Habitat for Humanity of Northwest Metro Atlanta
Habitat for Humanity of Northwest Metro Atlanta, Inc.’s (Habitat NWMA) history is intertwined with the larger Habitat for Humanity movement. The history of Habitat for Humanity International and Habitat NWMA reflects the passion, determination, and collaborative vision of a world where everyone has a decent place to live.
The idea for Habitat NWMA took root in the mid-1980s. In 1985, Chrys and John Street recognized the significant need for affordable housing in their communities and met with Millard Fuller, who challenged them to create an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity in Cobb County.
Steadfast in their belief that everyone deserves a decent place to live, Chrys and John distributed brochures to local churches. With the support of the community, they assembled 12 people to form a Board of Directors and on April 01, 1986, Cobb County Habitat for Humanity was officially incorporated as an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International. Later in 2008, Cobb County Habitat for Humanity expanded to include Douglas and Paulding counties and amended the affiliate’s name to Habitat for Humanity of Northwest Metro Atlanta.
The Partnership Model: Building Homes, Building Communities
Habitat NWMA follows the Habitat for Humanity model of providing homes to low-income families through a combination of volunteer labor, donated materials, and low-cost loans. This approach ensures that families who may not otherwise be able to afford a home are given the opportunity to purchase one. To qualify for a home, families must meet certain income requirements, demonstrate a need for housing, and be willing to invest “sweat equity” by helping to build their own home or the homes of others. This hands-on participation helps build a sense of pride and ownership in the community.
Key Milestones:
- First Home Build: Habitat NWMA’s first home was completed in the late 1980s. This milestone marked the beginning of the affiliate’s commitment to building affordable homes in the northwest metro Atlanta area.
- Expansion of Services: Over the years, the affiliate expanded its efforts by increasing the number of homes it built each year, along with creating a home preservation/repair services program to allow homeowner to continue living in safe and decent homes. Some of the home repair work includes painting, weathering, and minor repair services. Partnerships with local businesses, churches, schools, and volunteers helped fuel this growth.
- ReStore: In 2022, Habitat NWMA opened its first ReStore, a nonprofit home improvement store that sells new and gently used building materials, furniture, appliances, and more. The proceeds from ReStore sales fund the construction of additional homes in the community. The ReStore have since become an important source of revenue and community engagement.
- Neighborhood Revitalization: In addition to building new homes and preserving existing homes, Habitat NWMA has also been involved in neighborhood revitalization efforts. The affiliate recognizes that the strength of a community depends not just on individual homes, but on the overall environment in which they are located. Habitat NWMA works on projects that help revitalize entire neighborhoods, ensuring long-term sustainability and improving the quality of life for residents.
- Community Engagement: Habitat NWMA’s growth is also due to its strong ties to local organizations, businesses, and volunteers. Habitat NWMA hosts events, fundraising initiatives, and volunteer opportunities that help raise awareness about the need for affordable housing.
The Impact of Habitat for Humanity of Northwest Metro Atlanta
Habitat NWMA has built hundreds of homes in the northwest metro Atlanta area since its founding. The affiliate has provided families with the tools to achieve homeownership, a key component of financial stability, while fostering a sense of pride and connection within the community. The impact is evident in the hundreds of families who have transitioned from renting to owning homes, thanks to Habitat NWMA’s efforts.
Additionally, the affiliate’s focus on volunteerism has created opportunities for individuals and groups to come together in meaningful ways to make a difference. Volunteers contribute their time and skills to help families build homes, demonstrating the power of community collaboration.
Looking Toward the Future
As the northwest metro Atlanta area continues to grow, the demand for affordable housing remains strong. Habitat NWMA remains dedicated to addressing this challenge by continuing to build homes, revitalizing neighborhoods, and expanding its programs to meet the evolving needs of the community to help even more families in need, ensuring that everyone has access to safe, decent, and affordable housing.
Habitat for Humanity International
The concept that grew into Habitat for Humanity was born in the USA at Koinonia Farm, a small, interracial, Christian farming community. Koinonia Farm was founded in 1942 outside of Americus, Georgia, by farmer and biblical scholar Clarence Jordan and others to promote racial reconciliation. Millard and Linda Fuller first visited Koinonia in 1965.
At Koinonia, Jordan and Fuller developed the concept of “partnership housing.” The concept centered on those in need of adequate shelter working side by side with volunteers to build simple, decent houses. The houses would be built at no profit, and interest would not be charged on the loans. Building costs would be financed by a revolving fund called “The Fund for Humanity.” The fund’s money would come from the new homeowners’ house payments, no-interest loans provided by supporters and money earned by fundraising activities. The monies in the Fund for Humanity would be used to build more houses.
In September 1976, Millard and Linda called together a group of supporters to discuss the future of their dream. Habitat for Humanity International as an organization was born at this meeting.
Since then, the work of Habitat of Humanity has supported hundreds of thousands of low-income families in finding hope in the form of affordable housing.
