affordable housing – Red Truck Stonecatcher

Celebrating Fifty Years of Hands On Hartford

March 20, 2019

It’s Time to Celebrate Fifty Years of Hands On Hartford! That’s right, fifty years! Fifty years of Hands On Hartford helping Hartford. Since its founding as Center City Churches in 1969, Hands On Hartford has been committed to feeding, clothing, housing, and caring for Hartford’s most vulnerable residents, all with the helping hands of countless generous donors, volunteers … More Celebrating Fifty Years of Hands On Hartford

Habitat Homeowners Help Others Help Themselves

October 24, 2018

Hartford Area Habitat for Humanity is celebrating the start of its 30th year anniversary. It began with a kickoff party on October 19, 2018 at the Hartford Marriott Downtown. I interviewed Habitat homeowners Janice and Kerry Foster for the event. Here is their story. Raised in Hartford’s Stowe Village housing project, Janice and Kerry Foster … More Habitat Homeowners Help Others Help Themselves

A Blossoming Partnership Grows Beautifully

July 10, 2018

On a cool November 3, 2016 morning, a tractor trailer, emblazoned with the Monrovia logo, arrived promptly at 9:00 a.m. It was loaded with fresh, locally grown stock from its Granby, CT nursery ready for planting at the new Hartford Area Habitat for Humanity home in West Granby, CT. With tools in hand, a skilled Monrovia team … More A Blossoming Partnership Grows Beautifully

Life Saving Diversions at St. Elizabeth House

March 1, 2018

Twenty months ago on July 5, 2016, Mercy Housing and Shelter Corporation (Mercy) welcomed its first clients to its newly created Diversion Center at St. Elizabeth House on Main Street in Hartford. Faced with diminishing federal and state financial support for Mercy’s long-established transitional housing programs, Executive Director Dave Martineau, now retired, and current ED … More Life Saving Diversions at St. Elizabeth House

Hartford Habitat Builds at Carter Project in Canada

September 5, 2017

July 9-14, 2017, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada A week of building. A week of friendship. A week of faith. A week of changing lives. In celebration of Canada’s 150th anniversary, President and Mrs. Carter brought their 34th annual Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project (JRCWP 2017) to several communities across Canada, with Edmonton and Winnipeg the two main … More Hartford Habitat Builds at Carter Project in Canada

Homer Found a Home

April 23, 2017

Homer arrived quite unexpectedly at Rev. Marjorie Davis’s home in early April. He was a fluffy little thing, cute and cuddly, in need of a home — but what was she to do with Homer? How could she help him?Marj is hardly what I would call a retired UCC minister. She’s always working on some … More Homer Found a Home

“One. Two. Three. LIFT!”

July 20, 2016

On July 16, on an expertly prepared site ready for volunteers, hammers were in full swing building walls for a brand new Habitat for Humanity raised ranch under construction in Granby, CT. On Habitat site supervisor Stan’s count, — “One. Two. Three. LIFT!” — and undaunted by the stifling heat and humidity, a volunteer crew of … More “One. Two. Three. LIFT!”

Pedaling Their Mission

June 10, 2016

“I see them! They’re here! Bike & Build just arrived!” Every June for more than ten years the Bike & Build Providence to Seattle Tour has overnighted at First Congregational Church of Granby, CT on it annual Providence to Seattle trip, one of its eight yearly cross-country cycling tours raising awareness for, and money to fund, critically … More Pedaling Their Mission

It All Started with a Gingerbread House

June 4, 2016

It all started with a gingerbread house when “Chef Paul,” Bloomfield Public Schools culinary arts instructor, and his students competed in Hartford Area Habitat for Humanity’s Gingerbread Build fundraiser a few years ago. It was then that he heard Habitat would be building several affordable homes in Bloomfield. An idea began to percolate. Building … More It All Started with a Gingerbread House

Housing Choice and Affordability: Unlocking Opportunity

March 4, 2016

As a statewide nonprofit policy and advocacy organization the Partnership for Strong Communities offers exceptional programming on housing issues related to building strong, sustainable communities for all people across Connecticut’s demographic spectrum. The Partnership “plays a vital role in shaping solutions to end homelessness, develop healthy neighborhoods and to create more affordable housing opportunities for workers, young … More Housing Choice and Affordability: Unlocking Opportunity