Now Open

Rutherford County's second Habitat ReStore is now open! It's at 415 Nissan Drive in the Gillsville Family Shopping Center in Smyrna, Tennessee.

Ribbon Cutting 10AM Earth Day

Store Manager Josh Chappell said, "Yes, the Smyrna Habitat ReStore is now officially open, but you're encouraged to celebrate Earth Day with us for a ribbon-cutting at 10:00 o'clock (tomorrow, 4/22/2017) Saturday morning."

Rutherford County's two Habitat ReStores offer a mix of new and pre-used building materials, decorating supplies, furniture, appliances and more--plus savings of 30 to 70 per cent off retail prices are available to everyone.

President of Habitat for Humanities Board Tom Fix explains, "Our ReStores are a unique way for Habitat to cover the operational and administrative costs of the nonprofit so that all donations to Rutherford County Area Habitat for Humanity can go towards the Homeowner program and building houses for low-income families in need".

Habitat's Executive Director Terri Shultz says, "Having a second ReStore has a huge impact on our affiliate's ability to increase our building capacity and provide more affordable housing opportunities for low-income families".

Chappell continued, "Both of our Rutherford County ReStores offer a variety of new high-end lighting; mantels, window, door-frame and wood overages from the area's top from the area's top millwork manufacturers, along with flooring, area rugs, and a variety of other new and pre-owned improvement materials."

He noted that both the Murfreesboro and Smyrna ReStore will pick up large items from area residences and businesses and all donations are tax deductible as Rutherford County Habitat For Humanity is a 501c3 organization.

Re-Store Hours

The ReStore manager notes that the days of operation are different. The new Smyrna Habitat ReStore is open from 9AM to 6PM Tuesday through Saturday, and closed Mondays. However, the Murfreesboro facility is open Monday through Saturday from 9:00 each morning until 6:00 in the evening.

Again, the new Habitat ReStore is now open in Smyrna's Gillsville Family Shopping Center at 413 Nissan Drive. The Murfreesboro ReStore is at 850 Mercury Boulevard, the same place that Habitat for Humanity's offices are located.

Donations of Time and Products Needed

Habitat for Humanity also has a Cars for Homes program where they accept working and non-working cars, trucks, boats, trailers, motorcycles, RVs, farm equipment, construction equipment, airplanes and more to be sold as is, sold for parts or crushed and recycled. Recycling vehicles keeps a huge amount of steel out of landfills - enough to build nearly 45,000 steel-framed homes every year. Proceeds go to the local Habitat for Humanity affiliate and donations are tax deductable. The Habitat ReStore can help you with your vehicle donation.

Both the Smyrna and Murfreesboro ReStore also offer opportunities for volunteers to work in the store and help with sorting and stocking. For those interested, please contact Megan Hutchings at the Habitat office (850 Mercury Blvd. in Murfreesboro, or phone 615-849-5994). The new Smyrna ReStore is also looking for financial donations or equipment donations, including a box truck or a fork lift.

Habitat Helps Low-Income Family Get Ahead

According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, it takes a minimum wage earner in Rutherford County 76 hours a week, 52 weeks a year, to make the money needed for the Fair Market Value of housing in Rutherford County. Those families pay an average of $900-1000 dollars a month for rental housing, compared to a typical Habitat house mortgage, for a house they will own, of under $500 a month!

Potential homeowners in the Habitat program complete 30-weeks of Financial and Homeowner Education, put in 300-400 hours of "sweat equity" working on the construction of homes or at the ReStore, and meet other qualifications and commitments. These families earn between 30%-60% of the area mean income and most of them pay 30% or more of their income on housing alone, usually $800 - $1000/month for this area.

Through the Habitat program they receive a 0-interest mortgage to buy their home and their typical mortgage payments are less than $500/month - giving them a very affordable home and immediate savings.

Applications for the Habitat program are accepted February 1 - March 31 every year and it takes over a year for applicants to complete the program.