Habitat for Humanity honors future homeowners in heartfelt dedication ceremony

Posted January 28, 2025

By CLEVELAND DAILY BANNER STAFF REPORTS

Habitat for Humanity of Cleveland recently gathered for two home dedication ceremonies.

On Jan. 23, Flor Figueroa and Brenda Ware were surrounded by family, friends and their church congregations at the site of their newly constructed precast homes.

"The event highlighted resilience, faith and the transformative power of community," a press release stated.

To get to this point, Figueroa and Ware had to complete Habitat’s homeownership program, including educational classes and hundreds of sweat equity hours, with the support of their Cleveland community.

The ceremony featured moments of prayer and blessings, as Habitat staff, church leaders and volunteers shared heartfelt messages for the families and their future homes.

Among the inspiring stories shared was Figueroa's remarkable journey of love and perseverance. In 1972, she and her late husband, Eliseo, began building a life together, raising three children and welcoming fourteen grandchildren. After Eliseo’s passing last year, Figueroa has continued to honor their shared dream of homeownership.

With Habitat’s support, that dream is now becoming a reality. Figueroa looks forward to hosting her church family and creating new memories with her loved ones in her new home.

Ware, a retired preschool teacher and devoted mother of four, has faced her share of challenges, but her faith and determination have always been consistent.

Through Habitat, she has found not only the promise of a safe and affordable home, but also a newfound friendship with Figueroa, who will soon live right across the street from her. Ware looks forward to building a future filled with cherished moments with her children and grandchildren.

The dedication ceremony closed with words of gratitude for the donors, volunteers and community partners who made these homes possible. Amid song and prayer, this dedication was not only a celebration of Figueroa and Ware's new beginnings, but also an acknowledgement of the collective work and faith that brought their journey of homeownership to fruition.

"Their stories are powerful reminders that a home is more than a building — it is the foundation for memories, a place of safety and a source of lasting joy," the press release stated. "Habitat for Humanity of Cleveland extends thanks to all who contributed to these homes. Whether a volunteer, donor, neighbor or family, the home would not have been possible without the work of many hands."

The press release concluded, saying, "Together, we continue to build homes, communities and hope, ensuring that families like Figueroa's and Ware's have the strength and stability that come from a home built by their community."

For more information about Habitat for Humanity of Cleveland, visit habitatofcleveland.org.

Habitat CEO Johnson announces upcoming resignation

Posted November 14, 2024

By CLEVELAND DAILY BANNER STAFF REPORTS

Habitat for Humanity of Cleveland has announced the upcoming resignation of its CEO, Tammy Johnson, according to a press statement from the organization today, Wednesday, Nov. 13.

Johnson’s departure follows her husband’s acceptance of a new professional opportunity in Birmingham, Alabama, resulting in the family's plans to relocate to that city, Habitat said.

Habitat said Johnson "has been a driving force behind HFHOC's success and growth, leaving a lasting impact on the Cleveland/Bradley County community."

Beginning as the development director, Johnson progressed in leadership roles, "demonstrating great dedication and impactful contributions," leading to her appointment as CEO in October 2017.

During her seven-year tenure as CEO, Habitat said Johnson has been "pivotal in advancing HFHOC’s mission to foster relationships and connect neighbors to resources to support their path to stability."

Under her leadership, the organization said it has achieved significant milestones, including financial stability and growth.

During her tenure, Habitat said it has closed on more than 40 new homes, developed the new Morelock Meadows subdivision, and implemented the building of multi-unit and pre-cast homes.

The organization has retired nearly $500,000 in debt and established the Hope for Habitat Endowment in 2020, growing the endowment to more than $1.1 million.

"She led the team to secure the largest grant in HFHOC’s history at over $760,000, and the ReStore continues to excel with record-breaking sales," Habitat said.

Additionally, it has also won four consecutive Habitat of Tennessee State Impact Awards under Johnson’s leadership, including Affiliate, Leader, ReStore and Trailblazer of the Year.

Johnson said, "It's been a tremendous gift to work alongside such a talented team of staff, board members, volunteers, and community friends with a true commitment to serve and love our neighbors."

