Our work depends on the help of the entire Habitat community. It has been a challenging time and we couldn’t have continued this work without your dedication and engagement. I wish to thank the many people who contributed generously of their time and financial resources helping hard-working area residents, like the Alhallaks and Tabors, to have a safe and affordable home in which to live. You are making a significant impact on our community!
Thank you! Eric Solsaa, President, Board of Directors
Thank you! Eric Solsaa, President, Board of Directors
Wednesday, May 18th was a great day! The foundation was poured and the electric service for all three homes was put in place. First, the rainwater had to be pumped. Then, Carrara arrived at 11, and within an hour the concrete was poured inside the insulated concrete forms ensuring a high R value for the home. Teamwork made the dream work. The team: Ryan Solsaa, Eric Solsaa, Rob Stubbins, Jim Potter, Norm Cohen, Skip Ableson, Steve Follet. John Berryhill, Don Tadio, Franklin, and Dick Kilburn. Click to see photos.
On Saturday, April 23rd we held a groundbreaking ceremony. Over 50 people joined with Rose and Josh Tabor to celebrate the start of their home; the first of three homes we will build on Hickory Street in Rutland City. Click to see photos of the ceremony. Click to see a video of the dedication.
After April 23rd, we will be building every Wednesday and Saturday from 9 to 3. If you are 16 or over and want to help, please read our safety rules and sign our liability release. Click this link.
After April 23rd, we will be building every Wednesday and Saturday from 9 to 3. If you are 16 or over and want to help, please read our safety rules and sign our liability release. Click this link.
Click on this link to see construction photos of the Tabor House and previous homes.
Home Construction on Hickory Street Began on April 15th!
John Berryhill has designed a beautiful home that we will build with and for Josh and Rose Tabor on Hickory Street in Rutland. The path to being selected as our next homeowner was anything but easy, but their selection is testimony to Josh and Rose’s positive can-do attitude and determination. Josh and Rose had previously applied for a home in the Bennington area but needed to do a few things to get their finances in order. They moved to Rutland, and we encouraged them to apply to us, as they were now in better shape to handle the financial responsibilities of homeownership.
Rose works for the Community Health Center of Rutland and is currently studying to serve as a licensed nurse’s assistant. Rose is also a mentor for young people and wants to establish a home-based “workshop” for teaching crafts to teens.
Josh, who is blind and somewhat hard of hearing, has successfully met many challenges adapting to our modern world, and he has done a remarkable job of it. He sings and plays the fiddle for charitable functions with Rose who also sings and plays the guitar. Josh is a black belt in karate. As a sideline, Josh likes to create powder horns for muzzleloaders. Josh and Rose are community-spirited contributors and assets to the Rutland community. Living in a fully handicap accessible home that is safe, highly energy-efficient, affordable, and near to public transportation is a tremendous step forward for the Tabors. To say that they are eager to get started and to meet the many volunteers who will build their new home with them is an understatement!
Brush with Kindness
This winter we promoted a program of home repairs known as Brush With Kindness. Board President, Eric Solsaa said, "We understand that there are times when keeping up with needed repairs can become overwhelming. Often age, health or a change in financial circumstances affects a home owner’s ability to maintain their homes." Click to download an application.
Habitat’s repair program supports the principles that underlie Habitat’s mission by working
together, forming diverse and new partnerships, and sharing resources. A central value is to uphold the dignity of the homeowners, to increase pride in ownership, to teach new skills, and to engage homeowners in the process including decision-making whenever possible. We will offer an interest-free loan for up to five years for the cost of materials. There is no charge for volunteer labor.
The types of repair projects that we have completed in recent years include handicap ramps, smaller repairs of rot to siding and sills, repairs of doors and windows, weatherization projects, and safety projects such as grab bars and other small projects that can be completed by unskilled volunteers. If you have lived in Rutland County for at least a year, own your own home, have an income no higher than 80% of the median income, and need help making your home safer and more affordable, call 747-7470 for an application. Mobil homes are not included in this program. Habitat plans to complete several projects this fall.
