In 2004, John and Tracy Houston started John Houston Homes (JHH) with a mission to reach people for Christ and give to the kingdom. Today, almost 20 years later, JHH is employee-owned by over 100 team members, is ranked among the top home builders in the United States, and builds hundreds of homes a year in four major market areas across 40+ communities.
Once Artem and his wife Alina began the pattern of missing their church service to tend to their successful wedding business, they realized they needed to make a change. “We switched to the restaurant business,” Artem says. “My wife loved [food] from an early age. She used to cook delicious meals with her grandmother. You can say that this is [an important part] of her life.” Little did they know that switching to the restaurant business would allow them to serve more than just good food to customers. During the challenges of war, they would provide people fleeing violence with meaningful employment and nourish their hearts with God’s love.
Recently, I had the privilege of celebrating the completion of Pahlisch Homes' inaugural Homes for HOPE project in beautiful Bend, Oregon. I was joined by staff, neighbors from the Highline South community, and over 75 trade partners. Dan Pahlisch, President of Pahlisch Homes, opened the event with a prayer and invited guests to enjoy artisanal pizza and ice cream from local food trucks. It was a time to celebrate the thousands of lives that will be impacted by Pahlisch's donation, as well as a time of fellowship among colleagues who had just constructed an award-winning home.
Jovelee Maala didn’t know the Payatas Controlled Disposal Facility as the largest open dump site in the Philippines—for her, it was home.
Opening in the 1970s, the site served as a fixture in Jovelee’s hometown, Quezon City. Local families built their homes there, and thousands more traveled to the site to pick through the trash, searching for items to sell—and when she turned 18, Jovelee joined them.
Jovelee Maala didn’t know the Payatas Controlled Disposal Facility as the largest open dump site in the Philippines—for her, it was home.
Opening in the 1970s, the site served as a fixture in Jovelee’s hometown, Quezon City. Local families built their homes there, and thousands more traveled to the site to pick through the trash, searching for items to sell—and when she turned 18, Jovelee joined them.
We often say partnering with Homes for HOPE is all about the long game. Partnerships take a while to cultivate, homes take a bit to be built, and loans take time to be repaid. But in the end, partnerships are solidified, homes are built, and loans are repaid by HOPE clients helping them break the cycle of poverty. No partnership embodies that sentiment like our most recent launch with Capstone Homes in Ramsey, MN. 15 years ago, Homes for HOPE Founder, Jeff Rutt, and Capstone Homes Founder, Ben Minks found themselves on a trip together in the Dominican Republic meeting HOPE clients. It’s safe to say a metaphorical tree was planted on that trip and began to blossom last week in a small town northwest of Minneapolis.
Lina Feria never imagined that her small business selling homemade snacks could grow into a flourishing general store. Yet her story testifies that God can use small loans and persistence to transform a business and a whole family.
It was a beautiful day in sunny Lexington, SC on Tuesday of last week. With the summer heatwave in full force, it was a good day to be inside for the McGuinn trade appreciation lunch at Hudson’s BBQ and the inaugural launch of their first Homes for Hope project.
Just over ten days ago, Homes for HOPE Founder Jeff Rutt and Western U.S. Representative Drake Holtry had the opportunity to be with the Sager Family Homes team in beautiful Tacoma, Washington for the launch of their second Homes for HOPE Project. Under the gentle grey skies of the Pacific Northwest, the Sager Family team, alongside their trades, gathered in their courtyard with plenty of food and drink. It is worth noting that the youngest Homes for HOPE guest attendee to date was two-week-old baby Sager.
We are excited to announce this year’s Homes for HOPE Honorees – Ezekiel Minani and Julienne Uwineza. When Ezekiel was first introduced to Urwego, HOPE’s microfinance institution in Rwanda, he and his wife Julienne and two young children lived in a small mud house with no running water or electricity. A small maize (corn) flour business couldn’t support their growing family. They dreamed of a better future but had no access to capital.