"I’m incredibly thankful God led me to [Habitat], and for the opportunity I’ve had to make meaningful relationships with our community and team," she said.

Karen Colley, Habitat's board president, said, “Tammy’s investment in this organization over the past seven years, her visionary, compassionate, and insightful servant leadership, has left a legacy that will continue to create opportunities to serve our neighbors in the immediate future and well beyond.”

Dr. Dewayne Thompson, the board's president-elect, said Johnson "has been an incredible leader for Habitat for Humanity of Cleveland, steering the organization with unwavering commitment and a deep passion for the community."

“Her impact on affordable housing in our area is profound, and her dedication to the families we serve will be felt for years to come," he said. "We are grateful for her service and wish her all the best in her next chapter.”

Habitat said it has appointed a dedicated search committee composed of the board president, president-elect, and additional current board members to oversee the process of finding and selecting the next CEO.

Johnson will remain on staff with the organization throughout the search process and for an additional period to facilitate the onboarding of her successor.

Habitat ReStore ready for Christmas

Posted September 28, 2024

By ALLEN MINCEY

The autumn leaves have started falling and the smell of pumpkin spice is in the air, but that doesn’t mean the Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore isn’t looking ahead to hot chocolate, tinsel and Christmas.

Having just celebrated its 20th anniversary with a special sale, prize drawings and food trucks in the parking lot, one might think a break would be warranted. But, Deborah Flower, coordinator of the Christmas section of the ReStore, was actually preparing for the holiday as the celebration was happening.

That included a group of Lee University students who helped with Christmas tree assembly and decoration on Sept. 20. Jackson LeRoy and Noah Blue, both of Theta Delta Kappa, and Lauren Miller and Hannah Brooks, Omega Alpha Phi sisters, were the first of several volunteers who helped Flower.

Flower and her husband David are Habitat Heroes, and annually gather a group of volunteers to decorate Christmas trees and set up displays at “The Christmas Shoppe.” Flower, a retired kindergarten teacher, is a volunteer herself, and is not just a seasonal job fo her.

“I have done this since 2010 and I am known as ‘the Christmas Lady,’ though ‘Holiday Lady’ is probably more appropriate as I am in charge of every holiday that comes down the pike,” Flower told the Banner in a previous interview.

While the students helped with assembling trees last Friday, they will not be the only holiday items the Habitat ReStore will have available. There will also be Christmas wreaths, linens, clothes, knick-knacks, yard art, candles, china and glassware.

All of the items for sale have been donated to Habitat for Humanity of Cleveland to help in raising funds for the organization’s home building projects, and each year, staff and customers, and volunteers, look forward to the holiday.

“Everyone has the opportunity to give a ‘hands up’ for hope in our community by using their skills through such volunteer efforts,” Flower said. “All proceeds are put toward a house for a deserving home owner.”

“Deb’s Christmas Shoppe,” Flower said, “brings in people who would not normally come to the ReStore, as they can find Christmas decorations cheaper here than in other stores.” It also give those shoppers an idea of the other bargains at the ReStore.

For more information about the Christmas items available, and about the ReStore, call 423-473-4610. To find out more about Habitat for Humanity of Cleveland, visit the website at www.habitatofcleveland.org.

Habitat For Humanity of Cleveland dubbed 'Trailblazer of the Year'

Posted on August 10, 2024

By CLEVELAND DAILY BANNER STAFF REPORTS

At the annual Habitat For Humanity of Tennessee Conference, held on July 22, the Trailblazer of the Year Award was bestowed upon Habitat For Humanity of Cleveland.

The Trailblazer Award is given to entities who "exemplify groundbreaking initiatives that redefine traditional approaches to homebuilding and community development."

Presented by Judge Barry Tidwell, circuit court judge of Murfreesboro, he said, "Over the past two years, [Habitat For Humanity of Cleveland has] expanded their building to include constructing multi-unit homes, addressing housing needs in innovative ways. They shared their expertise with other affiliates at last year’s Habitat Tennessee and also at the Habitat Ohio state conference."

