See What We've Been Up To

2009 Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project

In November 2009, Habitat for Humanity of the MS Gulf Coast sent twenty employees, volunteers and friends to Thailand and Vietnam for the annual Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project.  The twenty individuals worked alongside 3,000 other volunteers from across the globe to help build 166 homes in 5 days.

As a former event site, HFHMGC was happy to extend a helping hand for the year's event.  In addition to sending volunteers to the area, HFHMGC was able to tithe $250,000 to help provide decent, affordable housing.

World Habitat Day

In 1985 the United Nations created World Habitat Day as an attempt to reflect upon the state of our towns and cities, the basic right of shelter for everyone and remind the world of our collective responsibility to preserve and better the human habitat.

Despite the tough economic times, local branches of Wells Fargo, Beau Rivage, Best Buy and Hancock Bank sponsored the event.

More than 100 people helped to make steps toward eliminating poverty housing in the area.  Toiling under the blazing sun, volunteers made progress on a half-dozen homes at the Gulfport, MS build site. 

Thrivent Lane Ribbon Cutting

August 2009 marked the grand opening of Habitat for Humanity of the MS Gulf Coast's first large-scale subdivision, Thrivent Lane.  The event was celebrated on the four-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, highlighting the progress made since the storm ripped through the area.

In attendance were MS Governor and First Lady Barbour, along with local mayors from cities along the MS Gulf Coast.

Appalachian Trail Hike for Habitat

In April, 2009, Loyal Mehnert, a young adventurer from Milwaukee, WI, set out on a hike across the Appalachian Trail on behalf of Habitat for Humanity of the MS Gulf Coast.  Mehnert used his hike as a fundraiser, with base donations a mere $0.01 per mile hiked.  In total, his campaign raised more than one thousand dollars for our affiliate and brought us national attention.

In the midst of his hike, Mehnert was nominated for People magazine's All-Stars Among Us, a competition between citizens commiting acts to better communities.  As a result, he found himself among a handful of individuals sent to the Major League Baseball All-Star game in St. Louis. 

Throughout his journey, Mehnert had encounters with bears and other wildlife.  He endured disagreeable weather and suffered aching feet and lonliness from months of solitude.  His efforts were original and remain unparalled for our organization.

Although this adventure may have come to a close, Loyal Mehnert's work with our organization remains ongoing.  He is a participant of the 2009 Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project, volunteering in Vietnam.  Additionally, Mehnert plans to make additional trips to the MS Gulf Coast to volunteer with our affiliate.

Women Build

Early May, Habitat for Humanity of the MS Gulf Coast, in partnership with Habitat for Humanity, International and Lowe's, hosted our affiliate's first Women Build.  In the days leading up to Mother's Day, the event challenged women to devote at least one day to eliminating poverty housing.  The Mother's Day timeframe was chosen for its significance to many volunteers, as families with children make up a staggering number of those in need of adequate housing.

The event brought around 40 women together to help build two homes in Gulfport, MS.

2009 Collegiate Challenge

More than 400 students from the US and Canada came to help build Habitat for Humanity homes from the end of February through the end of March during their Spring Breaks.

This year marked the 20th anniversary of the Collegiate Challenge program.  During its 20-year history, more than 166,000 students have participated in the program across the nation.

NHL and NHLPA Help Build Moss Point Home

In late February, 2009 the National Hockey League (NHL) and the National Hockey League Players' Association (NHLPA) helped Habitat for Humanity of the MS Gulf Coast build a home in Moss Point, MS.

The event was part of a $500,000 contribution from the NHL and NHLPA, which financed the building of six homes built in Atlanta, Nashville, Dallas, New Orleans, and the final home in Moss Point, MS.

Emoployees of the NHL and NHLPA joined Habitat staff, volunteers, and Partner Families in their mission to helphurricane affected families.

Mickey Bradley Katrina Pro-Am

The Habitat for Humanity Katrina Pro-Am was  held on Monday, November 10, 2008 from 7:30 am to 1:30 pm at the Shell Landing Golf Club in Gautier, Mississippi.

2008 was our best event ever. Highlights of the tournament included:

Special Habitat sponsored shrimp boil
Special paring party at Mary Mahoney's
Live Auction
Breakfast & Lunch provided the day of the tournament
Networking opportunites with local and national executives 

The event contributed $5000 toward Jr. Golf on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

Jimmy & Rosalyn Carter Work Project
May 2008

****Visit http://www.habitat.org/ stories, photos, and video of the event!***

In August 2005, the lives of Gulf Coast residents changed forever as hurricanes Katrina and Rita devastated communities from Texas to Alabama. More than half a million homes were destroyed or damaged along the Gulf Coast. Hurricane Katrina caused severe damage to nearly 267,000 homes in Mississippi and Louisiana alone. Sixty percent of the homes in Harrison County, Mississippi, which includes Biloxi and Gulfport, were damaged by Hurricane Katrina.

