“I’ve never had a family home,which was mygreatest dream. I’m a 50 year old mother of four children. Fifteen years ago, after the birth of my fourth child, I had a stroke. This, I thought, was the end of my life. I wanted my own home so that I could plant flowers, sit on my porch with family and friends, drink my morning coffee on my porch and listen to birds sing in my yard, be able to watch my grandchildren play in my yard or have my family over forbarbeques. Blessings in my own home, prayer in my own home, praises in my own home and joy in my own home… let me know that my dream is alive.”

-Ms. Beryl

*Ms. Beryl has been in her Habitat home since June

Left to Right: HFHMGC BOD Members Edmond Hughes, Delmar Robinson, Latan Griffin, HFHMGC COO Barbara Levine, First Lady

Marsha Barbour, Governer Haley Barbour, HFHMGC Homebuyer Doris Freeman, Long Beach Mayor Billie Skellie,

Pascagoula Mayor Robbie Maxwell, HFHMGC CEO Chris Monforton

Governor Welcomes Families HomeThrivent Lane Ribbon Cutting in Long Beach

CEO Chris Monforton greets Governor Haley Barbour

Thrivent Lane at the Trace Subdivision, Long Beach, MS

In This Issue: •HFHMGC Goes Green•World Habitat Day•Welcome New AmeriCorps•And much more!

Vol. 1, Issue 2 Fall 2009

By Meg Potts ThriventLanewasfullofcelebrationthissummerasHabitatforHumanityoftheMississippiGulfCoasthostedvariousdignitariesinthesubdivision.OnAugust28,HFHMGC’sleadershipteamtouredthenewlyconstructedstreetwithHUDSecretaryShaunDonovanandMississippiGovernorHaleyBarbour.Theneighborhood,completedthispastSpring,sparkedgreatconversationregardingtherecoveryeffortsalongtheGulfCoast. Thefollowingday,Saturday,August29,GovernorBarbourreturnedtoThriventLane,alongwithFirstLadyMarshaBarbour,toparticipateinakeyandbiblepresentationandribboncutting.LocatedinLongBeach,ThriventLaneisatwenty-eighthomedevelopmentsponsoredbyThriventBuilds,astrategicalliancebetweenHabitatforHumanityandThriventFinancialforLutherans.Throughthisalliance,ThriventFinancialforLutheranshasdonated$125milliontoHabitat for Humanity affiliates worldwide. TheribboncuttingalsomarkedfouryearssinceHurricaneKatrinamadelandfall.GovernorandFirstLadyBarbour,alongwithLongBeachMayorBillieSkellieandPascagoulaMayor

RobbieMaxwellwereamongthoseinattendance.AlsocelebratingwereHFHMGCvolunteers,HFHMGChomebuyers,HFHMGCboardmembersandfriendsinthecommunity.TheprogrambeganwithaprayerreadbyHFHMGChomebuyerandThriventLaneresident,DorisFreeman,andcontinuedwithspeechesfromBoardTreasurerDelmarRobinson,MayorBillieSkellie,HFHMGCCEOChrisMonfortonandGovernorBarbour.GovernorandFirstLadyBarbourpresentedkeysandaBibletoMs.Freemanbeforeallparticipatedintheribboncutting. TheribboncuttingceremonyhighlightedtheprogressmadealongtheGulfCoastsinceHurricaneKatrinaandHFHMGC’scommitmenttothearea.CEOChrisMonforton,alsohopedtheeventwouldcreatehappiermemories,especiallyforMississippi’s

youngresidents.“FormanyThriventLaneresidents,tooyoungtohaveexperiencedKatrina,letAugust29thberememberedasthedayyouwerewelcomedintoyournewhomesbyyourcommunity.” Whenthestormtorethroughin2005,itssheerforcedestroyed300,000homesanddamagedcountlessothers.Thankstothehelpofmorethan21,000volunteersandendlesssupportfromfriendsinthe

areaandorganizationsworldwide,

HFHMGChasbeengiventheopportunitytohelpprovidehomesandhopeforSouthMississippifamilies.HFHMGChasconstructedmorethan300homessinceJanuary2007.Weareproudofourmanysuccesses,butrealizetheextentofwhatremainstobedone.

