Giving Tuesday

We have a #GivingTuesday tradition here at Homes for HOPE. Each year we love to highlight other organizations that are doing fantastic work, and encourage our audience to consider giving generously to support their incredible causes. This year we’re highlighting HomeAid, Operation Finally Home, and the She Built Foundation. Read on to learn more: 

HomeAid 

HomeAid is a leading non-profit developer of housing and programmatic facilities for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness, currently operating through a network of 19 Affiliates in 13 states. In 1989, a small (but passionate) grassroots group of individuals in the building industry began on a journey to tackle one of our nation’s biggest problems: homelessness. 

Why? Because each and every day in communities across our country individuals and families are experiencing or at risk of homelessness, and they had a solution. Together, through construction, community engagement and education, they established HomeAid with a bold vision to be a vital force in creating safe and dignified housing for those most vulnerable in our community – those without a home. 

What began as a simple remodel of two small farmhouses to end homelessness for families grew into a collaboration across this country of local and national builders, trades, suppliers, financial institutions, and community partners completing over 1,000 developments and effectively ending homelessness for over 500,000 people. Through HomeAid’s unique ability to maximize relationships between the building industry and local service providers HomeAid became a national pioneer in developing housing and programmatic facilities for those experiencing homeless. And as a result, a future where individuals and families are able to overcome homelessness and build a new life became a reality. 

Today, Homeaid is developing every conceivable type of project both residential and commercial but more importantly, these life-changing projects include vital community resource centers, emergency shelters, interim housing and ultimately permanent supportive and affordable housing. HomeAid sees a future without homelessness, and they are here to build it. Click here to support HomeAid. 

Operation Finally Home 

With faith in God and a servant’s heart, Operation Finally Home builds hope through providing or improving homes for America’s Veterans, First Responders, and their families.  

Operation Finally Home provides mortgage-free homes, home modifications and transitional housing to wounded, ill and injured military veterans, first responders and their families in honor of their service and sacrifice to country and community. Based in New Braunfels, Texas, Operation Finally Home was established in 2005 as a non-partisan/non-profit 501(c)(3) organization and has completed or is in the planning stages on more than 340 home projects in more than 33 states. Operation Finally Home partners with corporate sponsors, builder associations, builders, remodelers, developers, individual contributors and volunteers to help these heroes and their families by addressing one of their most pressing needs – a safe place to call home.  

Given the nature of the current military campaigns, today’s severely injured are experiencing severe burns and/or the loss of limbs as well as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). Statistics show over 50,000 troops have been wounded and over 435,000 servicemen and women are suffering from PTSD and TBI sustained from service in Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), and Operation New Dawn (OND). Click here to support Operation Finally Home. 

The She Built Foundation 

Empowering Future Builders. The She Built Foundation was created by Mollie Elkman, a 20-year veteran of the building and construction industry and Owner/President of Group Two. Elkman is the author of The House That She Built, a book inspired by a real house in Utah that was built intentionally to show that women can do every single job that goes into building a home. As she saw the impact of the book on young girls and their communities, they realized that there was an opportunity to create a charity to extend our reach and accelerate our impact.  

Mollie and her team of ambassadors engage girls and their communities around the magic of building. They unlock a universe of skills and careers, and envision a world where kids are inspired and encouraged to build the world around them. Where kids are just as likely to picture a woman in a hardhat as a man. Where the building and construction industry is thriving and reflects the communities it serves. By investing in the next generation of builders, they aim to help the building industry and beyond grow and meet the needs of a rapidly changing world. Click here to support The She Built Foundation. 

– ABOUT THE AUTHOR –