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Two local families are getting a new Home for the Holidays
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A new home can change a family’s lives in so many ways, especially around this time of year. Habitat for Humanity—with the help of volunteers from Regions and many other organizations—builds homes every year for deserving families to purchase and make their own. We made a trip out to this year’s worksite to meet the families and learn more.
Home for the Holidays
Habitat for Humanity Birmingham kicked off its annual Home for the Holidays house build this week. Dozens of volunteers from Regions and other groups will team up to make two families’ dreams come true by painting, installing drywall and more.
Homeowners must qualify for Habitat Birmingham’s program based on:
- ability to repay a no-interest mortgage, along with a downpayment
- need for quality + affordable housing
- willingness to partner with Habitat Birmingham: minimum 300 “sweat equity” hours and 10 hours of homeownership education workshops
“The homeowners get involved which is great to see. As part of the home ownership process, they participate as volunteers. These homes aren’t giveaway homes—they have to pay for them, but it is all made more affordable because of the volunteer work that is done.”
Leroy Abrahams, Head of Community Affairs and President of the Regions Foundation
Meet the families
This year, Habitat for Humanity Birmingham partnered with two incredible families for their Home for the Holidays build:
Mondrea Howlett
Mondrea was born and raised in Birmingham and attended Birmingham and Midfield City Schools. She worked in the legal field for 10 years and is now an Administrative Assistant at the Bessemer Police Department.
“It makes me feel beyond blessed. I am blessed to be chosen for this program. I am blessed by all of the volunteers who all help to make this a dream come true. I would have never thought that I would actually be able to build my own home and learn how to do that.”
Mondrea Howlett
Angela Russ
Angela was born in Miami before moving to Birmingham with her family. She attended Birmingham City Schools and West
End High School. She has worked at Aspire Rehabilitation Center for five years and is earning her GED in her spare
time. She is the proud mother of three grown children—Kaila, Kayin and Brianna.
“I’ll say from the bottom of my heart, thank you so much that you can give me and my family a chance to become
Angela Russ
homeowners and a place to call home.”
One of Regions’ favorite traditions
Regions has been participating in Home for the Holidays since 2018. Volunteers like these are how Habitat for Humanity has built and improved homes for nearly 40 million people since 1976.
Speaking with the volunteers on the site, it was clear the passion they had for helping these families out.
“Today, one of the homeowners came out and it was really such a pleasure to get to meet her. When you see the families that are actually going to be living in these homes, that’s really what continues to motivate us to come back every year.”
Leroy Abrahams, Head of Community Affairs and President of the Regions Foundation
Get involved
Volunteers save more than an estimated $1.2 million in labor costs each year for Habitat for Humanity. This helps keep the purchase price of houses affordable for home buyers. In addition, donations—both large and small—help make each build possible. 100% of donations go towards Habitat Birmingham’s housing programs.
Want to get involved with Habitat for Humanity in the Birmingham area? There are several ways you can:
- Click here to view Habitat for Humanity Birmingham’s Volunteer Calendar.
- Click here to learn more about Sponsoring a Family.
- Click here to Make a Donation.
Learn more about Regions and how they’re getting involved in the Birmingham community.
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