We love to hear from our readers, and editorials are a welcome way to do so. Have something to share? Email Renee (renee@matthewsbeacon.com) and we’ll get it posted.

Submitted by Greater Matthews Habitat for Humanity

MATTHEWS, N.C. (January 1st, 2020) – Many of you may have heard that Charlotte Habitat and Our Towns Habitat made the decision to merge and become one affiliate. What exciting news for them! Their service area will run from Pineville to Statesville.

We have had several questions about how this may affect Greater Matthews Habitat for Humanity. The answer is that it doesn’t.

Habitat for Humanity affiliates are independent local non-profit organizations that act in furtherance of the Habitat for Humanity mission. Each Habitat affiliate coordinates all aspects of Habitat home building in its local area. Greater Matthews Habitat for Humanity provides programs aimed at homeownership and critical home repair for residents of Matthews, Mint Hill, and Stallings.

A Message From Our President & CEO, Natisha Rivera-Patrick

Greater Matthews Habitat for Humanity has served as the premier provider of affordable housing solutions in the Matthews area for the last thirty years.

Thirty years of operating in a sector such as ours that is constantly and rapidly evolving is an achievement that I am particularly proud of – we are honored to be here, and even more so to have done it in partnership with community volunteers and sponsors. I am proud that we operate with consistent, strong values reinforced by faith. Thank you to everyone who has donated, swung a hammer, volunteered in the ReStore, donated products and shared the message of the value of affordable housing. We are embarking on our strategic plan which will provide us direction in how we tackle the issue of affordable housing. We are evolving and working to meet needs beyond providing homeownership. With our critical repair program, we are working to keep individuals and families in their current homes making them safer, dryer, warmer and accessible – allowing our seniors to age in place.

We are in an affordable housing crisis in our country. Greater Matthews Habitat for Humanity is the only organization building affordable housing in our community. One in six Americans are spending more than half of their income on housing. The need for housing that is attainable continues to increase and there are less options available to individuals and families with limited income. There are more than 3,000 residents living in Matthews that are living in poverty, near poverty or considered house poor. Seniors with limited incomes can’t afford critical home repairs or modifications that allow them to stay in their homes.

Through your efforts and continued support, I am confident that in the coming year we will write one of our best chapters yet adding to the long story of Greater Matthews Habitat’s success. We need you to help us meet the needs of others. By working together—and only together—do we succeed. Everyone deserves a safe place to call home.

About Greater Matthews Habitat for Humanity

Greater Matthews Habitat for Humanity is funded through donations from individuals, corporations, foundations, grants, sponsorships and through sales from our ReStore. There are several ways for you to get involved. You can donate, volunteer on one of our builds (must be 16 or older), volunteer in the ReStore, donate gently used furniture, appliances, housewares, etc. to the ReStore.

Participants selected for our programs must meet residency, program, and income guidelines. Applying for any program does not guarantee you will be accepted. Homeowners selected for our program must complete financial literacy training and 400 hours of sweat equity towards the construction of their home. In return, Greater Matthews Habitat provides them with a 0% interest mortgage. Critical Home Repair funds are aimed at helping make homes safer, dryer and warmer and allowing for modifications to help individuals and families age in place. We are currently accepting applications for the critical repair program.

Our ReStore is open to the public. Moving, downsizing, renovating – submit a donation pick up request online at https://www.greatermatthewshabitat.org/restoredonate. Remodeling your kitchen? We can send a crew out to deconstruct your cabinets which we will then sell in our ReStore with proceeds going into our affordable housing program.

We are currently seeking sponsors for our home build located on Weddington Road. To learn more about sponsorship opportunities, contact Sarah Galligan at sarah@habitatmatthews.org.