Habitat for Humanity hopes to receive donations

May 15, 2009 (WALB) - It's unclear how the Flint River chapter of Habitat for Humanity might benefit from Habitat's largest ever single donation, 100-million dollars.

They're not waiting to find out. Instead, they're moving forward with a plan to use $500,000 to build and rehab foreclosed homes. Through the Neighborhood Stabilization Program, the city secured a grant that will allow them to partner with Habitat to fix up as many as six foreclosed city properties and five Habitat foreclosed properties. Through a partnership with Albany Tech, they'll be able to finish the job faster.

"We'll be able to turn around homes very quickly we've got some units ourselves that have been foreclosed on that are in nice condition so, by going in and spending just a little bit of money we'll be able to get people in a lot quicker," said Stacey Odom-Driggers, Flint River Chapter Executive Director.

"Some of our students will do demolition. Some of out HVAC students will help instal some of the heating and air systems into some of the homes. Our carpentry students will build walls, frames, doors windows," said Emmett Griswold, Albany Tech Dean of Academic Affairs.

Habitat plans to hold another application workshop in the next month since they'll have more properties ready at a faster pace.