Within weeks after Hurricane Katrina struck, Habitat for Humanity International and its affiliates had started building houses and rebuilding lives. With the help of corporate and community partners, some 70,000 volunteers, and the Habitat homeowner families themselves, nearly 1,300 homes have already been built or are under construction in the Gulf Coast Recovery Program in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Texas.

But there is still much to be done. There are still more than 12,000 FEMA trailers scattered throughout Southern Mississippi. Habitat for Humanity currently requires 1,000 volunteers per week in areas along the Gulf Coast. As part of Habitat’s ongoing Gulf Coast Recovery effort, and to raise awareness of the enormous needs that still exist in the region, Habitat for Humanity and former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, selected the Gulf Coast as the location for the 25th annual “Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project” to be held May 11-16, 2008. Our host affiliate is Habitat for Humanity of the Mississippi Gulf Coast in Biloxi, Mississippi.

During the second week of May, more than 1,500 volunteers from across the United States and around the world will join Gulf Coast volunteers to help build 30 houses in the communities of Biloxi and Pascagoula, Mississippi. Habitat volunteers and community partners will also refurbish an additional 30 homes in Pascagoula and frame 48 more for future building in Biloxi. Churches, corporations, celebrities, civic groups, and other public figures will participate in the Carter Project.

Habitat affiliates in Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, and Alabama will also participate in the weeklong build, constructing more than 100 houses along the Gulf Coast.

Carter Work Project PSA

25 Years of Building with the Carters

President Carter’s longstanding relationship with Habitat for Humanity began in 1984 when he donated one day of his carpentry skills and manual labor at a work site in Americus, Georgia, home to Habitat’s international headquarters. Later that same year, the Carters led their first weeklong project, renovating a six-story, 19 unit building in New York City.

The Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project is an annual, internationally-recognized week where the former US President and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, along with his wife, Rosalynn, join thousands of volunteers to build and renovate simple, decent and affordable housing in partnership with low income families. For 2008, the annual, week-long event is renamed to also recognize the former first lady’s years of dedicated service to help raise awareness of the need for affordable housing.

The Carters have faithfully given a one week of their time each year since 1984 to help build Habitat homes. The Carter Work Project has been held across the United States in places such as Philadelphia, Miami, New York City, Detroit, and Los Angeles. It has also been held internationally in South Africa, Mexico, and India.

HFHMGC & Building Green

Habitat for Humanity of the Mississippi Gulf Coast is constantly striving towards Building Green and is working with several agencies and organizations to do so.

Insulation being used on Habitat homes during the Carter Project is better for the environment than most traditional insulation products because it has no formaldehyde binders, no acrylic binders, and no borates.

HFHMGC is working with the US Department of Energy’s Building America program to indentify a cost effective path achieving Energy Star, a government-backed program helping businesses and individuals protect the environment through superior energy efficiency. HFHMGC uses energy efficient appliances and light bulbs in the homes, two important steps towards achieving Energy Star.

HFHMGC is analyzing more energy efficient electric water heater options and higher S.E.E.R. heating and ventilating air conditioning options.

HFHMGC is working with the Florida Solar Energy Center to evaluate energy efficiency of housing models.
 

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Former president and first lady continue legacy with 25th annual
Habitat for Humanity Carter Work Project in Gulf Coast