Continuing, Tidwell stated, "Their recent venture into installing pre-cast concrete walls on two homes underscores their commitment to trailblazing practices. This forward-thinking approach not only showcases their creativity and innovation, but also demonstrates a willingness to challenge norms for the betterment of their community."

He added, "Through these efforts, they have delivered tangible results, significantly impacting the community and making a lasting difference."

Recently, Habitat For Humanity of Cleveland held a dedication for its 160th home.

Expressing how "thrilled and honored" she was to accept the Trailblazer Award, Tammy Johnson, CEO of the Cleveland affiliate, said in her acceptance speech, "This award is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our incredible team, volunteers and community partners. Together, we've dared to innovate and create new opportunities for families needing safe, affordable housing."

Concluding her remarks, Johnson said, "Our passion for building stronger, more vibrant communities continues to grow … This award shows what amazing things we can achieve when we come together."

For more information about Habitat For Humanity of Cleveland, visit habitatofcleveland.org.

LP donates siding to largest Habitat home in Cleveland

Posted August 10, 2024

By GRANT BROMLEY

A family of 12, like the Roberts family, learns and grows together, weathering every storm that life presents through faith and love.

Still, they'll need a house with siding that can withstand all sorts of weather.

Thanks to a donation from LP Building Solutions, the Roberts' future home, which is being developed by Habitat For Humanity of Cleveland, will have siding, provided free of charge.

To demonstrate how to install its SmartSide siding, which is made from engineered wood, representatives of LP Building Solutions were on hand on Thursday, Aug. 8, with Habitat core volunteers and sub-contractors getting used to working with this material.

Taking a break in the shade from working on the siding installation, the Cleveland Daily Banner spoke with John Abell, territory sales manager with LP Building Solutions; Diego Garzon, technical sales representative with LP Building Solutions; and Jerry Chandler, outside sales with Tindell's Inc., about the donation to the Cleveland affiliate of Habitat.

Habitat's construction director, David Cowan, was also on hand.

"We wanted to do what's right, and that's one thing LP does is really reach out to the community," Abell said of the donated siding. "It's called 'Building a Better World,' and that's one of our mottos."

While this is the first time LP has worked with the Habitat affiliate in Cleveland, they have worked with Habitat in other communities and were glad to teach Cowan and the volunteers on the best practices for installing engineered wood siding.

Stating that LP only uses aspen wood for its siding, Abell said, "When we use that aspen, we use 99% of a log. We're very efficient at what we do, but we don't just take the log and cut it down and make siding — it goes through a treatment process called SmartGuard process where it's treated with … zinc borate, which inhibits the rot, moisture and fungal decay cycle. Then it's treated with MDI resins, and then it's treated with wax."

He added, "When we put that board together, it's impervious to the weather."

For Habitat, the donation of this siding is a significant gain for a house of this size, coming in at 1,865 square feet of livable space.

Chiming in, Cowan said, "Habitat's motto here is 'simple, decent, affordable,' which is not to be confused with 'cheap' … [The Roberts house] is the largest house our Habitat affiliate has ever built, and that put us way out of our wheelhouse, as far as cost is concerned."

Continuing, he said when he called LP about their need, they said they "were glad to help," with Cowan stating, "As a builder, I prefer a wood product over vinyl siding or plastic — it's so much cleaner and is a nicer product."

For Habitat, attempting to do this installation solely with volunteers will help to keep the cost down for the homeowners.

"We try to do most everything in-house with volunteers because that helps with the cost of construction," Cowan said. "Everything that we spend, that money has to transfer over to the mortgage and the homeowner. Obviously, they want to get in their house as fast as they can, but we have a duty to keep working and keep the cost low."

Thinking big picture, Cowan added, "I want to point out that there are a lot of people in this town and around that talk about affordable housing and building affordable housing … but there are very few of those people that actually do something about it — LP stepped up."

While they continue working on the house, the Roberts family is checking in frequently on the progress being made.

At the Women Build on May 3, very little of the home was up. During that build cycle, Brian told the Banner that's where he and his family got in a considerable amount of their required "sweat equity."

Now, the house is taking shape, and it even has a front door.

