About Us
Driven by the vision that everyone deserves a decent place to live, Lexington Habitat for Humanity has built and repaired homes in Lexington for over 35 years. Lexington Habitat homebuyers help build their own homes and pay an affordable mortgage; homeowners with low incomes have the opportunity to repair and preserve their homes. Through financial support, volunteering, donating to or shopping at the Lexington Habitat ReStore or adding a voice to support affordable housing, everyone can help people and our community achieve strength, stability and self-reliance. Through shelter, we empower.
Mission
Seeking to put God’s love into action, Habitat for Humanity brings people together to build homes, communities and hope.
Vision
A world where everyone has a decent place to live.
All Are Welcome
Lexington Habitat for Humanity has an open-door policy: All who believe that everyone needs a decent, affordable place to live are welcome to help with the work, regardless of race, religion, age, gender, political views or any of the other distinctions that too often divide people. Habitat welcomes volunteers and supporters from all backgrounds and also serves people in need of affordable housing regardless of these distinctions. As a matter of policy, Habitat for Humanity International and its affiliated organizations do not proselytize. This means that Habitat will not offer assistance on the expressed or implied condition that people must either adhere to or convert to a particular faith, or listen and respond to messaging designed to induce conversion to a particular faith.
Our History
When we were in Tucson in spring of 1986 our travel trailer was parked next to a lot upon which a Habitat for Humanity house was being built. We were very much impressed by the volunteers who were building it, the sweat equity of the family who were to live in it (even the children were there helping when they could), and the attractive and functional house that was being built. After we returned to Lexington the thought kept coming to us that Lexington needs a program like that.” Jack and Eudora Russell
The Russell’s learned Midway had a Habitat program and contacted the Habitat president, Dr. Jim Roach to learn more. Dr. Roach invited Jack Russell to attend a Habitat 10th Anniversary Celebration in Kansas City. Mr. Russell and fellow Golden K Kiwanis member Les Versaw represented Lexington at the Celebration where they met Habitat Founder Millard Fuller as well as Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter. They returned to Lexington and enlisted a group of community leaders who represented churches, businesses and civic organizations including the Golden K Kiwanis. They shared the vision to bring simple, decent, affordable housing to Lexington through Habitat for Humanity and worked tirelessly to make it a reality.
In December 1986, Lexington Habitat was incorporated and the first board was elected: Jack Russell, Overton Green, Dee Wade, Charlie and Phyllis Hanna, Les and Mary Versaw, Margo Cooke, William R. Holt, Williams S. Hayes, Claude Howard, Henry G. Lowe, Chester Jenkins, and Norrie Wake. Lexington Councilmember Debra Hensley served as a liaison with the city to obtain the first lot. Ground was broken on November 11, 1987 at 222 Willard Street for the home of Edwina and Henry Smith. On September 7, 1988 the first Lexington Habitat for Humanity Home was dedicated with the Smith family. That same day, ground was broken next door on the second Lexington Habitat for Humanity home. Today the same spirit of community that helped create Lexington Habitat still exists. Each year hard-working, low-income families achieve their dream of homeownership by building their own homes alongside Habitat staff and volunteers who believe in the need for simple, decent, affordable housing.