ATLANTA and BILOXI, Miss. (Jan. 25, 2008) – For the 25th year, former U.S.
President Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, will call attention to both the need for
affordable housing and Habitat for Humanity’s work to help low-income families realize the goal of homeownership. “While great strides have been made in the recovery efforts since hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the work is far from over,” said President Carter. “Rosalynn and I are pleased to be returning to the Gulf Coast to work with Habitat for Humanity. Along with the thousands of wonderful volunteers, Rosalynn and I look forward to creating not only new houses, but new awareness about the dire need for affordable housing in the Gulf.”
Biloxi and Pascagoula, Miss., still recovering from the devastating 2005 hurricane
season, will serve as host cities for the build. Throughout the five-day event on May 11- 16, thousands of volunteers will help construct and rehabilitate 60 houses and frame up to 48 more in the two cities. As part of the project, houses also will be built and repaired by volunteers in Gulf Coast communities in Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas and Alabama. “As we celebrate the 25th anniversary of Habitat for Humanity’s Carter Work Project, we’ll continue to focus on the long-term recovery efforts throughout the Gulf Coast region,” said Habitat for Humanity Chief Executive Officer Jonathan Reckford. “With the help of President and Mrs. Carter—along with the thousands of devoted volunteers who will join them—we’ll not only help further rebuild these communities by providing simple, decent, affordable housing, but we’ll also help restore hope and stability in the lives of families so severely impacted by the hurricanes.”
Hurricanes Katrina and Rita destroyed or damaged more than half-a-million houses
along the Gulf Coast. According to a 2007 RAND Corporation study, 60 percent of all
houses in Harrison County, Miss., which includes Biloxi, were damaged. More than
12,000 FEMA trailers are still in use today throughout Southern Mississippi.
In 2008, the annual, week-long event was renamed the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter
Work Project to recognize the former first lady’s years of dedicated service to help raise awareness and provide simple, decent and affordable housing in partnership with families in need.
“It is an honor to host the Carter Project,” said Chris Monforton, chief executive officer
of Habitat for Humanity of the Mississippi Gulf Coast. “Habitat has done such great
work here on the Gulf Coast, but this event is an important reminder that many people in this region are still living with the hurricane's effects two years later. By raising
awareness about the need for affordable housing and rebuilding the Gulf Coast, we are one step closer to finding a solution.”
To date, Habitat for Humanity’s Gulf Coast Recovery program has completed or begun construction on more than 1,300 houses. In addition to building homes, Habitat also is working to serve as a catalyst, bringing together organizations to address low-income housing and recovery on a scale that Habitat alone would not be able to accomplish.
Habitat has also forged many other ongoing partnerships and collaborations with
community and faith groups and long-term recovery committees in the region. Habitat
has partnered with Church World Service to raise funds to repair homes for low-income families and with The Salvation Army to increase building capacity, volunteer
accommodations and affordability of homes along the Gulf Coast. Lutheran Social
Services and other Katrina Aid Today consortium members are engaged in assisting
families find appropriate housing solutions, including Habitat homes.
Volunteers can sign up to help build in a Gulf Coast community and donations can be made online at www.habitat.org.


25 Years of Building with the Carters
Former President Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, have been helping Habitat for Humanity shine the spotlight on the need for affordable housing since 1984. That year, the Carters led a small team of Habitat volunteers to New York City to help renovate a six-story apartment building with 19 families in need of decent, affordable shelter. A quarter of a century later, that modest effort has grown into an internationallyrecognized annual event that has taken place in communities around the world.

About Habitat for Humanity of the Mississippi Gulf Coast
Habitat for Humanity of the MS Gulf Coast (HFHMGC) serves Harrison, Jackson and
Stone counties. Since Katrina HFHMGC has completed and started construction on 170 homes. HFHMGC believes every family deserves a ‘place they can call home’, and as such they are committed to providing the Mississippi Gulf Coast with clean, decent affordable and safe homes. While eradication of poverty housing is a challenge in all locations, it is particularly challenging in the light of hurricane Katrina. For more information on HFHMGC and how to volunteer or donate, go to www.hfhmgc.org.

About Habitat for Humanity International
Habitat for Humanity International is an ecumenical Christian ministry that welcomes to its work all people dedicated to the cause of eliminating poverty housing. Since its
founding in 1976, Habitat has built more than 250,000 houses worldwide, providing
simple, decent and affordable shelter for more than 1 million people. For more
information, visit www.habitat.org.

Jerry Kelly & Mickey Bradley Katrina Pro-Am

November 5, 2008

In the fall of 2006, PGA tour Rules Official Mickey Bradley and Corporate Communications Director for 84 Lumber, Jeff Nobers, approached Habitat for Humanity of the MS Gulf Coast with the idea of sponsoring a Pro-Am to benefit the gulf coast rebuilding efforts. Mickey Recruited touring pro Jerry Kelly who understood the need along the coast and together they recruited other players, businesses and corporations to support our first ever even, hosted by Shell Landing Golf Club and the Gulf Coast Golf Foundation.

As a result of the sponsorship support of the Beau Rivage, Mary Mahoney's, Opus Restaurant and Shell Landing Golf Club the event was an overwhelming success. Thanks to the efforts of the 22 tour pros, the City of Biloxi and 84 Lumber, 3 homes were constructed in East Biloxi.

