COMMUNITYREPORT 1 LETTER FROM THE CEO & BOARD CHAIR DEAR FRIENDS, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Indianapolis began its 25th year by participating in Indianapolis’s first Super Bowl as part of the Super Build. It set the perfect tone for a year of reflection, celebration and looking into the future. Reflection: Much has been accomplished since the initial vision of founders Linda and Millard Fuller, who started the international ministry in 1976. The Greater Indianapolis affiliate planted its roots in 1987 when three couples from two different churches banded together to bring the mission of Habitat to the region. Since then more than 400 homes have been provided locally; and through the practice of tithing (giving a portion of our contributed income) internationally, more than 300 homes have been provided in Central America through $1 million in tithe. We also took a look at our impact. IU School of Public Policy conducted a 25-year social impact study funded through the Indianapolis Foundation, an affiliate of the Central Indiana Community Foundation, which revealed, among other things, that for every $1 invested, $2.61 is returned in benefits over time to our homeowners. Celebration: Last year we continued advancing our mission, providing 25 homes in our 25th year. We also know how to have a good time, so we took time to celebrate the accomplishments of our ecumenical ministry and the homeowners. We worked alongside 22 local companies to design and build unique children’s playhouses in our Play it Forward awareness campaign. We partnered with WFYI to produce a documentary and we collaborated with IUPUI students to create a commemorative book. At the end of the year, we capped it all off with our 25th Anniversary Celebration event with 650 people at the Indiana State Fairgrounds, where we made sure to recognize all the volunteers, sponsors, donors and partners who have made it possible for us to advance our mission. Looking forward: While we know how to celebrate, we are even more motivated about our future abilities to serve those in need with the transforming power of affordable homeownership. Expanding our service offerings to include rehabilitation and owner-occupied repair, growth of our ReStore, expansion of our service area and deepening our overall impact are just some of things on the horizon. Thank you for your help in advancing our mission. YOUR PARTNERS, Jim Morris • President & CEO John Ware • Board Chairperson, 2012 John Ware 2 2012: HFHGI BOARD OF DIRECTORS John Ware . Consultant Susanne Komenda-Myers . Phil Myers Custom Homes Mara Scales . .Stanley Black & Decker Isabel Santner . .Katz, Sapper & Miller Ben Houle. .Woolpert, Inc. Bernard Trusty. State Farm Insurance Dave Sternberg. .Loring, Sternberg and Associates Jason McNiel. .Ice Miller, LLP John Peer . .Thomson Consumer Electronics Marquisha Bridgeman. Goodwill Education Initiatives Maura Kautsky . .Defender Direct Nick Churchill . Pittman Partners Rex Phillips . Eli Lilly Company Richard Menke . .Retired from Eli Lilly Company Roys Laux. .Angie’s List Timothy Eckersley. .Ingersoll Rand Security Zaida Monell. .Goodwill Industries 3 HABITAT FOR HUMANITY HOMEOWNERSHIP PROGRAM Nearly 20% of Marion County residents are in poverty, according to the 2010 U.S. Census. 1 SELECTED HOMEOWNER A major barrier to breaking the cycle of poverty is homeownership. A low-income family that meets Habitat criteria is selected as a 2 LAND OR A HOME 3 MATERIALS AND SERVICES partner family. Materials and services are Land or a home is donated donated or purchased using funds or purchased for the new raised by sponsors and donors. Habitat home. 8 MORTGAGE PAYMENTS 4 PARTNER FAMILY 450HOURS $ The partner homeowner puts Mortgage payments go into a in 450 hours of volunteer time revolving fund that is used to to take homeownership build homes for more families. classes, help build their home and serve in the community. 6 MORTGAGE 5 HFH VOLUNTEERS MORTGAGE NEW HOME 7 The home is sold to the family via a Volunteers in the community build the long-term, no-interest mortgage. home in partnership with the family. The family now owns a simple, decent home that meets their needs. 