Habitat For Humanity of Northern Virginia

4451 First Place South, Arlington, VA 22204

(703) 521-9890
www.habitatnova.org
www.restorenova.org

I m a g i n e for a moment your parents were drug addicts. You were

physically and sexually abused by a relative, and ran away from home at 16,
finding comfort in the arms of another abuser. Then you brought a child into
your desperate world. You felt lost and alone with no end in sight...

Dear Friend,
This is a story that belongs to Luella, one of our future
homeowners. Thanks to generous donors, hundreds of volun-
teers and people who care, this homeowner has found a new
path and is re-writing her story to have a happy ending.

But in these challenging economic times we are seeing more

and more families in desperate need, reaching out for help
from Habitat for Humanity. While the economy is tough, the
area median income is still above $100,000 per year.

Imagine a family of four, earning between $25,000 and $50,000

per year – often working more than one job. Every year
when the lease is renewed and the rent goes up, they begin
a search for an affordable place to live. That often means a
less desirable apartment, in an unsafe neighborhood; their
children having to change schools and make new friends.
The cycle of poverty continues.

At Habitat for Humanity of Northern Virginia we know that

we can make a difference in our community by helping those
that need a “hand up, not a hand out.”

Building Homes…
Tr a n s f o r m i n g L i v e s
By bringing together financial resources from generous
donors and volunteers with open hearts and ready hands, we
are able to help families eliminate their fears and raise their
loved ones in a safe environment.
Meet Theresa and her nine year old son, Ethan, who will
be moving into a Habitat condo just in time for Christ-
mas this year. Theresa is a single mother who works
as a social worker in our community. She tells a story
about one evening last spring while she and Ethan were
watching TV, they heard a loud noise just outside their
“Mama, I am so happy
Habitat is building a house for
us so we can finally be safe.”
apartment in the parking lot. Theresa ran out onto the
balcony to see what was going on. Just as she realized
that there had been a shooting outside her window, she
felt her son tugging on her shirt begging her to come
back inside so she would not be killed. Once safely in-
side, he cried and said “Mama, I am so happy Habitat is
building a house for us so we can finally be safe.”
We hear stories like these every day at Habitat, and we
believe we can help more families than ever this year.
Our work transforms lives…
One community at a time.
Luella’s story from the beginning of this letter is heart-
breaking. When she had her son, she found inspiration
and strength and was able to reach for help. It was not
an easy road but she remained focused on a better life
for her and her son. Through a shelter program, Luella
learned budgeting skills, cleaned up her credit and be-
gan setting goals. She got her GED and moved quickly
through the shelter program into transitional housing,
where she excelled in every aspect of the program.
That is just the beginning. Since being selected to be-
come a Habitat homeowner, Luella has been working
along side hundreds of volunteers who are helping her
to build her home. She takes pride in every accomplish-
ment. She has lost 81 pounds and now wears the biggest
smile I have ever seen. Luella tells me that as soon as
she completes her sweat equity hours and moves into
her home she plans to begin taking classes to become a
nurse’s aid.
Together we can make a
difference.
Margaret Meade once said “Never doubt that a small
group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the
world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” This is
the magic of Habitat for Humanity...
The children are our future and by helping Habitat fami-
lies to break the cycle of poverty, we position their chil-
dren for success.
Over 90% of Habitat children
over the age of 18 are now
in college or serving in the military.
They are making plans for
a successful future.
RJ, three months before high school graduation, told his
dad he wanted to be an emergency medical technician
(EMT) but first wanted to see the world by joining the
Navy. When asked by his dad if he plans to get his own
apartment when he returns from the Navy, RJ respond-
ed with pride, “No Dad, I am going to buy a house.”
That is the mental shift that takes place when a family
is empowered by homeownership and the work they put
into attaining it.
 Even A Small Gift
Goes A Long Way
Your gift will help others who
are much less fortunate share
the blessings of homeownership.
There are so many deserving
families that could be thriving if
we could lend our hand and help
them build their homes.

A gift of just:

$25- will provide a lock for

a new front door;

$50- provides one new

kitchen faucet;

$100- provides one new

bathroom vanity;

A Hand Up, $200- provides one new

Not a Hand Out ENERGY STAR dishwasher;

$300- will carpet one room

In order to become a Habitat for Humanity homeowner, families must be
willing to contribute 300-500 sweat equity hours towards the building of their
in a new house;
home. That means they work right alongside of the volunteers. They must
have an income level of 25-60 percent of the area median income, reside in sub- $400- provides one ENERGY
standard housing, and spend 30 percent or more of their income on housing. STAR hot water heater;
In addition, these families $500- provides one electric
must also have the means
to pay their mortgages and
panel;
have a good credit history.
Habitat families make a $600- provides tile and fix-
one percent down payment tures for one bathroom;
on their home and receive
a zero interest mortgage. $700- provides one ENERGY
Habitat for Humanity of
STAR washer or dryer;
Northern Virginia hold the
mortgages, which covers $800- provides light fixtures
the cost of land and con- and smoke detectors for
struction. For example, if one unit;
the direct cost of the land is
$50,000 and the construction
cost is $100,000, the mort-
$900- will carpet three
gage would be $150,000. rooms;
And here’s the best part:
the money generated from $1,250- provides kitchen
the mortgage payments and bathroom countertops.
is used in our commu-
nity to build more houses
for deserving families.
Other- will provide items
such as plumbing, heating
and air conditioning.

visit www.habitatnova.org for more information

 Won’t you help us by making a donation now? With your help we
can change the lives of a family and their next generation. Your
gift can provide a safe haven for children like Ethan so they
don’t have to worry about being shot in their parking lot. It can
change the lives of moms like Luella, giving a happy ending to a
previously tragic story. It can help the countless other families
who just want to raise their children in a safe and loving home.
You can mail your donation by using the enclosed envelope. I
thank you in advance for joining me in a heroic effort to help

“Never doubt
give our neighbors a hand up, not a hand out.

that a small Sincerely,

group of
thoughtful
committed Karen K. Cleveland
citizens can President & CEO

change the
world. P.S. Our mission is to eliminate poverty and homelessness in
Indeed, it is Northern Virginia. Since 1990, Habitat for Humanity of North-
ern Virginia has built homes for 74 families, housing 336 people,
the only thing 202 of them children. But we can do better – building homes at a

that ever quicker pace, to help the families we serve become homeowners
sooner. Our goal is to build 26 more homes in the next year.
has.”
-Margaret Meade