Brooke Burdick-Director of Community Outreach

Brooke Burdick from Habitat for Humanity (HFH) spoke to the club about the non-profit organization.

HFH helps low income families with low income housing.  They provide for low income families by providing volunteer labor and financing.   They believe everyone deserves a decent home to live in.   HFH is one of the largest non-profit.   

Many families apply for each project.  A committee selects the recipient.  Those not selected are referred to other agencies for housing assistance. 

HFH builds locally and internationally.  20 people are going to Honduras this August.  This is a more meaningful travel experience for people.  The volunteers build next to local people.  It is very enriching for the volunteers. 

Volunteer groups from large and small businesses help with the builds. 

HFH has stores around Snohomish County.  One is opening in Smokey Point in the former Food Pavilion building in June.  Furniture, appliances, home supplies are sold in the stores.  All products are donated.  Please donate!  Donating materials and appliances keep it out of the landfills.  Donating is a great way to recycle products.  They cannot take all furniture or badly scratched materials.

HFH employs volunteers in the stores.  A lot of high school students complete their volunteer hours in the stores. 

A project in Gold Bar will begin in May.  The property was donated.  A small home will be built to support a family of four.  Projects have been completed throughout Snohomish County.

HFH works with other organizations to educate people on how to get a home.  They educate people how to repair credit and obtain a home loan without a down payment. 

2 out of 3 children of families in Habitat homes will go to college.  Homeowners are required to spend 500 hours building.  They invest sweat equity in the property and learn how to take care of a home while building.  Home Depot and Lowes provide materials and teach classes.

HFH has built in Houston after the hurricane.  They built in Louisiana, Thailand, Honduras.

The new home owner owns the home, not the land.  The owner can sell the house but it has to go through HFH and to a new HFH recipient.  Any equity goes to the selling home owner.

If you are interested in volunteering please contact Brooke.