While a move-in date has not yet been set, Brian said, "The only day we're holding onto is Sept. 28, which is when we're supposed to have friends and family over to paint."

Concluding his remarks, he said, "We're super excited."

Habitat for Humanity Dedicates 160th Home

Posted Aug 1, 2024

By GRANT BROMLEY

The Siler family hasn't moved in yet, but they've already had company over.

In this case, company was a host of familiar faces from Habitat For Humanity of Cleveland, who helped bring about the family of five's Aug. 6 move-in day.

With rising temperatures and the chance for rain, everyone gathered in the living room of the Siler household for a home dedication — the "sweat equity" having already been chipped in.

Beaming, she added, "I painted this whole house."

Doranda's grandmother, who raised her, lived in a Habitat home herself, and she recalled, "We helped build that house, and that made me want a house like that for my family … I'm just so happy."

Now, full circle, she and her four children had an opportunity to fellowship with those who had joined them on their journey toward having a place of their own to call home.

Among them were Father Mike Nolan, a board member of Habitat; and Pastor Bob Zwarych, who customarily presents new Habitat homeowners with a Bible.

Also present was Pastor James Sears, of Mt. Olive Church of God, who offered some remarks at the home dedication.

"As I was driving over here, I was thinking about what it means to have a home and what it means to be a family," Sears said. "I was reminded of a passage of Scripture that God gave the children of Israel in the Old Testament as a path for how they were to live their life."

Prefacing that this passage he had in mind, from Deuteronomy 6:5-9, "speaks of the importance of not just family, but what it means to have a home," Sears began reading the verse which Jesus famously quoted in his ministry, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your strength."

Continuing, he read, "And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates."

Looking up from the Scripture, Sears told the Silers, "The house that you will be living in has not only been soaked in prayer for several months, but, inside, it has Scriptures and words of encouragement and life-giving words. This is more than a house. This is a home, and it's a home that God has helped provide."

He then led them in prayer, asking that the Lord keep His hand on the Siler home.

"May this be a constant reminder that you are with them every step of the way. That this is not the finish of a season, but, God, this is just the beginning."

This home is the 160th home built by Habitat For Humanity of Cleveland, and Alan Goslen, a core construction volunteer with Habitat, spoke on why he contributes his time and energy to such endeavors.

"We do it because of love of Christ," Goslen declared. "We do it because of what we see it does for families like the Silers."

Prayer and a song of worship usher in Habitat's Women Build

Posted May 7, 2024

By GRANT BROMLEY

They were singin' in the rain, but prayin' the rain would go away.

Fortunately, on Friday, May 3, the Women Build of the future Roberts residence was not thwarted by the sporadic precipitation.

Ushering in the Habitat for Humanity of Cleveland event with a song was the Roberts family, who sang Fred Hammond's "Give Me A Clean Heart."

Brian and Tarmika Roberts have nine children, and with Tarmika's mother, Dale, their future home will house 12 people.

Needless to say, this choir of 12 seized upon the opportunity for all of them to bless those who would be helping in the construction of the frame of their home that day in the form of song, and it was something they told the Cleveland Daily Banner they were glad to do.

"We sing all the time as a family," Tarmika said, noting she and her husband have more than 20 years of past experience in music ministry.

Presently, Brian is the director of operations at Chick-fil-A in town, and Tarmika works on homeschooling all of their children while caring for her mother.

Introducing everyone to one another was Lynne Wooten, director of operations at Habitat for Humanity of Cleveland, who noted that families like the Roberts are facing monthly rents well over $1,000 a month at apartment complexes in the city.

"Families just cannot afford it," Wooten said.

Tarmika echoed this, telling participants of the Women Build that the rent they've been paying is $1,600, adding, "That doesn't give you the space to be able to save to purchase a home." 

Continuing, Wooten said, "Our main mission is to work with our families to build affordable housing solutions."

Throughout the Roberts' experience with Habitat, they will be equipped through classes on homeownership and financing with all the knowledge they will need to support their family in a home they can call their own.

