This year has brought us many things to be grateful for: We helped families thrive in homeownership, grew our Habitat team with dedicated people who share our mission, welcomed hard-working volunteers who support our efforts, and built strong partnerships with local organizations also committed to affordable housing.
We spoke with Habitat’s executive director, Shellie Barrus, about our 2024 achievements and exciting plans for 2025!
Creating the Path to Homeownership
Six new families transitioned into Habitat homes in 2024, and we helped many others along the path to stable housing through financial education and other resources. In a first for Habitat for Humanity of Summit and Wasatch Counties, we participated in five mortgage closings for five families in one day!
We typically conduct mortgage closings one at a time when a house is done, but these families and homes were all ready at the same time. This led to a special occasion that Barrus found emotionally meaningful. The day after the mortgage closings, we held a home dedication event for these five families, which included a key ceremony when the new homeowners were given their house keys.
At the key ceremony, we bring together homeowners, their friends and family, Habitat volunteers and board members, as well as people from the public. We invite each homeowner to come up as we talk about how hard they worked and how much we enjoyed working with them. And then Barrus shares a home blessing about what home means: family, gathering, and love.
More 2024 Achievements We’re Grateful for
The annual Overall Ball was a highlight for Barrus this year. “It was very memorable and really fun because we partnered with the Park City Board of REALTORS, and other organizations in our community really got involved,” Barrus says. “It was a meaningful event because we grew who was there with us celebrating, and we increased our funding from that event.”
Advocacy work was a big part of our efforts this year. Habitat got involved at the local and state level, partnering with the other four Habitat for Humanity organizations in Utah. Barrus spoke at several conferences about the need for affordable homeownership and what the solutions look like from her perspective. Advocacy work is important for spreading our message and ensuring Habitat is part of the solution to make homeownership more accessible for people in our community.
Additionally, Barrus is grateful for the new Habitat team members who joined in 2024, including ReStore employees. She shares that the team members are committed to our mission and that she has enjoyed getting to know them and their families better through work and team activities. “We’ve got a good crew, and you have to celebrate that,” Barrus says.
What’s Ahead in 2025?
We’re proud of our 2024 achievements and have big plans for 2025. Next spring, we will begin to build our next 10-plex of homes in Silver Creek Village in Park City. We started creating affordable homes for working members of our community at this location in 2019 and see more opportunities ahead. We look forward to welcoming new families into those homes.
April 2025 marks the 30th anniversary of Habitat for Humanity of Summit and Wasatch Counties, and big plans are already in motion to commemorate that. Stay tuned for some very special events!
Make a Difference in Our Community
Inspired by our 2024 achievements? As we work tirelessly to help solve housing issues in our community, we need your support. There are several ways to help. We hope you’ll consider making a donation of your time or money to Habitat – or donating your furniture and building materials to ReStore.
