With every commission check Nathan Grace Realtor Carrie Hill receives, a portion of that helps build homes for the less fortunate. What she gets back, though, is priceless.
Hill has now helped on two projects with Giveback Homes, a purpose-driven network of Realtors that works in conjunction with Habitat for Humanity. With two builds under her tool belt — one in South Dallas and another in Nicaragua — Hill has some words to share with Realtors who want to find a way to give back to the community.
“Since May of 2014, the Olson and Hill team at Nathan Grace Real Estate has been a proud Giveback Homes partner and 100 percent of our donations go directly to the field,” Hill said. “Every client that we’ve helped can say they’ve had a hand in helping build a home for families in need here locally in Dallas and in Nicaragua.”
While it sounds amazing to travel to Central America and build a home for families who survive on little income in some of the hardest conditions, Hill says that there is a big need right here at home. However, the experience of building a home across town versus in a third-world country is like night and day, she said.
“Last December Giveback Homes sponsored a build in South Dallas with Habitat for Humanity and I participated in that day with fellow Realtors from across the D/FW region,” Hill said. “Building with Habitat locally is a completely different experience than internationally. In the US you get to use modern tools like electric saws, mixers, etc. Not so much in Nicaragua. There is no such thing as a cement mixer in Nicaragua. That’s otherwise known as a shovel. It’s hard core!”
But it was her experience in Nicaragua that really opened her eyes to what poverty looks like. Eighty percent of Nicaraguans live on less than $2 a day, Hill said, and over 31 percent of households have no access to electricity, while 45 households have dirt floors.
“After seeing this with my own eyes, it would be impossible to be unchanged by this experience,” Hill said. “It was HOT, sweaty, and challenging, but along side the crew and my fellow Giveback Homes Realtors from all across the U.S., we built a house for Josefa and her family.”
Now the family, which of seven has solid walls and a roof that doesn’t leak, indoor plumbing, and the safety of a front door, Hill said. “One of the best and most rewarding parts, the hugs from those kids and knowing that we have played a small part in making their lives a little better,” she added.
“This year I challenged myself to go big in my giving back to the world I live in and partnering with Giveback Homes has enabled me to take this personal challenge to the next level,” Hill said. “I would highly recommend other agents get involved with Giveback Homes, especially if they are socially conscious and want to make a positive impact.”
Interested in giving back homes? Find out how you and your clients can participate in Giveback Homes’ projects here.