Wooten noted Habitat's work is not "a handout," with sweat equity going into the development of the house in addition to taking on "an affordable mortgage" and paying property taxes.

Prior to letting the Women Build teams begin their work, Tammy Johnson, executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Cleveland, led everyone in prayer.

"I pray that you would bless our homeowners, Lord, and let this be a time of new beginnings …" she said. "And I pray that they would just feel the love of these ladies surrounding them, and I pray that these ladies, as they pour into this family, will also feel loved."

As the teams began putting on their hard hats, Tarmika told the Banner, "I can't even express the gratitude that we have for everybody that has contributed and has poured into us, not just financially but as far as time is concerned, so we're very thankful."

She added, "We're very grateful and super excited!"

Habitat quadplex dedication highlights God's 'plans to prosper you'

Posted April 22, 2024

By GRANT BROMLEY

Habitat for Humanity home dedications are often emotional and uplifting, and the Morelock Meadows quadplex dedication was doubly inspiring as the organization's executive director shared some of her own story.

Asking attendees of the Thursday, April 18, dedication to keep the question of "what is real love?" in their minds, Tammy Johnson, executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Cleveland began telling of her upbringing, noting she had never shared her story publicly.

"We were very, very poor growing up, to the extent that there were times we didn't have heat, there were times we didn't have food, and I personally have dug out of dumpsters to eat," Johnson recalled. "We also had times where we didn't have extra money to get clothing."

She told of how her mother would place clothes on layaway at stores, making her deposits to eventually bring home a couple outfits for her. There were also hand-me-downs, which she was excited to wear, but Johnson still recalls the full name of the girl who made fun of her when she was in elementary school for wearing a pair of pants that was two sizes too big.

Over a decade later, she was in college and working three jobs, she said, "I wouldn't take anything for my poor background and my poor upbringing, you know why? It taught me a huge dose of perseverance. When the going gets tough, I can keep going."

She went on to say that through everything she's gone through, she now can say that if she were to lose everything in an instant, she would be satisfied to still be here, adding, "No matter what you've been through, you're still here."

Pivoting to the homes behind her, Johnson said, "It's very easy, in our compassion and our love for people, to just give away things — give away money, give away food, give away clothes, give away housing. It's very noble to do that, but, as I've learned, the more noble thing is not to give someone a fish. Let's actually teach them how to fish."

Johnson went on to say that Habitat's mission of love is exemplified by the example it sets for the families it houses, with each of them showing that love by contributing to the construction of not only their own home, but the home of their neighbor at the quadplex.

Following Johnson's remarks was Jarrett Millsaps, CEO of Tennova Healthcare-Cleveland.

"[These homes are] the place where laughter is going to happen, where children are going to grow up, where tear tears will probably be shed at some point and where the entire human experience is going to occur," Millsaps said.

For one of the four families moving in, Millsaps' words could not be more true.

Pregnant with their third child, the Kholod family will soon be able to bring their child from the hospital to a home of their own.

Vadim Kholod spoke on behalf of all the families moving in to Morelock Meadows, saying, "I had completely different plans for my life, but God knows what's best for us. God knew what's best for me, and by the grace of God, I'm here today."

He then recited Jeremiah 29:11, which reads, "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'"

Continuing, Kholod said, "Me and my family have seen God in our life. He knows what's best for us, even though sometimes we don't like it."

This remark got a knowing laugh from those in attendance, and he went on to express his gratitude to Habitat and the community for the home they're about to make their own.

Addressing the staff and volunteers of Habitat, Kholod concluded his remarks by saying, "You're showing the love of Jesus to many families in need. We pray and hope that you may continue to touch the lives of people around you."

The Kholod family was joined by their neighbors, which include the Moore family, Blair family and Alison Martin, as they cut a ribbon with the members of the community in attendance before receiving the keys to their homes.

Habitat installs precast walls in latest home build

Posted April 19, 2024

By GRANT BROMLEY

Psalm 127:1, which reads, "Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it," is a verse which is often recited at Habitat for Humanity of Cleveland's house dedications.

Utilizing an approach to home building which is new to the local Habitat chapter, it hopes to ensure the labor of its staff and volunteers will not be in vain.

