Message from our President & CEO

“Decent and affordable housing has a demonstrable impact

on family stability and the life outcomes of children.
Decent housing is an indispensable building block of

healthy neighborhoods, and thus shapes the quality of

community life.
Better housing can lead to better outcomes for individuals,
communities,
and the American society as a whole.

In short, HOUSING MATTERS.”

Millennial Housing Commission Report, 2002

Housing does matters, and Habitat for Humanity of Coastal Fairfield County (Habitat CFC) has adopted a strategies to build a lasting impact on the community and individual lives of the people we serve. In other words, everyday, Habitat CFC builds homes and transforms lives:

• Present and future homeowner-partners achieve the American dream of homeownership, build their personal wealth and provide a safe place for families to flourish.

• Donors become partners and champions as they see the impact of their donations multiply: their dollars build homes and as those homeowners pay their monthly mortgages, their dollars build more homes.

• Volunteers deepen their commitment as they witness the tangible improvements in family and community circumstances brought about by the work they do.

• Communities achieve stability as proud homeowners work to keep neighborhoods safe, clean and attractive.

With safe, decent homes, families are healthier and have less conflict.  Children perform better academically and are less likely to abuse drugs or get involved in violence.  As the children grow in a Habitat home the dream of higher education and a better life becomes more real.  Pride of ownership builds self-esteem and provides a way for families to break the cycle of poverty by building assets over time--housing matters!

These are generalizations based on research, but at Habitat CFC, they become specific and very personal.  Each homeowner-partner can tell a story about how Habitat has changed his or her life.  For a hard working single-mom of four, homelessness is a thing of the past; another emigrated from Latin America to establish a new life, now centered in their Habitat home.  Each testifies to the way Habitat has shared God’s love in ways that could not be imagined only a few short years ago.  Ask each of our homeowner-partners and you will hear a universal affirmation—housing does matters!

As an organization, Habitat CFC continues its own transformation as it moves toward achieving the strategic goal of building its 200^th house by 2010.  2007 had several important accomplishments: – 10 new homes completed, 2 homes repurchased and resold, 13 families are first time homeowners with 45 men women and children now living in Habitat homes.  We had the assistance of over 7000 volunteers—from people who ventured to  Bridgeport to lend a hand in rebuilding the city.

We continue to need your help to make our work happen.  Please join us in making a difference in this world: donate your money; volunteer your time; become informed on the issues of affordable housing in the State and the world.  Make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action.  Remember, housing matters!

Looking forward, we are pleased to announce or project in Stamford in partnership with Mutual Housing Association of Southwestern Connecticut.  Six affordable condo units will be built for first time homeowners on West Main Street in Stamford.  Continue to visit this web site for announcements related to our building schedule and updates on the progress.

A new Habitat CFC Operations Center is planned to begin construction in 2008 with a move in date scheduled for Spring 2009.  The 18,900 square foot building will be part of a new industrial condo project being built right next door to our present administrative offices. When completed we will have, for the first time in our history, the construction operations, warehouse, panel shop and administrative offices all under one roof. This allow us to become a more efficient organization, better able to serve Coastal Fairfield County.

We learned late  in 2007 that Bob Knebel, who had led us to new heights of activity during his seven-plus years at the helm, had decided to leave us to respond to new challenges. we wished Bob God speed, especially as his new post promised to keep him in Habitat activities.

Bob had laid some very challenging tracks for us to follow, but ones which had been carefully planned with his Board of Directors. So, while we were to be without Bob's leadership, we were the beneficiaries of his vision and direction. The year 2008 will see the fullfillment of his dreams, most especially two major projects: William Street in Bridgeport and West Main Street in Stamford. Both are multi family developments; one is new construction (Stamford), while the other is a rehabilitation project (Bridgeport). We believe these projects reflect a pattern of development which will be typical of our immediate future: denser housing, frequently  multi-family dwellings, on property purchased at market rates. This is in contrast to the past, when we enjoyed property which Bridgeport made available inexpensively as encouragement to help redevelop the city. That endeavor has been successful and the city is enjoying economic success. One result is that we must now complete for property with other developers.

The Board of Directors was very fortunate to have Arthur "Sandy" Blanchard on the Board and able to step in to assume Bob's responsibilities. Sandy is an experienced Business Manager, he has many years of Habitat experience and was involved in the projects Bob had started. The Board expects the program to proceed with minimal disruption, as Sandy intends to remain in this position while a search is conducted for a permanent President.

Meanwhile, hundreds of families await homes in Bridgeport and Southwestern Connecticut.  As the cost of a home and rent for a decent apartment continue to soar in our region, there is still a great deal to be done.  Our work continues…

Arthur A. "Sandy" Blanchard
President and Chief Executive Officer (Interim)