By Eva Zamarripa | Development Officer
Habitat for Humanity of Bay County is dedicated to eliminating substandard housing through constructing, rehabilitating, and preserving homes and providing training and access to resources to help families improve their shelter conditions. Since Hurricane Michael hit the region in 2018, Habitat of Bay County has focused on helping residents get back on their feet after the devastating storm.
Finding a safe place to live after Hurricane Michael remains a struggle for many families throughout the region To support these families and the recovery of impacted communities, Bay County Habitat has rebuilt seven homes in the past year and completed 50 different critical home repairs. Their Critical Repair Program continues to aid low to moderate income families in need of new roof and/or exterior home repairs at low to no cost.
This support is particularly critical for the elderly or disabled who face unique challenges in the face of natural disaster. The day before Hurricane Michael made landfall in Panama City in October 2018, Kristina and Jeffrey made the decision to evacuate to Tennessee with their daughter and two grandchildren. When they returned, they found four trees had fallen on their roof and the siding, windows, and doors to their home had been severely damaged. With very limited financial resources and Jeffrey’s disability, they simply weren’t able to repair the home themselves. After fifteen months, Kristina learned from a coworker about Habitat for Humanity’s Critical Home Repair Program and was referred to the website. After applying for support through the program, Habitat approved their home for repairs. The family partnered with Habitat for Humanity’s RV Care-A-Vanners, a group of mobile volunteers, to repair the siding, windows, and doors of their house. For Kristina and Jeffrey, the long-awaited repairs have made a world of difference to help them feel safe and secure in their own home.
On behalf of Habitat for Humanity and our homeowner families, we are grateful for the time and resources invested to help build back communities hit by natural disaster. This support remains critical for the recovery and resilience of communities in Bay County.
Thank you!
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