Seeking partner families

Habitat for Humanity of Allegheny Valley is seeking partner families to be homeowners. There will be an informational meeting on September 29, 2009 from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM. The meeting will be held in the Galleria at Pittsburgh Mills in Room 273, near Entrance 2, and across from Pearle Vision.

To qualify as to be a partner homeowner family, the family must currently live in substandard or overcrowded conditions, must meet the HUD guidelines for having low income, and be willing to work for 350 hours of sweat equity, provide a down payment of $1000. The partner homeowner would end up with a decent home and a 0% interest, affordable mortgage.

Habitat for Humanity of Allegheny Valley has partnered with 17 homeowner families over the last dozen years. If you know someone who might qualify to be our next homeowner family, make sure they know about the upcoming meeting. The flyer or bulletin insert might each be helpful ways to tell them about the opportunity.

File under : Habitat, Pittsburgh Mills

Breaking tradition

On Monday morning July 13, 2009 a group of about a dozen volunteers gathered in the parking lot at the Pittsburgh Mills mall and built a wall for house number 18 for Habitat for Humanity of Allegheny Valley. House number 18 will be the first house the affiliate will construct in parts at the mall and then assembled at its final site. The house is being built through the partnership with Thrivent Financial.



Volunteers will be able to participate in constructing the remaining walls for House 18 on Saturdays this summer. The walls will be built in the parking lot near Dingbats at the Pittsburgh Mills Mall, in a location that is visible at the Butler Logan Road entrance to the mall.



Before making the wall, there was a "Breaking Tradition" service to take the place of the usual groundbreaking service.

The Valley News Dispatch carried an article on Saturday, July 11 announcing the event. On Tuesday, July 14 the print edition of the VND carried a photo of the event.

State Farm presents check to Youth United

On June 8, 2009 at noon representatives of State Farm presented a check to Youth United of Habitat for Humanity of Allegheny Valley. The presentation was part of a thank you lunch being given at the Riverside Community Church's site in the Pittsburgh Mills Mall.

Representing State Farm were Tom DeMartini (a State Farm agent in Cheswick) and Brian Baron (a State Farm agent in Lower Burrell). Representing Youth United of Habitat for Humanity Allegheny Valley was Liz Vertosick of Fox Chapel.

Since 2007, State Farm® has served as the Official Corporate Sponsor of Habitat for Humanity Youth programs with a sponsorship commitment of more than $1.1 million in grants each year. In addition to the national youth program sponsorship, State Farm zone offices contribute more than $500,000 a year directly to Habitat affiliates in their communities.