Habitat For Humanity STL continuously works to rebuild Saint Louis brick by brick and provides for those in need to build their own future.
“Currently there’s projects going on in university city, and we’re planning a project in Maplewood,” Executive Director for the Habitat Of Humanity STL branch, Kimberly McKinney said. “Now we have new homes under construction and new rehabs in various STL neighborhoods.”
McKinney has strong roots at Habitat, though despite her many years of experience, she always faces something new.
“I started here as the first ever development director, in December of 1997 and became the executive director in 1999,” McKinney said. “No days look the same. I am one of–typically 31 members– but now of 29, we all help do things like community outreach, strategic planning and resource development.”
Habitat works on building and reconstructing buildings throughout the city, giving those without homes or in crisis a place to live. The organization allows those to become a part of building and purchasing fully furnished homes. Those on the receiving end are given an opportunity to build their own future.
“We’re very intentional with making sure whenever we get the chance, Habitat sales don’t give the home away,” McKinney said. “It really grabs me the wrong way when people say that. I know how incredibly hard our families work, we’re just giving them an opportunity for an affordable home.”
Although not all employers are dressed in neon shirts and hard hats Habitat employees work to communicate and raise awareness for Habitat STL through various media platforms.
“I bridge the gap between different media and digital art, anything like brochures, posts or whatever design I’m taking care of,” Habitat employee Norah Okilee said. “I feel like it is so important for a mission like Habitats to extend further than just print media.”
Okilee promotes digital art through variations of outreach, including the Habitats Restore building. Nearly each Habitat For Humanity branch has their own “Restore,” a donation-based store open to the public, all proceeds go to Habitat For Humanity.
“Across the world you have entities that want to do something or donate for the homes, and it may be used in a Habitat home but what if it’s not? And then it became a place of those building materials, and home supplies that can be sold to the general public with the proceeds still benefiting the mission of Habitat,” McKinney said.
Though one can build a house on their own, beyond the community involvement with Restore, Okilee works with multiple groups to keep Habitat growing.
“I really enjoy meeting members of the community that are involved in pursuing affordable housing, or in other avenues, when we have our board meetings and I can see everyone,” Okilee said. “It’s nice to put names to faces and see why they care and have the shared passion, especially since it can be hard during a project to recognize all involved.”
Habitat For Humanity has now built 450 houses in St. Louis, turning these houses into homes and giving families the opportunity to build their own future.
“We are really building homes and building hope,” McKinney said.
