Community Story

Strengthening Homes and Futures

Since 1996, Jackson County Habitat for Humanity has been working to ensure that every neighbor has a safe, stable place to call home.

Since 1996, Jackson County Habitat for Humanity has been working to ensure that every neighbor has a safe, stable place to call home. As an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, their mission is simple but profound: to put God’s love into action by bringing people together to build homes, communities, and hope.

Through homeownership opportunities, critical home repairs, and aging-in-place services, the organization is transforming lives across Jackson County, one roof, one ramp, and one repaired floor at a time.

Interim Executive Director Tyonna Harry describes their focus plainly: “Jackson County Habitat for Humanity doesn’t just build new homes. We help people stay safely in the homes they already love, and our programs reflect this commitment.”

The Homeownership Program offers affordable, no-interest mortgages that never exceed 30% of a family’s income. Meanwhile, the Critical Home Repair Program addresses urgent needs like roofs, flooring, plumbing, and HVAC systems. For many long-time residents, and especially seniors, these repairs mean being able to remain in their homes with dignity and comfort.

Few people know the depth of that work better than diAna Kunz Huckins, whose involvement spans more than a decade. She first joined as a board volunteer and later stepped into a staff role during a leadership transition, serving as COO before returning to the board as chair.

She acknowledges just how much this work touches every corner of the community and doesn’t always look like what people think. As Huckins describes it, “When someone asks for help, it doesn’t always mean that we need to build a new house. More often than not, we are helping someone in an existing home that needs help to live comfortably.”

Jackson County Habitat for Humanity’s partnership with the Athens Area Community Foundation (AACF) has further strengthened its mission. After hearing about AACF’s support for local nonprofits, the Habitat board established a fund in 2018 to help ensure long-term sustainability.

The team quickly determined that AACF was the best route for their fund, and diAna says the ongoing partnership has only reinforced that decision. AACF’s community-minded approach and the way they consistently pour into local organizations have been especially valuable for their work.

Through AACF, Jackson County Habitat has gained not only strong financial stewardship but also access to trainings, networking opportunities, and youth engagement initiatives. One highlight was participating in the World Café, a program where local high school students learn about community organizations and direct philanthropic dollars.

“It was incredible,” Tyonna explains. “We got to teach them about the different nonprofits in the area and get them involved in volunteering and charitable giving at a young age.” Students then chose which nonprofits to support, and their gifts helped fund certain initiatives, such as the annual Playhouse Build.

For diAna, these kinds of opportunities represent AACF at its best: expanding reach, strengthening leadership, and investing in organizations that build community from the ground up.

“Athens Area Community Foundation has been one of our saving graces,” she says. “They don’t just partner with us; they pour into us. They actually care about all the organizations and nonprofits in the area, and they help us expand our reach and strengthen our impact.”

She hopes others will take notice. “If you’re considering working with AACF, talk to them and look at their impact. Ask questions and take a look at their numbers. It won’t take you long to figure out that they are the people that you should be affiliated with. They are very community-minded and do a ton in the local community, which is so important.”

Huckins reiterates by saying, “You’ll quickly see just how much these organizations care about our community and all they do to help nonprofits thrive. They do what they do very well, and they’ve given us easy and tangible ways to expand our reach and grow our impact.”