HabitatForHumanityOfGreenvilleCountry

Summer Families: The Clement Family

Geneva Clement is originally from the Bronx, New York and at the tender age of 7 she and her family relocated to Greenville. She is a graduate of Greenville High School. Geneva is currently employed as a school bus driver for the Greenville School System and has been there for 5 years. The one thing she enjoys about her job is her interaction with the children. In the beginning she did not think she would, but over the years she has watched them grow and develop and transition from elementary to Jr. High and Jr. High to High School. A divorced mother of 3, Geneva has 2 sons age 29 and 26 and a daughter who still lives in the home and attends Middle School. She is also a grandmother of 4 granddaughters. Her daughter is excited about the move to her new home and even though she will be in a new school she is happy and ready to make new friends. Along the way it is easy to become discouraged but just knowing that one day she will experience her dreams of owning a home is worth the wait.

Geneva received a lot of support from her family and friends, but her sons are excited that their mom will have a home with her very own yard to enjoy and share with the rest of the family. Geneva is looking forward to being able to purchase a grill so that she can have her family over for a back yard barbeque, something she could not enjoy living in an apartment. A yard means to her a time to plant and appreciate just having grass and a quiet place to retreat to when the weather permits. She can’t remember the last time she was able to do that.

The room in the house that will be a special meeting place for her family will be the living room. This room is where they gather as a family and where they entertain their friends. The home is special because it is hers and she can decorate the way she wants to. Geneva feels it is such a blessing to be a homeowner, knowing that the money she will be paying every month will be going towards her home not her landlord’s.

Geneva and her daughter would like to thank the many people who assisted her in this homeownership process. Starting with the Family Services Department, she thanks them for the encouragement and education classes that helped her to understand financial management, the IDA Program who assisted her in saving for her closing cost, the many volunteers who are helping to build her home and of course the House sponsor partners for their financial contribution. But she still knows that all of this could not be possible without God’s blessing and guidance. God Bless you all!

Home Dedications: The Reese Family

Last Thursday, Fourth Presbyterian Church and Westminster Presbyterian Church came together to dedicate the new home of the Reese Family. Sundra Reese spoke of the hard work and dedication of the many volunteers who came together in order to build her home.  She was sure to mention Margie, a dedicated Habitat QAT who had to teach her how to hold a hammer.  Despite the heat, “Miss Margie is out slinging a hammer better than I am – I’ve got to out-do Miss Margie!” said Sundra. “This is my new beginning for me and my family.”

Watch her thank you video

View all photos from the Reese Build

Miss Blueridge Foothills builds with Habitat Greenville!

This past Friday, June 24^th, Kinsley Johnson, Miss Blue Ridge Foothills, volunteered with Habitat for Humanity of Greenville County alongside future homeowners. Johnson was working in Travelers Rest, before leaving for Columbia where she will be competing for the title of Miss South Carolina this week.

Habitat is fortunate that Kinsley has chosen Habitat for Humanity as her platform, as evident by her involvement on the build site and in our community.

Kinsley Johnson is a native of Greer, South Carolina and a 2008 graduate of Greer High School.  She is currently pursuing a Bachelors of Science Degree at Clemson University and plans to attend dental school. Some of her honors and awards include Salutatorian at Greer High School, Palmetto Fellows Scholarship Recipient and National Science Merit Award Recipient.

Summer Families: The Houston Family

Vanessa Houston is a Greenville native who graduated from Greenville High School and mother of 2 and grandmother of a 2 year old.She is the youngest of 4 children born to Eloise Evans. Family life is very important to Vanessa and in 2003 she and her daughter invited her mother to live with them. Her mother worked as a Chef for 20 years at ARA, and prior to her failing health she worked at Bausch & Lomb for 8 years. They all attend Rocky Mount Missionary Baptist Church every Sunday and consider worshiping together a beautiful part of their relationship. Vanessa is an organ recipient and up until her health issues in 2006 she was employed by Sara Lee for 21 years. Her hobbies include working Mind Puzzles, cooking, reading her Bible and taking care of her mother.

When asked about the importance of having her own home she mentioned that she knows her home will be a safe place for her family and her mother will be able to go in and out without having to be lifted. She explained that their Landlord refused to put a wheelchair ramp on his mobile home and whenever her mother had an appointment or every Sunday, Vanessa had to lift her Mom and wheelchair out of the door.  Vanessa looks forward to spending time in their new living room because it would be a place where they all can relax together.  The 3 generation of women look forward to sharing many happy times together and making new memories as the years pass.

Vanessa and her family would like to thank God first and foremost, Habitat for the opportunity, and the Family Services Department for the financial and budgeting counseling and education classes. A special thanks to her house partners and all of the volunteers that help Habitat for Humanity make all of this happen. We cannot begin to thank you all enough!