Doris Freeman receives a Bible and keys from Governor

and First Lady Barbour

Getting Things Done OnSeptember1,menandwomenthroughouttheUnitedStatesmadeapledgeto‘getthingsdone’byjoiningAmeriCorps.Theyhavecommittedtheirtimeandtalentstobetteringsociety.AmeriCorpsmembershavebeenintegralintherecoveryoftheGulfCoastandsinceitsearlydays,HFHMGChasreliedonAmeriCorpsmemberstoassisttheorganizationbothontheconstruction site and in the office. AmeriCorpsisanationalserviceprogramthatunitesAmericansinimprovingourneighborhoods.Thesememberswillbetakingoneverythingfromtheconstructionandrehabilitationofhomes,tocapacitybuildingwithinourVolunteerServicesandCommunityRelationsdepartments.Overthecourseoftenandahalfmonthstheywillbeearningameagerlivingstipendanduponcompletionoftheircommitment,willreceivean

educationaward. Thisyear,HabitatforHumanityoftheMississippiGulfCoastwelcomedfourteennewAmeriCorpsNationalDirectmembersfromacrossthenation!They’vetraveledfromMaryland,Michigan,NewYork,Ohio,Pennsylvania,Minnesota,andOxford,MSandseveralarefromtheBiloxi–Gulfportarea.HFHMGCisalsohostingtwoNCCCteamsfromthenewVicksburg,MScampus.Theseteamsaveragetentoelevenmembersrangingfrom18-24yearsofage.TheyhavebeenworkingwithHFHMGCfor6-8weeksandwillbemovingontoanotherorganizationinneedof assistance. They are the first class of AmeriCorps NCCCtobestationedoutoftheVicksburgcampusandthecampuswillbesendingmoreteamstoHFHMGCthroughouttheyear.

Approximately75,000volunteersareengagedeachyearinprogramsdesignedtomeetthe specific needs of communities across the nation.InlargeandsmallcommunitiesAmeriCorpsmembersaretakingresponsibility,learningvaluableskillsandfulfilling their pledge to get things done. Thank youtoallofourAmeriCorps.

2009 AmeriCorps National Direct andVISTA Members

Toprow,lefttoright:DeniseRybak,KurtMorton,JoelLeindecker,JoeStowell,StevenBurkholderCenterrow:SandraMcBride,DanyelHosey,AustinSabbatini,MegPotts,DaveSuydamBottomRow:JennyNieder,MikeCarter,DustinRenaudNotpictured:StevenMortonandTommyWhite

Didyouknow...•100millionpeopleworldwidearehomeless.•Almosthalfoftheworld’spopulationlivesonlessthan$2perday; One-fifth lives on less than $1 perday.•Globally,1outofevery3peoplelivesinaslum.•11millionchildrenundertheageof5dieeachyearfrompreventableillnessasaresultofunsafewaterandsanitation.

A Day of Awareness WorldHabitatDaywascreatedbytheUnitedNationsin1985.Sincethen,ithasbeenusedtofosterincreasedawarenessandconcerntoissuesofpovertyandhomelessness.Thegoalistoencourageeveryonetotakeontheresponsibilityofimprovingourhumanhabitat. Thisyear,HFHMGCcelebratedWorldHabitatDay,alongwithoveronehundredHabitatforHumanity affiliates across the UnitedStates.OnOctober6,morethan100volunteersworkedalongsideourstaffandAmeriCorpsontheconstructionofeighthomesintheConnor’sGardensubdivisioninGulfport,MS. LocalcompaniesincludingtheBeauRivage,BestBuy,HancockBankandWellsFargosponsoredthedayandprovidedeveryonewithT-shirtsandlunch.GulfportMayorGeorgeSchloegelwelcomedthevolunteerstotheGulfCoastduringalunchprogramandWellsFargopresentedHFHMGCwitha$10,000check.Thankyoutoallofoursponsorsandvolunteersforasuccessfulday.

