Events

As our poet laurate, TC is excited about integrating poetry into our community, bringing poetry to other acts of service – because for TC, poetry is a doorway into social justice. “Anytime we encounter something that stretches our understanding of what is possible, that to me feels social justice,” s/he explains. “It feels like potential for change, growth, all of these radical ways of living. And—and and and! I think if it stops at the page, it’s missed a whole deeply, deeply important step in changing the world.”

Habitat Tucson is pleased to announce that it has been certified by Points of Light, the world’s largest organization dedicated to volunteer service, as a Service Enterprise!

In 2013, when Ezequiel and Salome were just 7 and 8 years old, their father abandoned the family. He cut Manuela off from their bank accounts, sabotaged her car, and didn’t pay rent or child support. “After three months we had to move out of our home,” Manuela says. “And at the time Ezequiel’s asthma was out of control – so we were at the doctor quite often, every two weeks.”

But Manuela was determined to care for her family.

Free and open to the public, upcoming community education classes on topics including education, healthy living, career planning, neighborhood safety, and more!

Joseph and Pricilla have wanted to own a home for a very long time. They want their four children to know they have a safe and stable place to come back to, with the room to grow independent and self-reliant.

“We had looked into buying a house,” said Pricilla. “We just couldn’t do it on our own.”

When they think about what their new home will be like, Adan and Guadalupe picture a completely different life. “Stability, comfort, safety – everything’s going to be better,” Guadalupe says. “Home is where the family is – it’s love. Just being happy together. Just being able to rest and know that everyone you love is there.”

“It goes back to our mission statement,” Judy says. “Decent. Affordable. Decent means the roof is not leaking, the toilet is flushing. There are so many people who need some help, and it’s about knowing when we can say yes.”

In the past year, thanks to generous donations from individuals and community businesses, the HabiStore was able to divert almost 600 tons of building materials, appliances, new and gently used furniture and home accessories from the local landfill. That’s more than double the annual amount the HabiStore typically saves from the landfill!

That’s always been Pete’s favorite part about Habitat – the humanity part. “We treat people – no matter who they are, no matter where they come from, no matter what their story – as equals.”

Each Habitat neighborhood is an extension of that humanity. And it’s something Pete notices, when speaking with homeowners – they absolutely love their neighbors. “They’re not talking about just their house—they’re talking about the people around them. They’re talking about the community,” says Pete. “And I think that’s much more powerful than four walls.”

Both originally from Sinaloa in Mexico, they’re looking forward to a better life for their family. “We experienced violence in Culiacán and we didn’t want that for our children,” says Ana Karina. “We are looking for better opportunities for ourselves and for our children.”

Habitat Stores are home improvement stores that accept small and large donations of new or gently used furniture, appliances, housewares, building materials and more. Proceeds from the sales of these items help Habitat’s work in your community and around the world.

A veteran who served in the 82nd Airborne Corp, John Johnson was struggling with the repairs his aging home required. A friend called on John’s behalf and Habitat Tucson’s Home Repair Supervisor Rebecca arrived and walked him through the process. Getting the call from Habitat came as a complete surprise.

“Helping people is something that we have done our whole lives,” says Charlie.

“Habitat gives people an opportunity for some stability in their life.”

“It’s hard for our parents. They do so much,” says Carlos. But when he thinks of what home means to him, he calls it, “A place where our parents keep us safe. Home means that when it’s raining, we won’t get wet.”

Fatu came from Liberia to Tucson as a refugee eleven years ago.

Everything she does is to provide her children with a better life.

Habitat for Humanity Tucson is excited to continue our 25-year partnership with Tucson Electric Power!

TEP has pledged to provide funding for the next three years, teaming up with Habitat to address the local affordable housing crisis through the power of volunteer.

Your #AZGivesDay donation is a direct investment in our community. Arizona Gives Day is a statewide day of giving that unites Arizonans around causes they believe in.

“If you don’t serve mankind then what are you doing in this world?” says veteran homeowner Joseph Bailey Jr.

Joseph has completed over 150 sweat equity hours in just six months of being in the Habitat homeownership program and he’s loved every minute of it. He’ll be the first of his generation to own a new home. And he plans to leave the home to his daughters.

For Andrea, no act is too small. “It might be like a small little impact, but even the smallest little impact grows into a bigger one. It might take time, it might take years, but it does grow.”

Thanks to her mother, all of Abril’s childhood memories are in one house growing up.

“Before the war, life in the Congo was easy. We worked. It was good. But then we couldn’t stay,” said Singaye, who after a long journey moved to Tucson with his wife Esperance and their five children – Joyce, Florence, Samson, Benny, and Isabella – as asylum seekers.

Elizabeth had not had heating in her home for the last 11 years. She recalls her house getting as low at 32 degrees – literally freezing. Elizabeth would have to bundle up in her husbands’ old sweaters and cuddle with her dogs in bed until late afternoon when the sun finally warmed the house.

Thanks to Critical Home Repair and A Brush With Kindness efforts, she finally had heat in her house this winter.

For the first time in 11 years.