Happiness is......... We just learned that Hazar, Hussam, and their family are now American citizens! "We are very excited, happy, and proud that we are now American citizens!" Hussam Alhallak
"And, we are very happy for the Alhallak family and our country." Eric Solsaa
Interested in owning a Habitat home or know someone who would like to learn about the possibility? Click to learn about applying for the homes we will build in 2022 and 2023 on Hickory Street in Rutland City. For additional information, click.
Executive Director position created! We anticipate having sufficient funds from a grant to hire our first full-time employee who will commence work on May 1, 2022. Click to read the full job description.
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There are many ways, large and small, that people can make a difference. You do NOT need to be skilled as a carpenter. Think of Habitat as a small business that is entirely run by volunteers. We estimate that half of the hours contributed by volunteers are completed by people who never pound a single nail. If you admire Habitat's mission and want to have an impact locally, please contact us. Click to learn more.
We need help with with various writing tasks. If you write well, are a good proofreader, or are interested in learning how to use Mailchimp and Publisher, you could be a great help. To learn more, please contact the office (802) 747-7440 or via email: rutlandhabitat@gmail.com.
Donate to help us unlock futures. Our work has demonstrated time and again that Home is the Key. Your support helps us create strength, stability and self-reliance through shelter, which plays a key role in positively influencing a family’s education, health and financial stability.
See how your DONATION can have an impact!
The Ripple Effect...U.S. Support Model
Economic impact analysis: National economic impact analysis report available The U.S. Research and Measurement team is excited to release the national economic impact analysis report, “Beyond the house: How Habitat’s investments ripple across the local economy.” Report highlights:
Amazon Donates to Rutland County Habitat Through AmazonSmile! AmazonSmile is a simple and automatic way for you to support our affiliate every time you shop, at no cost to you. When you shop at smile.amazon.com, you'll find the exact same low prices, vast selection and convenient shopping experience that you are familiar with at Amazon, with the added bonus that Amazon will donate a portion of the purchase price to further our work in Rutland County. You start by signing in to your existing Amazon account. Under “account” you will see a link for Amazon Smile. Make sure you select our affiliate.
Through housing we help our home buyers to gain greater strength, stability, and independence.
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Hussam Alhallak and Hazar Mansour and their three children moved into their new home on Crescent Street in Rutland in early July. To say that they are very excited, happy, and proud, is a tremendous understatement!
Our Mission: Habitat for Humanity is dedicated to eradicate poverty by providing families in need with safe and affordable housing solutions. As of December 2021, 39 million people have been helped by Habitat to build or improve the place they call home as of 2021.
Habitat’s work is anchored on the conviction that safe and affordable housing provides a critical foundation for breaking the cycle of poverty. Habitat is not just about the individual homeowners who will live in the home, it is about the community effort to help people in our community. Our mission is to serve people; always keeping our homeowners and volunteers at the center of all that we do, ensuring that the values we stand for as individuals are exemplified through our work with Habitat. Typically, over 4,000 volunteer hours from over 140 different volunteers from area schools, work teams from area businesses, contractors, congregations and service organizations that work together to make a difference in their community. Habitat for Humanity FY2021 Annual Report - We are proud to be part of a global effort to ensure every person has a safe and affordable place to call home. Drawing home | FY2021 Annual Report (habitat.org) Click on the link to read the report.
Consider donating your used car to Habitat. HfHI will handle all the details. If you designate that you want the proceeds to come to our affiliate, the value of your gift will make a difference locally.
Mailing Address:
Habitat for Humanity of Rutland County City Center, Box 5 67 Merchants Row Rutland, Vermont 05701 Click to e-mail - it is the fastest way to contact us. Our mailing address is Box 5, 67 Merchants Row. Rutland, VT 05701.
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Phone: 802-747-7440
Our office is located in Suite 4, the lower level of the City Center - 67 Merchants Row in Rutland.
rutlandhabitat@gmail.com Privacy Statement Affirmative Action Statement
Our office is located in Suite 4, the lower level of the City Center - 67 Merchants Row in Rutland.
rutlandhabitat@gmail.com Privacy Statement Affirmative Action Statement
