News and Events

Greater Rochester Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore in BayTowne Plaza is celebrating its first anniversary with a special sale Friday and Saturday.

Rochester, N.Y. — The Greater Rochester Habitat for Humanity announced on Saturday that it will expand its Habitat Homebuyer Program thanks to a $300,000 grant from the KeyBank Foundation.

Rochester, N.Y. — Our Bright Spot shines on Habitat for Humanity's Women Build. It's International Women's Day, and on Friday, the Rochester Woman Build team broke ground on their 20th 'Women Build' House.

It’s a new beginning for a single mother in Rochester, as she moves her family into their new home thanks to Greater Rochester Habitat For Humanity. Shuane Williams has taken personal loss as an opportunity to give back. In 2013, she lost her son to gun violence. “It was the most senseless thing to happen to our family, and I think that if you stay in the community and you see things happen, you can’t stay angry. So, what do you do, right?” said Williams. She decided to create a youth advocacy program to give Rochester kids support and a voice. “It was something we started for our children to be able to advocate for themselves. We wanted children to be able to stand up on their own and be able to speak about things going on with them. We find out they speak to themselves more than they speak to us,” she said. Williams and her daughters will soon move into the new home in the Beechwood neighborhood, with the help of Habitat For Humanity. She is the first homebuyer in her family, and also had a hand in construction, putting in 300 hours of work toward the build. “This is a dream come true for me. I’ve literally been trying to do this since my son passed away. Not only did Habitat nail it, they gave me exactly what I wanted,” said Williams. “There’s something really solid about an owner-occupant who moves into a neighborhood, puts their stake down and says, ‘I’m going to take care of this neighborhood because this is where I live.’ They’re more likely to look out the window and say what needs to be fixed versus turning the other way and wondering when something’s going to happen,” said Matt Flanigan, president and CEO of Greater Rochester Habitat For Humanity. Williams says she didn’t turn away from the city after the loss of her son. She reflects on the decision to stay as this new chapter begins. “So many people run away from the violence in this community. So many people go, ‘Oh, well this should happen, and we should do this.’ Then, they move out. So, how are you helping your community if you’re not here? In order to help your community, you have to stay inside your community. So, it’s very important for me to stay here in the city of Rochester,” said Williams. This home build is the second of 2024 for Habitat For Humanity. It was also made possible through a partnership with Avangrid and RG&E as well as Bank of America. Original Article: https://www.rochesterfirst.com/news/new-home-brings-new-beginning-for-rochester-family-through-habitat-for-humanity/

Rochester, N.Y. - A Rochester family is earning a fresh start with a new home in the city. The Greater Rochester Habitat for Humanity dedicated the home on Friday at a celebration with the homeowner, Angelica Pagan, and her two sons. "It feels good," said Dereck Beltran, Pagan's son. "It feels like a dream come true because first, I wanted to have a new room so that's good that we're going to have one in a couple weeks." An all-women team of more than 100 builders constructed the house as part of the women build program. Pagan also put in 200 hours toward building her home. "I am so delighted to be here to dedicate the nineteenth women-build house that has been built in Rochester and I'm very glad that it's going to you Angelica," said Pam Bradley, chair of the steering committee for the Greater Rochester Habitat for Humanity. "They do all the fundraising and then they do all the building and you’ll hear their phrases like ‘give a woman a power tool and she’ll change the world,'" said Matt Flanigan, the president and CEO of the organization. "Well behind me is a living example of just that." Pagan fled Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria. She is now the first person in her family to buy a home, which was a major goal of hers. "Thank you for Rochester Habitat for giving me this great opportunity to be able to provide my children with a safe home, but above all, achieve a dream," said Beltran as he read a letter written by his mother. "Something that I saw far away, but never impossible." Pagan hopes her home remains a reminder that it's never too late to follow your dreams. "She said, basically, never stop dreaming and always chase your dreams," said Beltran on behalf of his mother.  Original Article: https://13wham.com/news/local/it-feels-like-a-dream-come-true-local-family-celebrates-new-women-built-home-from-habitat-for-humanity

Avangrid, the parent company of RG&E, donated $10,000 to Habitat for humanity to help restore what was taken from the build site on Garson Avenue.

Greater Rochester Habitat for Humanity celebrated the grand opening of a new resale store in August, which will benefit the community in considerable ways.

A 2019 study by Habitat for Humanity found that homeownership and community can impact a person’s health and well-being.