In 2016, Habitat for Humanity East Central Ohio entered into a $3.5 million dollar, four-year revitalization effort in a Northeast Canton neighborhood. The vision of the project (The Renewal Project) is a holistic plan to bring back our neighborhoods through ownership, pride, and empowerment. To support this vision, Habitat for Humanity ECO is utilizing all our programs to construct 20 new homes, preserve 30 homes, demolish 30 vacant/blighted structures, repurpose 30 lots, help 200 existing homeowners fix up their homes, and create 3 pocket parks. The goal is to allow homeowners the opportunity to live in a stable neighborhood, be filled with pride because of their investment, and remove the burden of necessary home repairs.
As a church, RiverTree is funding and providing volunteer labor on two new home construction projects. To deepen the partnership, RiverTree is empowering GoCommunities to directly partner with Habitat on additional projects through Habitat's A Brush with Kindness and Critical Home Repair programs. These programs allow qualifying homeowners an interest-free loan on exterior home repairs.
