Pikes Peak Habitat Monthly e-News
June 2024
Research Project Shows Impact of Homeownership Through Pikes Peak Habitat
Ashley Peacock, a Master of Public Administration student in the College of Public Service, University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, researched outcomes for Pikes Peak Habitat for Humanity homeowners as her capstone project in spring 2024.
She asked Pikes Peak Habitat homeowners to respond to a survey assessing how their lives had changed since they moved into their homes, focusing on six key areas:
- education
- neighborhood and home stability
- financial stability and wealth building
- employment opportunities
- health
- civil and social engagement.
Of the homeowners who responded, 93% said their lives had become better overall since they purchased their Pikes Peak Habitat homes!
Ground Blessing and Home Dedications Moved to July 13
On Saturday, July 13, Pikes Peak Habitat invites you to join us as we celebrate with three families! (Please note that these events were originally scheduled for June 22.)
At 9 a.m., we'll hold a ground blessing for Tonya and her family. Three generations -- Tonya, her four children, and her grandson -- will live in the five-bedroom home.
“I’m looking forward to seeing all the kids out playing hopscotch and all the fun games we used to play when I was younger!” says Tonya. “I feel safe around there. I feel like we’re all going to watch out for each other, and this is where my younger kids and my grandson is going to grow up.”
Next, at 9:30 a.m., we'll hold the home dedication for Janice and her teenage daughter, Matty. Both are artists, and they look forward to the stability of having a safe home -- with working appliances! -- where they can create.
Matty joined her mom in volunteering on the construction site, and they co-wrote a speech about Pikes Peak Habitat for a forum at a local high school. “It’s a good experience to meet people, to volunteer,” Matty says.
Finally, at 10:30 a.m., we'll dedicate the Maverik Build (previously the Kum & Go Sponsored Build) home for Ida, Alex, their daughter Sofia, and Ida's aunt Lucia, who lives with the family. Originally from Puerto Rico, they lost their home to Hurricane Maria in 2017, and they moved to Colorado Springs -- where Ida's brother was stationed in the military -- to start fresh.
Sofia, who anticipates getting a puppy when her family moves into the home, says, "I’m very excited, not just for the puppy, but it’s somewhere that we can be safe and we have a good backyard and it’s something better than we had before."
Veterans Connect During Roof Deployment
Mike is a U.S. Army veteran who served in Vietnam and has lived in his Colorado Springs home for 26 years. He doesn't know how old his roof was, but says it wasn't exactly new when he purchased the home.
When his insurance company decided to raise his rates due to the age and condition of the roof, Mike looked into replacing it but found he couldn't afford the expense. Then he learned about Pikes Peak Habitat's home repair program and collaboration with Owens Corning's Roof Deployment Project for veterans. He qualified under the income guidelines, and on May 21 and 22, several companies came together to replace the roof and gutters on Mike's home.
"Obviously, I have a soft spot for any veteran," says Brian Friend, owner of Just Roofs and Gutters -- the company that donated the labor for the project -- and a U.S. Marine veteran himself. "Vietnam-era veterans kind of got the shaft, so...it means a lot to help."
Friend and Mike connected over their shared military experiences during the project. "It's been nice to talk, to hear some of his stories!" says Friend.
Owens Corning donated the roofing materials, and Seamless Gutters provided the gutters.
Board Announces Leadership Updates and New Members
At their June meeting, the Pikes Peak Habitat Board of Directors elected officers for Fiscal Year 2025, which begins July 1, and voted to approve three new members.
Eric Stolp, Engagement Specialist at Thrivent, begins his second year as President.
Joe DesJardin, Director of Entitlements at ProTerra Properties, will continue as Vice President.
Robert Giunta, Customer Advisory Center Manager at U.S. Bank, remains in the role of Treasurer.
Tim Trowbridge, recipient of Pikes Peak Habitat’s 3rd George Hammond Award for an outstanding volunteer, will serve as Secretary. Trowbridge also participates on the Habitat for Humanity Colorado Advocacy Committee and the Habitat for Humanity International U.S. Policy Committee of the U.S. Council.
Board members Jay Carlson, Peter Hilts, Ryan Mohling, and Ryan Panariso ended their terms.
Three new members joined the board: Jeff Ader, Feda Jodeh, and Stephanie Sparks. All three also serve on Pikes Peak Habitat’s Interfaith Build for Unity (IBU) subcommittee and contributed to the interfaith program’s February 2024 initiative, which won second place in the international H.M. King Abdullah II U.N. World Interfaith Harmony Week Prize competition.
Ader, a retired educator, serves as President of Temple Beit Torah and is a founding member of the Pikes Peak Interfaith Coalition, where he also sits on the Board of Directors. He chairs Pikes Peak Habitat’s IBU subcommittee.
Jodeh is a member of the Islamic Society of Colorado Springs and a board member of the Pikes Peak Interfaith Coalition. She holds a master’s degree from the University of Colorado in corporate communications. At the 2024 Habitat for Humanity International Affiliate Conference, she appeared with CEO Kris Lewis and Faith in Action Program Manager Chloe Henry to present about Pikes Peak Habitat's interfaith work.
Sparks served in an executive leadership position for Mercy Ships before leaving to start a nonprofit consulting business. She holds a bachelor’s degree in international affairs from the University of Colorado and a Master of Science in poverty reduction, policy, and practice from the University of London.
Above, Board Vice President Joe DesJardin gives plaques of appreciation to Peter Hilts (above) and Ryan Mohling (below). Ryan Panariso (bottom) previously served as board president.
Spots Still Available on Disaster Relief Trip to Oregon!
This fall Thrivent is partnering with Pikes Peak Habitat for our very first worldwide disaster recovery trip, where we will get the opportunity to serve a community affected by a devastating wildfire. The most destructive and expensive fire in Oregon’s history, the Almeda fire, scorched through Rogue Valley in September of 2020. The fire left behind a 13-mile-long burn scar, destroyed 2,600 homes and 200 businesses, and left 10,000 people displaced. Habitat for Humanity Rogue Valley has taken the lead in the county’s Long Term Recovery Group to rebuild their community and bring survivors home.
Join us from Oct. 6-12 to help with this work! Cost is US $610 for Thrivent clients with benefit membership, and US $1,060 for all other participants, including associate members of Thrivent. Your program donation includes your expenses while on the build. (Airfare is not included.)
Program donation and registration are due Aug. 22.
Join Our Team!
Do you want a rewarding career working in partnership with local workforce families? Do you yearn to know that what you do every day makes a tangible difference in El Paso County? Do you value environmentally responsible practices, from low-water landscaping to innovative recycling programs through our ReStores? Do you want to work with a team of kind, dedicated, passionate people who share those values?
If the answer is YES, then apply today! We're currently looking for people for these positions:
Read with Us!
In honor of Juneteenth, this month we're reading On Juneteenth by Harvard professor and Texas native Annette Gordon-Reed. While her research and publications cover an impressive range of topics, she has won both the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award for The Hemingses of Monticello: An American Family. Her extensive research into Thomas Jefferson, Sally Hemings, and the Hemings children informs this work, too.
Gordon-Reed discusses the importance of Juneteenth, the place of Texas in American history, Texas' often larger-than-life origin stories, and the ways that studying history can complicate and challenge the myths people tell about the past.
