COVID Update
COVID-19 has brought many challenges to our local community. For those with safe, stable housing, the pandemic meant figuring out the logistics of working remotely, transitioning school-aged children to learning at home, avoiding crowds, preparing meals, adjusting our mindset, and perhaps missing our favorite volunteer opportunities such as participating in a build day with Habitat.
While these challenges are frustrating, we at Habitat are mindful of the multitude of other challenges faced daily by the individuals we serve. When a home is an overcrowded apartment, is in an unsafe neighborhood, or has a mold problem, directives to limit travel or shelter in place can be overwhelming, scary, and unhealthy. The uncertainty that so many of us have felt over the past few months, these families have felt for a lifetime — if not generations.
During the COVID-19 outbreak, Habitat Greensboro has prioritized the health and safety of the people in the communities we serve, as well as the staff, volunteers, and partners who help carry out our mission. Recognizing the tremendous need for safe, stable, and affordable housing, Habitat Greensboro was able to resume construction operations after an assessment of safety needs and implementation of appropriate measures.
In June, we welcomed back our Weekday Crew volunteers – a core group of volunteers who join us on-site each week on Wednesdays and Thursdays. This extraordinary group of volunteers continues to build with Habitat Greensboro because they believe in our mission to provide safe, decent, and affordable housing for families in Greater Greensboro. Their heartfelt commitment to helping families realize their dreams of first-time homeownership is especially appreciated during this time. We are very fortunate to have such an amazing group of people that are willing to venture out and build homes for our Habitat families.
As the state continues to reopen, Habitat Greensboro will continue following state and local COVID-19 orders while adhering to the Center for Disease Control guidelines. Out of an abundance of caution, our team is taking the following actions to ensure the safety and well-being of everyone involved with Habitat. We thank you for your patience and continued support during these uncertain times.
Administrative Offices
• Our administrative offices remain closed to the public.
• Remote operations continue for our office-based staff, with teams rotating days in the office and scheduling meetings by appointment only.
• All administrative volunteer activities remain suspended until further notice.
Construction
• All worksites are following OSHA standards, enforcing social distancing, requiring PPE, and providing sanitizer stations.
• During Phase 2, construction activities are limited to Habitat staff members, future homeowners completing sweat equity hours, and Habitat Greensboro Weekday Crew members.
• To enforce social distancing, a maximum of 10 people are permitted on each worksite.
ReStores
• Our Gate City ReStore has been remodeled to provide a safer shopping experience.
• Both ReStore locations are open to the public Tuesday – Saturday, 10:00 AM – 5:30 PM. The Gate City ReStore Warehouse opens early at 7:30 AM on business days.
• All ReStore volunteer and sweat equity activities remain suspended until further notice.
Future Homeowners
• Habitat’s Homeowner Services Team continues to offer online Homeowner Information Meetings via Zoom.
• Remote housing and financial counseling will continue to be encouraged.
We cannot wait to welcome back our faithful volunteers and supporters as their commitment empowers Habitat Greensboro to serve the most vulnerable families in our community. We also want to thank our amazing sponsors and donors whose financial support has allowed us to continue helping families throughout this pandemic.