fill Hillgrove's volunteer slots. So, participation is paramount if students want to be considered as a build volunteer.
WE DO NOT GIVE AWAY HOUSES! Homeowners are selected and vetted through NWMetro Atlanta HFH, and must go through 100 hours financial of training, and they must put in sweat equity on others' houses and their own house to qualify. When we dedicate the home in May, the homeowners have qualified for a low-cost mortgage. For more details on home ownership through HFH, see our affiliate's website.
We strive to instill a legacy of giving back in our members. Students from Hillgrove Habitat for Humanity have gone on to be leaders in their college chapters. If you have some ideas of ways we can give back to our community and advocate for safe, clean, affordable housing, please contact us and share your thoughts.