Habitat for Humanity affiliates to join forces

Staff Report
·3 min read

Board members of Habitat for Humanity affiliates in Rochester, Canandaigua and Newark have voted unanimously to embark on a strategic merger of the three affiliates, creating one organization with a mission to serve more families more effectively than any of the three organizations could do on their own.

Flower City Habitat in Rochester, Ontario County Habitat in Canandaigua and Wayne County Habitat in Newark will join forces under the new name of Greater Rochester Habitat for Humanity in January 2023. With this merger the organization will be able to continue to serve low- to moderate-income families from Rochester to Geneva, with other communities to be included in a 3,400-square-mile, three-county area.

The combined affiliate will retain a presence in all three counties, including offices and ReStores. Following completion of the merger, Flower City Habitat CEO Matthew J. Flanigan will serve as president and CEO of the combined entity, Nash Bock will serve as chief business and innovation officer, and JJ Cotter will serve as vice president of programs.

Bock and Cotter will continue in their roles as executive director of Ontario County and Wayne County Habitat, respectively, until the legal consolidation Jan. 2, 2023.

The merger of three Habitat for Humanity affiliates into one organization is expected to lead to more opportunities to provide housing and other services in Rochester and Ontario and Wayne counties.
The merger of three Habitat for Humanity affiliates into one organization is expected to lead to more opportunities to provide housing and other services in Rochester and Ontario and Wayne counties.

“With a combined 100-plus years of experience, we will have the unique opportunity to serve more families in need of affordable housing in our communities with new homes, rehabs of existing homes as well as critical repairs to help owners remain in their homes,” Flanigan said in a statement.

Bock said the three ReStore locations in Rochester and Canandaigua are a critical part of Habitat's funding model and will continue to operate with the help of donors and dedicated volunteers.

“We look forward to building on our already strong support over the years and leveraging our combined talents to deliver greater impact for families and communities in each of the areas we have historically served," Bock said in a statement.

Flower City Habitat was founded in 1984; the Wayne County affiliate began in 1988 and Ontario County was established in 1990. Combined, they have served nearly 350 families with new homes, rehabilitated homes, and critical repairs. In 2021 alone, volunteers logged a combined 55,000 hours with a total of 1,600 volunteers, serving in ReStores, on construction sites and in offices. Homeowners-in-process across the region participated in financial education classes and collectively earned more than 4,000 hours of sweat equity toward the purchase of their homes.

Bock
Bock

“At the heart of the Habitat program is the hard-working families we serve,” Cotter stated. “By combining our resources, we are confident we will expand not only the number of families we assist but enhance the breadth and quality of the programs we offer — from financial counseling to aging-in-place resources.”

The new Habitat affiliate expects to retain current staff and all existing board members will be asked to join the new entity’s board.

Volunteers will continue to be seen as vital, whether helping on a construction site or lending a hand in the ReStore, office or serving on a committee.

Between now and the merger’s expected effective date Jan. 2, the three affiliates will continue to function as independent organizations.

This article originally appeared on MPNnow: Ontario, Wayne Rochester Habitat for Humanity to join forces