New Atlanta Habitat Homeowner’s Dream Comes True Thanks to Interfaith Group

Sixteen faith groups from across Atlanta came together under one house September 25, 2016 to dedicate the group’s 10th Atlanta Habitat for Humanity home to a new homeowner. Nearly 200 volunteers from churches, synagogues and mosques have spent seven Sundays building a three-bedroom, two-bath home in southeast Atlanta for a family near Lakewood.

New homeowners K. Tolbert, A. Cook and their 10-year-old daughter have completed 250 sweat-equity hours in helping to build their new home and finished homebuyer education classes.

“I’m thankful for all the people and the Lord for this opportunity to have my dream home,” said Tolbert, who works in the food service industry and owns a catering business. “My family and I are looking forward to having more space and owning something of value that we can pass down to our daughter.” Tolbert adds that she has a big family and plans are already in the works to host Thanksgiving Day dinner at their new home.

The Atlanta Interfaith Build, created by Atlanta Habitat’s leadership and board in 2002, is the result of interfaith leaders coming together following the 9-11 tragedy to discuss faith relations and bridge-building to connect various faith groups and the greater community.

The faith community partners that have funded and built the 2016 Atlanta Interfaith home include The Atlanta Masjid of Al-Islam, Buckhead Community Fellowship, Catholic Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Congregation Bet Haverim, Episcopal Church of the Epiphany, Faith Alliance of Metro Atlanta, First Christian Church of Decatur, Northwest Unitarian Universalist Congregation, Oakhurst Baptist Church, Oakhurst Presbyterian Church, Presbytery of Greater Atlanta, St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Temple Sinai, The Sally & Peter Parsonson Foundation, The Shumacher Group Inc., and The Shia Imami Ismaili Council for SE USA.

“This group works to build community and unity through hands on action and Atlanta Habitat is honored by their continued dedication to help us transform communities by building quality, affordable homes for people of all faiths,” said Lisa Y. Gordon, president, Atlanta Habitat for Humanity.

Tolbert’s new home is 1,144-SF and sits on a .23-acre lot. It is the 1,440th house that Atlanta Habitat has built since 1983.

Audrey Galex, Faith Alliance of Metro Atlanta board president, notes that it was not until she volunteered one Sunday that she “got it”—that is what volunteering to build a home means. “When I witnessed the couple who would eventually live in the house, nail the first nails, I got it. When I was invited to take a felt-tip pen and write a blessing on a beam to the family, I got it. When I stood shoulder-to-shoulder pushing walls up, I got it. There is a deep sense of gratification knowing that I was even a small part of helping a family achieve the dream of owning their home.”

Atlanta Habitat for Humanity, one of more than 1,400 U.S. affiliates of Habitat for Humanity International, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to homeownership for working families. Since 1983, volunteers from corporations and from faith-based and civic organizations have worked in partnership with qualified homebuyers to construct affordable, green, quality homes, which are then purchased through no-interest mortgages. To date, Atlanta Habitat has built and renovated more than 1,400 homes, primarily in Atlanta and South Fulton County. Visit www.atlantahabitat.org.

Members from 16 faith groups from across Atlanta came together under one house on Sunday, Sept. 25, 2016 to dedicate the group’s 10th Atlanta Habitat for Humanity home to a new homeowner. Nearly 200 volunteers from churches, synagogues and mosques spent seven Sundays building a three-bedroom, two-bath home in southeast Atlanta for a family near Lakewood.