Flower City Habitat for Humanity builds homes for those who would not otherwise be able to afford them. St. Thomas’ has long supported the Brighton Coalition of Churches in Support of Flower City Habitat for Humanity building projects, both financially and through the volunteer program. Proceeds from our annual 5K race are donated to this worthy cause annually.
Volunteers are always welcome! Small teams of approximately six individuals work under a Flower City Habitat for Humanity supervisor. Construction work includes pounding nails, painting, sawing, spackling, and putting up drywall. There are also some opportunities for non-construction work. The minimum time for volunteering is usually one full day. You can volunteer once, or once in a while, or you can sign on for several days. You need to be eighteen years of age to work on a Habitat site.
The support of members of St. Thomas' Episcopal Church, with others from the nine-church Brighton Coalition of Churches in Support of Flower City Habitat for Humanity built this home! It was started September 7, 2011 and was dedicated on January 28, 2012. A Koran and a hammer were presented to the new homeowner. This is faith in action to build hope for a family and our community. The new homeowner and his family are now enjoying living in their new house in the City of Rochester's JOSANA neighborhood (Jay, Orchard & Child St. area). A neighbor at the dedication said it's a safer part of the area and they intend on keeping it that way.
The house has 3 bedrooms with ceiling fans and a full bath on the main floor, an open kitchen with solid oak cabinet fronts, a living & dining L-shaped adjoining area and a full 14" x 10" finished bedroom and half bath downstairs. Flower City Habitat built a full front porch with quality detailing on this very nice home.
Habitat for Humanity homeowners contribute 450 hours of “sweat equity,” building the homes of others as well as their own; they take required classes as part of their transition from renters to owners; and agree to repay an interest-free 20-year mortgage for about $450 per month, which includes homeowners insurance, city and county property taxes and the principal payment that supports the building of future Habitat homes. It costs $75,000 to build a Habitat home, and the Coalition is charged with $65,000 of that. The full porch is bound to add onto that cost, but we're hoping that they will continue to support that significant and beautiful addition for future homes.
The Brighton Coalition member church names are: Trinity Reformed, Edgewood Free Methodist, Our Lady of Lourdes, First Baptist, Brighton Reformed, Twelve Corners Presbyterian, Baptist Temple, Atonement and St. Thomas' Episcopal.