The Family Voice - Heartland Habitat for Humanity

September 2011
The Family Voice
Volume Six
Issue N o. 9
Inside this issue:
2012 Build Season
Community news
2
Simple Ways to Save
Money
3
Community
Resources
4
Heartland Habitat for Humanity is currently recruiting families
for their 2012 Build Season.
It is encouraged that all interested applicants submit an application at this time if they want to have first choice among the addresses that will become available for next year.
As usual we will be serving on a first come first served basis and it
is best to apply early if a variety of addresses are desired.
HHfH is anticipating having several homes throughout Wyandotte County/KCK and potentially one address in Johnson
County. No addresses are anticipated for Leavenworth or Kansas
City, MO for the next two years.
Keller W illiams Realtors working on 2011’s W omenBuild
Interested Applicants should call Nancy or
Brenda at 913-342-3047 to request an information packet and to schedule an appointment to
complete an application. A $10 application fee
applies at the appointment time to cover the
cost of the credit reports of all applicants. You
may also visit our webpage at
www.heartlandhabitat.org for more information
or to view a copy of the new income guidelines.
T he T ufuga Family is joined by friends, family and sponsors at their new home in KCMO.
U pcoming Application Meeting Dates:
November 5, 2011 and December 10, 2011
Between 10:00 am—12:00 noon
At University United Methodist Church, 3148 Parallel Parkway in Kansas City, KS
N ews From Your Community
Next year marks an historic milestone for the spring college tour. For more than 15 years the Beta Lambda Educational
Institute has sponsored more than 830 area high school students for the annual tour. The tour offers a unique opportunity to increase the awareness and benefits of attending historically black colleges and universities for Kansas City area
high school students. This is the spring school lineup:
March 26 – April 1, 2012
LAN GSTON U N IVERSITY, LAN GSTON , OK
TEXAS COLLEGE, TYLER, TX
HU STON -TILLOTSON U N IVERSITY, AU STIN , TX
PRAIRIE VIEW U N IVERSITY, PRAIRIE VIEW, TX
TEXAS SOU THERN U N IVERSITY, HOU STON , TX
WILEY COLLEGE, MARSHALL, TX
GRAMBLIN G STATE U N IVERSITY, GRAMBLIN G, LA
TOU GALOO COLLEGE, TOU GALOO, MS
JACKSON STATE U N IVERSITY, JACSKON , MS
HARRIS STOWE STATE U N IVERSITY, ST LOU IS, MO
LIN COLN U N IVERSITY, JEFFERSON CITY, MO
Deposits, $75 ($50 non-refundable) are now being accepted to reserve your space. Payments should be remitted to:
BETA LAMBDA EDU CATION AL FOU N DATION (BLEI)
HBCU COLLEGE TOU R
Attn: GEORGE RAMSEY
PO BOX 300221
KAN SAS CITY, MO 64130
Feel free to call George Ramsey for additional information at 816-516-7630 or by email at [email protected]
Kansas Works—Workforce Partnership is looking for youth who are 16 - 21 years olds. In school junior and seniors
and out of school youth. Here are the ways they Can Help You:
Prepare for the work environment (i.e. interview and resume workshops)
Help with tools to obtain and hold employment
Assist with knowledge of what employers look for
Assesses personal career interest and goals
Assist with paying for post secondary education/ training
Assist in preparation for the ASVAB ( for those interested in the military.
For more information call 913-279-2658, they now serve Johnson, Wyandotte and Leavenworth counties.
Habitat for Humanity International is a non-profit, non-denominational Christian organization working in partnership with God and people everywhere to build
houses and develop communities. Our affiliate, Heartland Habitat for Humanity works locally with families and volunteers to build simple, decent and affordable
homes. Our mission is to build homes and communities in partnership with God’s people in need, while following biblical principles. We now serve Clay and Platte
Counties in Missouri, and Johnson, Leavenworth and Wyandotte counties in Kansas. For more information about Heartland Habitat for Humanity, contact us at:
1401 Fairfax Traffic Way, Building D, Suite 323
Kansas City, KS 66115
Phone: (913) 342-3047
Fax: (913) 342-4459
Website: www.heartlandhabitat.org
This newsletter is a publication designed to inform our homeowners and partnering families of upcoming events, program information and community resources. To
learn more about the newsletter, contact Brenda Mortell, Family Services Coordinator & newsletter editor at (913) 342-3047 ext. 229.
Volume Six, Issue Nine
Page 2
Simple Ways to Save Money
Building a savings habit is a great way to work towards financial stability and to build wealth. While it may seem overwhelming, if you break it down into individual steps, you can get started today!
SAVIN GS STEP 1. What do you want to save for? That’s the first question you should ask yourself. Setting specific
financial goals and timelines to reach them helps you focus your saving efforts. Then determine how much out of each
pay you need to save to reach that goal.
SAVIN GS STEP 2. Review and track your spending for a few weeks. You will be surprised at what you learn! Look for
ways to cut back on non-essentials in order to have money to put into your savings account.
Budget tips:
$ Have a written spending plan and review it frequently.
$ Find a regular time to pay bills and reconcile your bank account.
$ Involve the whole family in setting goals and sticking to the budget.
$ Make sure your budget includes your goals. Earmarking money for saving or paying down debt is the only way
to get it done.
