Executive Director Update – September 2020

Executive Director Update – September 2020

How do you measure impact? We often get this question as we apply for grants or ask donors to support our work. Is it simply the number of houses we build? Is it the number of families that realize the dream of homeownership? Is it in the number of volunteer hours or donations to the Restore? How do you measure the change in the trajectory of a family’s life? How do you measure the impact of a safe, affordable home for a child who has had neither?

We are close to completing 5 new homes in West Grove and 3 in Coatesville. We are reviewing applications for families as we plan to build 8 more homes in the next year. When the final nail is hammered in, we will have completed 16 homes in a single year. We will have built 170 homes since Habitat for Humanity of Chester County was founded.

I was blessed to sit with two individuals who had fulfilled their mortgages and now fully owned their homes. With a safe place to raise their children, living in a community with shared values, and through hard work and determination, they had each overcome challenges to fully realize the dream of homeownership. How do you measure impact? Is it the number of homes and families, or in the tears of joy and laughter and hugs? It’s all those things.

To all of our volunteers, donors, homeowners, and continued supporters, we send you all well wishes during these continually challenging times. Take care of yourselves and each other.

Sincerely, Chris Wiseman Executive Director at Habitat for Humanity of Chester County