The Pike County Extension Service has been collaborating with Sandy Valley Habitat for Humanity since 1996 in many different facets.  By providing Family & Consumer Sciences programming to families during the Jimmy Carter Blitz Build of 1997, new homeowners were trained on essentials like understanding mortgages, laundry and home care, weatherproofing and household budgeting.  That project alone housed over 20 families and began a stable foundation for Habitat for Humanity that has lasted many years.

            In 2014 Habitat for Humanity asked the FCS program to provide specialty programming to applicant families who were not admitted to the program due to low credit scores.  Over the last 4 years, we have worked with over 20 families as they’ve crafted family budgets, learned about the emotionality of money and how to have positive family communications about money.  In 2018, we adapted our Habitat Homebuyer Workshop to include an in-depth examination of credit scores and credit reporting. Greater understanding of the similarities, differences, and interdependencies between relationships with a partner or spouse and one’s finances can better equip us for the task of increasing the stability of American families. (Foundations for Strong Families 201. Introduction.  US Dept. of Health & Human Services. 2009)

            As a result of our efforts, all 20 families who have completed the Habitat Homebuyer Workshop have received housing from Shelby Valley Habitat for Humanity.  Additionally, the families report they now think differently about how they manage money and that they plan to track expenses, reduce spending leaks and spend on needs before wants.  The 3 families who completed the workshop in 2018 reported combined spending leaks of $6,000 annually.  They all reported they could use their new budgeting skills to start savings for the future.  Finally, Shelby Valley Habitat for Humanity was able to secure a $250,000 grant to build new housing because of our collaborative effort and successful financial programs with current families.