HFHMGC Goes to Asia2009 Jimmy andRosalynn Carter Work Project ThisNovember,representativesfromHabitatforHumanityoftheMississippiGulfCoastwillbemakingajourneytoAsiainhonorofthe2009JimmyandRosalynnCarterWork

Project.Thisyear’sprojectwillbeheldalongtheMekongRiverareaofSouth-eastAsia,withbuild

sitesinChina,Cambodia,Laos,ThailandandVietnam.HFHMGCstaff,boardmembersandfriends,willjoinvolunteersfromallovertheworldforaweek-longbuildandwillworkalongsideapproximately175familiesinanareathatismarkedbydeplorablepoverty. Lastyear’sJRCWPwasheldalongtheGulfCoastandHFHMGCwasfortunatetohostapproximately2,000volunteersaswellasformerPresidentandFirstLadyCarter.Thisyear,HFHMGCisreturningthefavorbytithing$250,000towardstheconstructionofhomesinChiang

Mai,ThailandandKeSatVillage,Vietnam.HFHMGCtithesannuallytosupportsimple,decentaffordablehomesworldwide.ThesponsorshipwillbepaidthroughHFHMGC’sannualtitheoffering.

Mark your calendar:•November15-20,2009:JimmyandRosalynnCarterWork ProjectinThailandandVietnam•February7-April10,2010:CollegiateChallengeSeason•April26-May2,2010:PGAChampionsTouratFallenOakGolf Course Benefitting HFHMGC

The city of Chiang Mai, Thailand will be the host site for this year’s JRCWP

Photo by Mikel Flamm for Habitat World

CEO Chris Monforton and Mayor George Schloegel with Wells Fargo

sponsors

Jimmy Carter inPascagoula, MS 2008

Jimmy Carter inPascagoula, MS 2008

GoingGreenSustainable Building Practices at HFHMGC

HabitatforHumanityoftheMississippiGulfCoastisproudtobealeadingbuilderofaffordablehousingalongtheGulfCoast.Wearecurrentlyevaluatingourconstructionprocessesanddevelopingnewwaystobuildsimple,decent affordable housing that is also energy efficient and sustainable. HFHMGCalreadystrivestobuildahighqualityproduct;weareincorporatingnewefficient and sustainable building practices. Currently, all newly constructed Habitat homes undergoHERS(HomeEnergyRatingSystems)testingandaredesignedtomeetallENERGY STAR requirements. By constructing highly efficient homes, we hope to reduce monthly utility bills by up to 30% for our qualified home-owners. Ourorganizationistakingmeasureablestepstoreducetheimpactourconstructionprocesshasontheenvironment.HFHMGCiscurrentlydevelopinganewSustainable

BuildingPolicytoincorporatethefollowing:•AdoptionofGreenbuildingstandards

•Incorporationofmorerecycledandlowimpactmaterials

•Advancedbuildingandframingtechniquesonallprojects

•Newtechnologiesandmethodstokeeputilitycostsdown

HFHMGCiscurrentlyworkingwithbuildingexpertstodeterminehowbesttobuildaffordableandsustainableHabitathomes.Wearededicatedtoreducingourenvironmentalimpactonthelocalcommunityasweprovidesimple,decentaffordablehousingtodedicatedpartnersalongtheGulfCoast.

ByDougFowler

A Day in the Life of an AmeriCorps NCCC

By Zach Taber and Garrett Wisby

Rustlingoutofbed,wetheelevenmembersofAmeriCorpsNCCC’sRiverSixperformourmorningrituals:webrushteeth,shower,pullonuniforms,packlunchesandwolfdownaquickbreakfastinthecafeteriaatOceanSprings’CampVictor.AnotherdayworkingwithHFHMGChasbegun.AfterfourweekswithHFHMGC,wehaveconstructeda house from floor system to roof, learned the finer points of how to shingleashed,luggedandinstalledappliancesandshelves,laidsodandputininsulation.Today,afterafewdayspracticefinishing and siding sheds, we’ll beapplyingwhatwe’velearned,workingtosideahousefromthegroundup.Weworkwitheagerintensity at first, quickly surveyingthetaskathand,snappingchalklinesandcuttingtheboardsweneed.Thesidinggoesupquickly,andthesharpreportsofnailgunscanbeheard

fromacrossthejobsite.Oursupervisorcomesbytoinspectourwork,pointingoutatragicflaw in our plans- we haven’t matchedthesidingupatthecornersofthehouse!Afewboardswillhavetocomedown,butwelaughitoffandstaypositive.Afteraquickbreak,weredoubleourefforts,workingslower,butsmarter,thesidingcreepingupthehouseboardby board, the flow of progress interruptedonlybybreakstoeatlunchandstayhydrated,untilwehearoursupervisorcall“Cleanup!”.Westowourtoolsandcleanupthesite,tiredandmuddied,butencouragedbyourprogress.Asthedaycomestoaclose,ourteampilesintoourtrustygreengovernmentvantoreflect on our experience before returningtoCampVictorforphysicaltraining,dinnerandafewhoursofrestandrelaxationbeforewestarttheprocessalloveragain.