SAVIN GS STEP 3. Make sure you have a “rainy day” fund. Developing a savings account for emergencies will help
you reduce reliance on credit cards or other costly forms of borrowing. Setting money aside for periodical expenses that
can occur throughout the year on an irregular basis may be difficult, if not impossible, to pay these bills, along with your regular bills, from a single paycheck. The
most convenient way to pay for these expenses is to set small amounts of money
aside regularly in a special account so that it is available when the bills arrive.
Write and review a list of those expenses and write in the amount that you anticipate you will need when these bills come due (divide the total amount by 12).
Estimate for occurrences like car repairs, medical bills, holiday spending.
SAVIN GS STEP 4. You can set up multiple savings accounts to build savings
for several goals at one time. Your financial institution can assist you with this
process.
SAVIN GS STEP 5. Save automatically. Use direct deposit from your paycheck
into a bank account and the savings will grow painlessly. Direct deposit offers the
additional advantages of convenience, security, and immediate access to your money.
Savings Basics
$ Commit to saving your change and any gifts of money (birthdays, Christmas, etc.). $ Save your income tax refund –
you can now split your refund into both savings and checking accounts. $ Review your paycheck. Save your overtime
pay. Save your year-end bonuses. When you get a raise, save it. Continue to live on what you made before. $ If you
eliminate an expense, save it. For example, if you quit smoking, save what you would have spent on cigarettes. $ Start a
savings account early in the year to pay for holiday gifts. Banks and credit unions will open special accounts for that and
many other savings goals. $ To earn the highest return on savings with little or no risk, consider a certificate of deposit.
$ Make your savings automatic. Have your paycheck direct deposited, and then have a portion automatically transferred
into a savings account. Remember, no amount is too small to get started – even $25 every payday will make a difference. $ Invest automatically with government savings bonds. The government’s Treasury Direct program (www.
treasurydirect.gov) provides an easy way to invest in two types of bonds: I-Bonds and EE Bonds.
Credit Cards and Loans
$ Avoid late payment and over-the-credit limit fees. Fees can be up to $39. $ Pay more on the credit cards with the
highest interest so they are paid off first. $ Try and get a lower interest rate on your credit card. How can you do that?
Many times, it’s as simple as just asking. There is no incentive for a credit card company to lower your rate unless you
call. It’s simply an example of “the squeaky wheel gets the grease.” $ Switch to credit cards with lower annual percentage rate (APR). Balance transfers can sometimes save you money, BUT read the fine print to understand all terms and
conditions. $ If you pay off a credit card, continue making the payments to yourself into a savings account.
Resources A pprisen.com
Page 3
DID YOU CHANGE JOBS?
1401 Fairfax Traffic Way,
Suite 323D
Kansas City, KS 66115
Phone: 913-342-3047 or
816-468-7190
Fax: 913-342-4459
www.heartlandhabitat.org
GET A N EW CELLPHON E?
CHANGED YOUR HOME PHONE?
DON ’T FORGET TO CALL THE OFFICE AN D U PDATE
YOU R CON TACT IN FORMATION !
RETU RN SERVICE
REQU ESTED
Com m unity Resources & Ev ents!
$2 OFF COU PON S TO THE KC BLACK
EXPO AVAILABLE FOR ALL!
The KC Black Expo and KC Black Chamber
present the 2011 KC Black Expo
September 16th—18th
12:00 noon—9:00 pm
Bartle Hall
13th & Central in KCMO
The concert line up features: EnVogue,
Steven Wash, Jr., Karen Clark Sheard and
Myron Butler.
All Black Expo Concerts are FREE with purchased admission to the Black Expo!
Leadership for Women
Identify and Develop the Leader W ithin
Ruth Herman Siress, is a communication specialist and best selling
author of W orking W oman’s Communication Survival Guide. Ruth
dedicates her career to educating and empowering others. Throughout North America, South Africa and New Zealand, she has helped
thousands of women communicate with grace and authority, project a
more confident image and earn greater rewards and recognition in
their jobs and careers. In this 4 week course, you’ll learn:
How to identify different leadership styles
How to make the most of your leadership strength
How to project a more confident & competent professional image
How to communicate your ideas with impact and clarity
Time management skills that every leader needs
How to organize and facilitate a meeting
Don’t miss the Car Show, Hair Show, Indoor
Carnival, Free Dental Services, Health Fair Services, Wine Tasting, Food Sampling and
Shopping from many vendors.
September 12 – October 3, 2011
FREE LUNCH on FRIDAY
2220 Central Avenue, KCK
Call Nancy at 913-342-3047 for your
coupons, limited number available so call now!
To reserve a space, call 913.906.8990. FREE!!!
4 Mondays, 1:30 – 3:30 p.m.
The Keeler Women’s Center,
HHfH staff doesn’t have additional information on any of the listings. Please contact the agency listed at the given number or address.
If you or someone you know would like to learn to read or write better:
Call Keeler Women’s Center at 913.906.8990 or Call Literacy KC at 816.333.9332
Literacy KC will provide testing, books, and a tutor who will tutor twice a week for 90 minutes each time.
Classes will be held at Keeler Women’s Center or at one of the public libraries.
The Keeler Women’s Center,
Located on the 2 nd floor of the Catholic Charities Building
2220 Central Avenue, KCK
T he Keeler W omen’s Center is a ministry of the Benedictine Sisters. Our mission is to empower women in the urban core of
Kansas City through education, advocacy, person and spiritual development.