March 2017   |   25  

What is the most rewarding part of 

your job?

So many people do not realize the impact 

the lack of affordable homes has on our 

community, or even that we have a very large 

deficit in the availability of decent affordable 

homes for families in our community. 

Access to affordable homes and sustainable 

communities positively impacts families, 

employers, schools, and crime.  The data that 

really moves me pertains to student success 

in school. According to US Census Bureau 

data, roughly 10% of residential moves from 

2012 to 2013 were motivated by a need to find 

more affordable housing due to eviction or 

foreclosure. Children who lack a stable home 

and are subsequently forced to transfer schools 

are statistically more likely to develop behavior 

and attention problems. 

What is the biggest moment that has 

stood out in the last year?

Pensacola Habitat for Humanity won The 

Homebuilder’s Association of West Florida’s 

Parade of Home “Outstanding Home Award” 

for Homes under $160k in April of 2016. 

Over the past several years we have made 

several improvements to our homes and to 

our homebuyer program. This home is an 

embodiment of our philosophy to provide a 

product that builds wealth and is affordable 

for our local workforce. It is a concrete way 

of helping the general public understand that 

Pensacola Habitat is more than homes; we 

develop sustainable communities by providing 

products and services that match the aesthetic 

of the area served.

Is Pensacola Habitat for Humanity 

involved in any local events?

Yes! We organize a number of local events 

ourselves, for example our annual community 

summit, held each June to bring community 

leaders and advocates together with the 

general public to explore critical issues in our 

community and brainstorm potential resources 

and solutions to meet community needs.  

Pensacola Habitat also partners and 

participates with many other community 

events and activities. We attend community 

events like Scratch Ankle, we are active in 

the local Chambers of Commerce, and meet 

one on one with business leaders to provide 

information about our program to pass along to 

employees who may benefit from purchasing a 

Habitat home. 

Coming up on April 22 is Pensacola Hot 

Wheels Food Truck Festival featuring dishes 

from a variety of cooking styles and flavors 

coming together at Plaza DeLuna in downtown 

Pensacola to benefit Pensacola Habitat for 

Humanity. Recruitment is also now beginning 

for 140 women (men are welcome as well!) or 

14 teams of ten to join in Women Build 2017. 

Individuals will raise $500 each (teams of 10 

raise $5,000) to build a home for a family in 

our community. In October, these builders 

will celebrate their success, don their pink 

hardhats, raise their pink hammers and step 

onto the build site to construct the home. 

VIP: What are some ways that 

community members can contribute, 

help and get involved? 

Volunteering is one great way! Here are our 

current volunteer needs:

Build Site: The tornado recovery effort is 

underway in Century, Florida. We are now 

recruiting individuals and groups of up to 10-

12 volunteers to help frame houses Tuesday-

Saturday each week.  

ReStore: We are seeking individual volunteer 

groups of up to 5 for our ReStore; Habitat for 

Humanity’s second-hand thrift shop. People 

donate gently used items and we sell those 

items at discounted prices to the public and put 

100% of the profit into building homes.  

Global Village: Trips that combine hard 

work, mission work and tourism to create 

a unique, one-of-a-kind travel experience 

combined with creating tangible impact. This 

year we are planning a trip to historic Antigua 

and Sololá, Guatemala and to Malawi, Africa.

Homebuyer outreach: We are always 

looking for ways to get information about the 

availability of our homeownership program 

out to potential Habitat homebuyers. We reach 

out to individuals directly, as well as through 

networks of businesses and faith communities. 

If you have a business that would like to 

assist your employees in becoming successful 

homeowners, or are a member of a faith 

community that would like to reach out to its 

members, please contact our offices. 

Interview With 

Nancy Wolfe

Communications Director

PHFH’s mission statement is:

Seeking to put God’s love into action, Pensacola Habitat for Humanity brings 

people together to build homes, community and hope.

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