New homes available in Long Beach, Gulfport, Biloxi, Ocean Springs & Gautier!

Qualified buyers may be eligible to receive:•DownPaymentAssistance•0%GapFinancing•ClosingHelpEligibility based upon household income

To learn more, come to one of our upcoming events:

10/28/09 4:30-6:30p.m. OpenHouse 371237thAve.,Gulfport

11/4/09 5:30-6:30p.m. InformationalMeeting InnovationCenter,Biloxi

11/12/09 4:30-6:30p.m. OpenHouse 371237thAve.,Gulfport

11/19/09 4:30-6:30p.m. OpenHouse 3ThriventLane,LongBeach

11/23/09 12:00-1:00p.m. InformationalMeeting InnovationCenter,Biloxi

Formoreinformationcall228-314-0011ext.324orvisitwww.hfhmgc.org

Testing a house for energy efficiency

Affiliate Staff & AmeriCorps MembersLeadership TeamChris Monforton - Chief Executive OfficerBarbara Levine - Chief Operating OfficerScottWalker-DirectorofGovernmentandCommunityRelationsKimBalch-DirectorofFinanceandAdministrationEricaHiggs-DirectorofClientServices

Construction & WarehouseTreyHaney-Sr.ConstructionManagerLeeAnderson-ConstructionManagerTerriBreazealeMikeDurandLoganGrantCalvinHarrisGreggHewinsBradHollandGregLadnerKenLadnerJamieMortonDonaldPoffIrvingSpikesMarkVanamanStevenBurkholderMikeCarterDanyelHoseyJoelLeindeckerSandraMcBrideKurtMortonSteveMortonJennyNiederDeniseRybakJoeStowellDaveSuydamTommyWhite

Land Acquisition & Special ProjectsVictorAlfsen-Pre-ConstructionManagerDougFowler-SpecialProjectsManagerKenForresterScottUnderwood

Client ServicesCorrieBrownCristalHuntTomeshaJohnson

Volunteer ServicesJeannieAntonetti-DepartmentManagerLorenMoylanAustinSabbatini

Community Relations & DevelopmentLindsayFreiseMegPottsDustinRenaud

Finance & Office ManagementDebra Thomas - Office ManagerBelindaMauldinFlowerRobinsonGinaTodd

Board of DirectorsLatan Griffin - ChairmanToddTrenchard-Vice-ChairmanMarciaMcDowell-SecretaryDelmarRobinson-TreasurerArtYoung-PastChairmanJohnArmstrongGaryBlackwellBillByrdMaxineConwayBernieCousinsChrisEstradeBobFavreJenniferGarrawayYolandaGutierrezEdmondHughesCindyLambArnieWilliams1636PoppsFerryRoad,SuiteM-13Biloxi,MS39532www.hfhmgc.org228-314-0011(phone)228-374-4952(fax)

PublishedquarterlybyHabitatforHumanityoftheMississippiGulfCoast,Inc., an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International.

Editors: MegPotts,LindsayFreiseContributors:MegPotts,BerylFair,DougFowler,ZachTaber&GarrettWisbyPhotos: JamieMorton,MikelFlamm,HFHMGCstaffGraphic Design: AustinSabbatini

1636 Popps Ferry RdSte. M-13

Biloxi, MS 39532

Habitat for Humanity of the MS Gulf Coast (HFHMGC) works in partnership with community

stakeholders throughout Harrison, Jackson and Stone Counties to create innovative, sustainable

housing solutions by empowering all members of our community to actively participate in creating

opportunities for people in need totransform their own lives.

Find Us Online!

Wondering what we’re up to? Visit us at www.hfhmgc.org Find us on facebook Follow us on twitter by going to twitter.com/HFHMGC

EQUAL HOUSINGOPPORTUNITY