After being delayed by rain for several weeks, on Tuesday, April 16, Habitat had a crane and construction crew on hand to bring in and install precast walls for a home it hopes to complete in the fall of this year.

It may be months away from its dedication and move-in day, but Habitat was excited to see this 

"We do a lot of building and construction with volunteers," David Cowan, construction director for Habitat, told the Cleveland Daily Banner. "It helps keep our costs low and helps keep our community involved, which is our priority. Without our community support, we're not really able to build houses."

Continuing, Cowan said, "One of the issues that is plaguing Habitat, not just here, but nationwide, is volunteer hours since COVID-19. We averaged over 15,000 hours a year, but we're below 3,000 hours a year."

Enter: a hybrid building process.

Starting with a gravel footer, waterproof concrete walls with foam insulation and metal studs already pre-installed are then dropped into place.

He described this as a superior material over a traditional wood frame, and a cost-saver as well.

"This type of construction has been used in the commercial world for quite a long time," he said. "Our fear here was, if we cut our community out of the building process, then we would basically be starting our own demise."

He added, "If we can't find a way to build and increase home production, while keeping our community involved, we will fail as a [Habitat] affiliate in the Cleveland community."

Once the walls are up — which they were all set in place in a matter of hours on Tuesday — he said there are plenty of opportunities for community involvement.

Cowan assured it will be an aesthetically pleasing home, with a farmhouse style.

With the walls being made from concrete, he noted that termites won't ever be a cause for concern.

Watching from the sidelines was one of the women who will soon know these concrete walls as the walls of her home, Flor Figueroa, who was ecstatic to see her home begin to take shape.

"This is a dream come true," she told the Banner. "We've been working hard for it."

Sweat equity is a big part of Habitat's approach to providing a home for an individual, and while the walls may have been put up by a construction crew, she said she's ready to continue working.

Figueroa added, "I can see everything that we've worked for. I can see it now with my eyes, and I know we're going forward."

From homelessness to homeownership

Posted February 24, 2024

By GRANT BROMLEY

"Have you ever wondered what a woman who is escaping domestic violence dreams of?" Tammy Johnson, executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Cleveland, asked attendees of a home dedication on Thursday, Feb. 22. "She dreams of safety, security and a life free from fear."

Stacy Aldridge, joined by her children Calvin and Kaylee, now has a place which can provide that safety and security.

Having put in 300 hours of "sweat equity" and completed 18 courses offered by Habitat on home ownership and budgeting, Aldridge received the keys to her home in the presence of many who contributed to its construction and offered guidance to her along the way.

Among those in attendance was Eva VanHook, executive director of Family Promise of Bradley County, who spoke of how Aldridge first made an impression on her and her staff by completing an eight-week program in 23 days.

"She came in with her goals set high and the willingness to do the work," VanHook said.

Between the time she completed Family Promises' program and was connected with Habitat, Aldridge earned her GED, VanHook said.

Now, she's going from having been homeless at one time to homeownership, which VanHook said was "powerful" as she thanked the community for being a part of Aldridge's success.

Wiping tears from her eyes, Aldridge addressed those in attendance, saying, "To have this community come out and support us is unimaginable. It's very heartwarming, and it means the world to me."

Noting she and her children had lived in a hotel and in trailers before, Aldridge said, "After all we've been through and all this time, we wanted a home."

The home Aldridge is moving into has a 0% interest mortgage, which she will pay back to "help lift someone else up" in the Habitat for Humanity program, Johnson noted.

"Thank you to our anonymous partner, who allowed Habitat to acquire this home at no cost," Johnson said. "Through the dedication of Family Promise, our Habitat for Humanity team and many others, Stacy will be closing on her new home [Friday]."

She added, "Stacy's journey is not just about finding a home. It's about reclaiming her life, being an example to her kids and rewriting her story."

After cutting a ribbon and receiving the keys to her new home, Aldridge told the Cleveland Daily Banner, "I thank God for this journey. I'm very thankful and blessed."

Looking ahead, Aldridge said she is excited to have a flower garden, noting, "We've never been to do that."