Issue link: http://maconmagazine.uberflip.com/i/1365748
S P E C I A L A D V E R T I S I N G S E C T I O N WHAT IS YOUR MISSION AND HOW HAS IT SHIFTED BECAUSE OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC? Seeking to put God's love into action, Habitat for Humanity brings people together to build homes, communities and hope. For the last 35 years, Macon Area Habitat for Humanity has been building low-income homeownership opportunities and leading neighborhood re- vitalization efforts in Macon-Bibb and Jones counties. Our Macon affiliate was started in 1986 by a group of volunteers from North- minster Presbyterian Church and did not hire the first paid staff member until 1996. For the first time in 35 years we have not had volun- teers on our job sites in over a year. We miss our volunteers and the love they bring to our work. But we could not let this change impact our mission. A "home" is more important than ever right now, so we restructured our model to build with more subcontractors, added an additional temporary staff member and are now building more homes at one time than we have in a long time. YOU MIGHT BE SURPRISED TO KNOW: Habitat does not give away homes. Our families purchase their homes with a 0 percent interest, 20-year mortgage. "e fam- ilies also invest in the construction of their homes through sweat equity. Over the last 35 years, Habitat families have invested around 40,000 hours of sweat equity. 2021 Women in Business 2021 Women in Business MACON AREA HABITAT MACON AREA HABITAT FOR HUMANIT Y INC. FOR HUMANIT Y INC. 690 HOLT AVE., MACON | 690 HOLT AVE., MACON | 478-745-0630 | MACONHABITAT.ORG 478-745-0630 | MACONHABITAT.ORG REGINA SWEENEY, BOARD PRESIDENT, AND IVEY HALL, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR S P E C I A L A D V E R T I S I N G S E C T I O N APRIL/MAY 2021 | maconmagazine.com 83