10 Years of Recovery: Habitat Builds 87 Homes Since April 27, 2011
This story is airing as part of WVUA 23’s “Faces of the Storm: 10 Years Later.” Watch it on WVUA 23 at 7 and 9 p.m. April 27, and at 8 p.m. May 1. The show will be available on our YouTube channel beginning April 28.
Habitat for Humanity Tuscaloosa has played a pivotal role in recovery for dozens of residents whose lives were upended by tragedy in 2011.
The nonprofit organization helps communities around the world build homes for those in need through volunteerism. In Tuscaloosa, their efforts ensured many who lost their homes could once more have a space they could call their own.
Shalare Powell knows what it’s like to lose a home. In 2005, it was in Louisiana to Hurricane Katrina. On April 27, 2011, it was in Tuscaloosa.
“I was home alone, sitting and eating, and I heard my neighbor screaming,” Powell said. “I looked out the front door and saw the sky getting black, then everything dissipated in front of me. It seems like yesterday.”
She was home during Katrina, too, she said.
“I consider myself a Katrina survivor because a lot of people lost their lives and God spared me,” she said.
But the dual tragedies blossomed into a beautiful blessing because Powell has her new home thanks to Habitat for Humanity and the Nick’s Kids Foundation, she said. Nick’s Kids funded a Habitat house for every National Championship the University of Alabama has ever won, and Powell’s home is No. 15. She moved in in 2013.
“Habitat has been a blessing,” Powell said. “I would never dream of owning my
own home until I got in touch with Habitat and was connected with (Habitat Tuscaloosa Executive Director Ellen Potts). She doesn’t only help the Habitat homeowners with Habitat business, she goes above and beyond to help you in your personal lives.”
Potts said the Sabans are a big part of why Habitat has been such a huge success.
“I can’t say enough about the Sabans and their Nick’s Kids donors,” Potts said. “It’s really raised the standard of generosity for everyone, because they’ve challenged us to do better.”
The 18th National Championship house is being built in West Tuscaloosa, Potts said.
When Tuscaloosa started rebuilding after the tornado, Habitat played a big role. Through countless partnerships and more than 26,000 volunteers from all 50 states and six continents, they’ve built dozens of homes. Most of those have been located on Juanita Drive in Alberta.
Habitat’s 87th house since April 27, 2011, is being dedicated April 27, 2021, Potts said.
“We’ve also repaired over 250 (houses,) and we’ll do about 100 roofs this year,” Potts said. “We’re fortunate to have been able to have such tremendous support from our community and from generous people around the world who came and saw what happened to us that awful, awful day and came to help.”
It’s the 34th and final Habitat build on Juanita Drive.
“When you drive around Juanita Drive, all of the silver-roofed homes are ours,” Potts said. “Most of these people lost everything in the tornado.”
As for what’s next after Juanita Drive, Potts said they’re starting Operation Transformation. Right now, Habitat is in the process of purchasing 40 lots in West Tuscaloosa, and they’ll use those home sites as job training for students at the Tuscaloosa Career and Technology Academy.
But Habitat isn’t in the business of giving away homes, she said.
“A lot of people think that we do, but we don’t,” Potts said. “They purchase their homes. And when people ask if residents keep up their homes and things like that, I invite them to drive down Juanita Drive. Looking down the street, it’s such a joy to see the lives that have been influenced.”
Homeowners must put hours and hours of “sweat equity” into their home and others before and during construction. They do get to choose some personal touches for their home, and each home is constructed with a storm shelter inside to protect the occupants in case another storm comes knocking.
These homes are so much more than simple buildings, Powell said.
“Habitat gives a hand up to people, not a handout,” she said. “Since I got blessed with my home, my life has totally changed. I have a new aura about myself.”
She’s far from alone, she said.
“Before, I didn’t really socialize with my neighbors,” Powell said. “Now I’ve gotten to know them. We have a lot of beautiful homes, and you see a lot of kids outside playing. It’s not just a neighborhood. It’s a family.”