THE 2nd ANNUAL JERRY KELLY & MICKEY BRADLEY
KATRINA TOUR PLAYERS PRO-AM Took Place on November 5, 2007 - Shell Landing Golf Club

We raised money to Help build 3 homes for Gulf Coast families with Habitat for Humanity. Each 3-person team hada PGA player at a quarter of the pirce of PGA Tour Pro-Ams!

2007 ATTENDEES: John Daly, Jerry Kelly, Heath Slocum, Joe Durant, Kelly Gibson, Woody Austin, Brian Bateman, Jerry Smith, Anthony Kim, Neal Lancaster, Harrison Frazar,Kent Jones.

Don't miss out in next year's event! Email lwhitmer@hfhmgc.org for information on the 2008 Tournament

Habitat Homeowners Graduate from Financial Management Course
September 13, 2007
Thirty-three Habitat homeowners graduated from a financial literacy course offered by Mercy Housing and Human Development. Having completed twelve hours of instruction, the families will now earn a $600 credit applied to their homeowner insurance. The credit is available through a Mercy Housing United Way grant.

Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and volunteers join Habitat for Humanity to celebrate milestone wall raising in Gulf Coast
May 21, 2007
Habitat for Humanity raised walls on its 1,000th and 1,001st homes in the Gulf Coast today to help low-income families affected by hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The milestone house represents the organization’s goal to have 1,000 homes complete or under construction by mid 2007, and the 1,001st house represents the ongoing effort to help rebuild housing along the Gulf Coast.

Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn; joined musician and Habitat supporter, Branford Marsalis; Habitat for Humanity CEO Jonathan Reckford; Executive Director Jim Pate from New Orleans Area Habitat; and Chris Monforton, CEO of Habitat of the Mississippi Gulf Coast in Biloxi, Miss.; along with volunteers, staff members and supporters from across the Gulf Coast to help raise the walls.

5-day, 20 home Build in Gulfport!
May 21, 2007
Over 500 AmeriCorps members from across the country are partnering to build twenty (20) homes in Gulfport for low income, hurricane-affected families. The five day blitz build will begin on Monday, May 21, and end Friday, May 25. The 20 new Build-A-Thon homes on 45th street behind Memorial Hospital are part of a larger HFHMGC development in the Gulfport neighborhood. Eventually 40 new homes will be built by volunteers and Habitat families. Before the end of the year, HFHMGC hopes to complete over 125 homes for deserving families in Harrison and Jackson counties.


Habitat for Humanity Mississippi Gulf Coast to Dedicate Women Build Home
March 3, 2007
Gulfport women volunteers will join Habitat for Humanity Mississippi Gulf Coast and the Casey Family to dedicate their new home. Women volunteers from throughout the community who began hammering and sawing on November 1, 2006, will cheer as Kenya Casey and her four children receive the keys to their house during Saturday’s dedication.

Building Made Easier
February 28, 2007
Representatives from DeWALT will present $20,000 plus in power tools to Habitat for Humanity Mississippi Gulf Coast (HFHMGC). The tools will be used at HFHMGC construction sites in Harrison and Jackson counties.
 

Partnership With a Purpose
Jan. 16, 2007
Five families will have a place to call home within the next 3 months, thanks to a partnership between Habitat for Humanity Mississippi Gulf Coast (HFHMGC) and IP Casino Resort Spa. This Saturday, January 20, volunteers will continue raising walls and setting trusses at the five houses on Alexander Street in Biloxi. The completion date for the last house is scheduled for late April.

A Gesture of Gratitude
February 13, 2007
Brenda Berkman of the FDNY will bring 25 members of Women in the Fire Service to Hickory Hills in Gautier, MS, to build houses with Habitat for Humanity Mississippi Gulf Coast (HFHMGC). “I wanted to show appreciation for all that people from around the US did for NYC after 9/11. A friend suggested Habitat.”

Firefighters from New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Kansas, Connecticut, Colorado, Illinois, Florida, Washington, Ohio, Missouri and Wisconsin will strap on tool belts and help construct homes for deserving families displaced by Hurricane Katrina, the worst natural disaster in this nation’s history. Michelle Crowley with the Biloxi Fire Department will represent the state of Mississippi.

New Kaboom! Playground
Jan. 30, 2007
Work on a playground for the children of Hickory Hills will become official! At 3:15 p.m. on Tuesday, January 30, the CEO of Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI), Jonathan Reckford, will present opening remarks at a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the construction of a KaBOOM! Playground in the Gautier community of Hickory Hills. Dave Petratis, President and CEO of Square D/Schneider Electric, a sponsor in the Hickory Hills development, will cut the ribbon to officially recognize the planned playground.