Read all about the 12 Ramps of Christmas.

http://staugustine.com/living/religion/2012-01-26/tale-12-ramps-christmas#.Tybunlymi8A

And watch the video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHUDDRyGiEc

The Hancock Place is SJHP’s affordable housing development in West Augustine. SJHP’s goal is to develop The Hancock Place as a flagship community of Energy Star and net-zero energy homes and then evaluate the most efficient combinations of energy efficiency upgrades and renewable energy systems for affordable housing. Effectiveness is measured in terms of energy and dollars saved.

The flagship community will then initiate a program of educational outreach with measurement and analysis of energy usage at its core. The SJHP will incorporate what is learned into its organization as a model for replication by agencies across the state.

Travis Lane just turned 18 since graduating from Pedro Menendez High School. As a student of its Academy of Architectural and Building Sciences, Travis chose carpentry over masonry, which he thought was too easy. “Nothing to it.” In contrast, carpentry was harder. “You have to be  good at it.” He liked the challenge when learning framing, trim, and cabinetry. Travis was proud to report that his carpentry teacher, James Crutchfield, referred Travis as one of his best students to the St. Johns Housing Partnership on a paid internship.

He’s been with SJHP for six months at first doing small stuff then soon assigned to doing floor joists and overlays, framing roofs and walls, laying tile, building decks and wheelchair ramps, and lots of trim work. He likes the trim work best as well as building decks. He built a 20×40 foot deck himself in 12 hours over 3 days. His ambition, however, is for marine construction. He has five of his own boats, including two 23 ft boats. He enjoys doing the fiber glass interior work on boats, first taught to him by his grandfather, but Travis has use of his grandfather’s woodworking workshop complete with tools. That’s truly a gift for a budding marine craftsman.

Julius Robinson graduated from St. Augustine High School this past year after a variety of summer internships helped develop his skills and future ambitions. He interned with First Coast Technical College and then with the St. Johns County School Board, which led to the St. Johns Housing Partnership. At SJHP, he felt the best fit for skills he’d honed with his father in a home improvement business since he was 13. SJHP first assigned Julius to organize weatherization supplies in its warehouse, then general maintenance like pressure washing, painting, and insulating floors on foreclosed property that SJHP had acquired. With more such properties, SJHP got busy in the office, so Julius was reassigned computer data entry on spreadsheets.

SJHP also sent him for training as a weatherization assistant, which defines his current work. “I appreciated the training because of the value that placed on me and my relationship with SJHP,” Julius said. With SJHP’s investment in him, he knows he getting “something useful…being able to maintain one’s own home is cost-effective.” This year, Julius attends St. Johns River State College and expects to next year; then he will decide between a university degree in computer engineering or an Air Force career in aviation mechanics, an interest sparked by a 10^th grade course from Emory Riddle Aeronautical University. With such prospects, Julius is marked for success. Still, he voices a love for SJHP “because you can do something for the less fortunate, which is very gratifying

From St. Augustine to Elkton to Hastings, volunteers from Northeast Florida Association of Realtors, Trinity Ramp Squad and St Johns County Fire Department built ramps large and small for the families in need.

SJHP couldn’t do what we do without the hundreds of hours of time from our volunteers.

Thank you all for giving the most precious gift of all: your time.

Florida has been allocated over $1 billion to help an estimated 40,000 homeowners. HHF is designed for unemployed or underemployed borrowers. If homeowners qualify, HHF provides funds directly to the borrowers’ mortgage company.

The Florida Housing Finance Corporation (FHFC) is administering HHF in Florida. FHFC works with local agencies to meet with homeowners and determine program eligibility and perform closings. HHF has two programs: Unemployment Mortgage Assistance Program (UMAP) and Mortgage Loan Reinstatement Program (MLRP).

UMAP provides assistance up to 6 months on first mortgages to eligible homeowners with a maximum payout of $12,000. The payment includes principal, interest, property taxes, and homeowners insurance. Homeowners must contribute 25% of gross income (before taxes) or at least $70 per month if no income; HHF will pay the rest. To receive assistance each month, homeowners must meet with their local advisor and provide proof that they are still unemployed or underemployed.

MLRP helps bring first mortgages current for homeowners who have returned to work or can now pay their mortgage. Homeowners in UMAP who can now afford their monthly payment are eligible for MLRP, which will pay any delinquency. Maximum payout for MLRP is $6000, unless homeowners first in UMAP did not use all of the $12,000. If both programs are used, maximum payout is $18,000.

UMAP and MLRP have eligibility criteria that homeowners must meet, including: no more than 180 days delinquent on first mortgages that cannot exceed $400,000; household income cannot exceed 140% of area median income; mortgage must date prior to January 1, 2009; and home-owners cannot own more than one other property. For a complete list of eligibility criteria, read “Frequently Asked Questions” on HHF’s website at www.flhardesthithelp.org.

The St. Johns Housing Partnership has three advisors (Beki Olsen, Joy Bryant, and Cassy Barbour) to assist homeowners with the HHF program in St. Johns, Clay, Flagler, and Putnam counties. Since the program started five months ago, they have assisted seventy homeowners.

If you wish to apply for the HHF program or inquire further, contact SJHP’s credit counseling office at 904-819-1266.

Coretta Tomblin was doing ok. She owns her home, she had a good job. Everything was good. And then, like so many people in today’s economy, Coretta lost her job and before she knew it, she was struggling to keep things afloat.

Enter the St. Johns Housing Partnership and the weatherization program. Coretta said, “The program made a difference in my life.”

Coretta said that after she lost her job, she struggled to pay her high utility bills and often had to choose between paying her electric bill and buying groceries. It is a familiar struggle for many weatherization clients who often live on fixed incomes.

Once the weatherization crew put weather-stripping around her doors, caulked her windows, sealed some holes and replaced insulation, things changed again for Coretta.

“My light bill went way down,” she said. Within one month, Coretta was seeing the difference weatherization can make.

“I don’t know how I would have survived without this program,” Coretta said.

Do you know someone who could benefit from having their home weatherized?

Coretta's home is now energy-efficient.

The largest day of volunteering is just around the corner and there is still plenty of time to jump on board and lend a hand. SJHP is looking for volunteers to help paint and landscape 12 homes in the St. Johns county area.

For two decades, USA WEEKEND and HandsOn Network, a business unit of Points of Light Institute, have joined together to sponsor Make A Difference Day, the largest national day of helping others. Make A Difference Day takes place on the fourth Saturday in October each year.

Since 1999, The St. Johns Housing Partnership has been participating in MDD and has helped hundreds of homeowners throughout the county by coordinating more than 1000 volunteers over the years to paint, landscape and repair homes for those in need.

This year, SJHP will be working with volunteers from Northeast Florida Association of Realtors, Wells Fargo Bank, St. Augustine and St. Johns County Board of Realtors , Students from both Flagler and St Johns River State Colleges and the St. Johns Builders Council to Make a Difference in the lives and homes of 12 families from St. Augustine to Hastings.

Volunteers are still needed and if you would like to participate in this nationwide event, please contact Malea Guiriba at 904-692-3902 or email for more information, dreammerr@comcast.net.

This is your opportunity to “seize the moment” to improve your community through volunteer service.