4 WHO WE ARE. In 2012, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Indianapolis celebrated its 25th year of uniting the community with people in need to provide the life-changing opportunity to purchase and own quality, affordable homes. We are an ecumenical Christian ministry that envisions Greater Indianapolis as a place where every resident has access to quality homeownership opportunities. Through our affordable homeownership program, we seek to build self-sufficiency for residents in need. WHAT We’ve ACCOMPLISHED. Habitat has provided more than 400 homes within Greater Indianapolis. Greater Indy Habitat became only the 22nd Habitat in the world to eclipse $1 million in tithe to Habitat affiliates serving Central America, providing another 300 homes internationally. Habitat for Humanity of Greater Indianapolis with funding from the Indianapolis Foundation, a Central Indiana Community Foundation affiliate, hired the Indiana University Public Policy Institute to examine our social impact over the last 25 years. The research revealed that Habitat’s homeownership program offers several direct and indirect outcomes. Some of those outcomes are listed here. For a full review of the benefits, visit our website at indyhabitat.org. The Greater Indy Habitat provides up to $2.61 in benefits over time for each $1 invested from stakeholders. Total estimated impact per family served over time: up to $447,349 Direct and indirect outcomes per family during homeownership over time: • Increased property value, an affordable no-interest loan and prevented foreclosure • Improved physical and mental health and decreased reliance on social services • Improved academic achievement for youth, averted social costs due to high school dropouts • Increased engagement in political and social activities 5 HOMEOWNER: DANITA O’NEAL WINTERS OUR HOMEOWNERS ARE AT THE HEART OF WHAT WE DO. 6 OUR HOMEOWNERS One of Danita’s favorite activities as a homeowner is gardening and landscaping. ARE AT THE HEART MEET DANITA O’NEAL WINTERS THE BUILDING EXPERIENCE Unlike most people, Danita O’Neal Winters knew her career As Danita soon discovered, a Habitat home is not a handout. path before she started grade school. “I wanted to be a nurse Danita, her family and friends, and hundreds of volunteers OF WHAT WE DO. and a mom,” said Danita. “Mother would tease and tell me I came together in spring of 2012 to help build her first home. was born old because I had a manner about me beyond my years. I think it was my ‘calling.’” Danita reflected: “The most rewarding thing was when volunteers would show up and they would say, ‘I’ve never As Danita fulfilled this calling through her family and work as a painted before, I’ve never hammered before.’ I mean people registered nurse, a major knee surgery altered her plans. Due would have absolutely no experience and by the end of the to permanent disability, Danita couldn’t go back to work and day they knew how to do it.” knew that her income was going to drop. “It’s stABILity… I’m GIVING THEM A PLACE TO So, she applied to Habitat for Humanity’s homeownership COME HOME TO.” program. “I just held the (acceptance) letter and kept rereading As Danita experienced, life isn’t always as you picture it it… At that point I was like a lot of people; I had thought that in grade school, but she is proud of what she’s accomplished. when you get the letter, you get the house. (When) you get the “It’s been my hope to keep our home stable despite the letter, you get a meeting. You get a notebook full of what your changes that have affected me personally… I believe God responsibilities are before you get to where I am now.” will never allow anything to happen to me that I can’t handle. I hope to continue to show my kids that adversity is not a MORE THAN AN AFFORDABLE ROOF – stop sign. It’s the entrance to the walk of Faith.” A HEALTHY HOME For Danita, this also meant healthier living conditions: “Four of the kids have asthma. I have asthma, which wasn’t a big deal but now that I’ve gotten older, it’s really problematic… So this Danita O’Neal Winters and will be the first summer where we have central air and it will be the first winter where we don’t have to put plastic up on the her family closed on their windows and seal everything.” new home in May of 2012. The excitement was not only felt by Danita. A Habitat home meant each family member had more space. “My sister is pretty happy because she gets her own room,” said Danita’s daughter, Monique. “I’m pretty happy because I get MY own room.” “I hope to continue to show my kids that adversity is not a stop sign.” 7 CELEBRATING 25 YEARS OF COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF GREATER INDIANAPOLIS COULD NOT PROSPER WITHOUT THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF A CARING COMMUNITY. 8 Habitat for Humanity of Greater Indianapolis could not prosper Throughout the 25-year history of Habitat’s presence in the without the generous support of a caring community. Thanks Greater Indianapolis area, a number of community partners to the contributions of our community partners in 2012, Habitat have provided strong support with consistent, sustainable united the community with 25 families in need to provide the human and financial resources to our mission. The following life-changing opportunity to purchase and own their first home. six companies have provided almost $4 million in financial For a full list of our 2012 sponsors, please see page 20.