Budget Blinds and JM Family Enterprises Partner With Habitat For Humanity In Four Home Builds For First-Time Homeowners

Budget Blinds of East Fort Lauderdale and Pompano Beach joined parent company, JM Family Enterprises, Inc., in partnership with Habitat for Humanity® of Broward on four single-family home builds within the Rick Case Habitat Community in South Florida. JM Family has been sponsoring and helping to build Habitat for Humanity homes in Broward County since 2002, and these homes are builds 36, 37, 38 and 39 for the company. Budget Blinds® has donated and installed window blinds in mortgage-free homes for veteran support organization, Homes for Our Troops (HFOT) since 2014, so coming together with JM Family for the Habitat homes was a natural evolution.

This May, despite the shifts in the building and home presentations process due to COVID-19 and implementing the safety guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), four families experienced the American Dream of homeownership for the first time through the Habitat for Humanity mission.

Budget Blinds and JM Family Helping with Habitat for HumanityWith mask and ready for the task, Budget Blinds, JM Family and Habitat of Broward volunteers arrive to install custom wood blinds in each home in preparation for virtual Home Dedication Day on May 16

The life-changing power of community

The Rick Case Habitat Community offers affordable housing for 77 families, made possible by an ongoing, collective community effort of sponsors, volunteers, and personal and corporate donors like JM Family and Budget Blinds, committed to helping families reach the milestone of homeownership. The 1,200 to 1,300 sq. ft. homes are large enough to comfortably raise a family, often providing the first-ever solo bedroom for the kids, another important milestone. Home recipients must qualify by need, willingness to work alongside volunteers (sweat equity), ability to pay the zero-interest mortgage, and attendance in financial and budget education classes. The excited homeowners get to participate as their house goes up with hands-on involvement and Habitat support efforts, truly making it their own.

Habitat for Humanity VolunteersPre-COVID-19 safety mandates, volunteers leave hidden messages in the walls of these homes that love builds and future home recipient, Sabrina Williams (story below), paints her own home

Custom window blinds for beauty and functionality

Tom Kay, franchise owner of Budget Blinds of East Fort Lauderdale and Pompano Beach and his team were proud and honored to participate with JM Family in the Habitat project by donating, measuring, and installing custom wood blinds from Budget Blinds’ exclusive Signature Series® collection. “We were honored to collaborate with our parent company JM Family Enterprises on this effort with Habitat of Broward. As a family-owned and community-minded business, we hope our Budget Blinds window treatments help make these four houses feel a bit more like home for these deserving families.” –Tom Kay

Installing Blinds in HomeMany hands make light work as custom wood blinds add the finishing touch to each home with exceptional beauty, convenience, and functionality

Coordinated window blinds throughout the home create a consistent aesthetic room to room and offer exceptional benefits for everyday living:

  • Classic, 2” white woodgrain textured blinds are compatible with any home décor and can be enhanced with layered window treatments like valances, draperies or curtains.
  • Cordless lift operation creates a child-safe environment for families with small children.
  • Window blinds conserve energy and lower energy bills by preventing outdoor heat or cold from entering the house.
  • Convenient light and privacy control throughout the home assures comfort and peace of mind day and night.
  • Furniture and furnishings are protected from harmful UV rays.
  • Sustainable beauty, blinds are 100% North American hardwoods sourced from certified and domestic forests, complying with the LEED standards for the Habitat homes.

Realizing the dream of your very own home

Latoya Marshall, one of the moms receiving a home, shares a feeling expressed by them all: “This has been a blessing. Our home will provide the security and stability my children need to help them grow.” All hardworking moms determined to make a better life for their families, these four women have aligned with Habitat for Humanity to make dreams come true.

Latoya Family

Latoya is mom to three kids, her son and two nieces that have been with them for six years. The first of her family to be a homeowner, she’s excited to have an affordable home for security for her family and an investment for when the children are grown. Future dreams for Latoya include travel and experiencing different cultures.

Sabrina Family

Sabrina Williams is mom to four adopted kids and, as an elementary school nurse, she tends even more children, providing first aid, hugs, and medications, anything to make them feel better. Her ultimate goal is to open a medical care facility for children living with autism. She has raised her kids to rely on each other and is proud of the strong family bonds they have formed and thankful for the security this home will provide for their future.

Tonisha Family

Tonisha Palmer, through Habitat for Humanity, has met her goal of owning a home to provide safety and stability for her children, and is now on to her next goal of finishing her college degree in elementary education. This home will afford the children their own space, something they are all looking forward to, even though they love spending time together eating, listening to music, and dancing.

Tashaundra and son

Tashaundra Cunningham was so determined to provide the type of home she wanted for her son that she took a second job to ensure qualification for a Habitat home that could change their lives. She got approval on Christmas Eve and shares, “It was the best Christmas present ever! The gift that keeps on giving.” Tashaundra recently received her certified teaching credentials, another dream fulfilled!

Family to family

As mentioned above, JM Family has been involved in building homes with Habitat for Humanity for many years and has developed their own “signature” contributions aside from the dozens of hands-on volunteers to each project. Bricks, mortar, and paint do indeed a house make, but some warm fuzzies are always nice, so JM Family supplies each family with a new washer and dryer as well as a special housewarming basket full of goodies. With social distancing currently in effect and these four home presentations virtual, these baskets will be personally delivered later in the year during the holidays.

  • Towels, sheets, cleaning supplies, kitchenware, and sporting equipment (soccer balls, basketballs) so the kids can play outside in their own yard!
  • A $200 Target gift card and a $100 Lowe’s gift card to purchase incidentals for their new home.
  • The JM Family associates’ crocheting club, Loops of Love, makes blankets and potholders for the baskets and will even make stuffed, crocheted animals if there are babies in the family.
  • A framed “welcome home” sign that includes signatures and congratulatory messages from all the JM Family volunteers who helped build their home.
  • A photo memory book with images of the entire build process so they can always remember this momentous occasion.

JM Family Supporting Habitat for Humanity Literally from the top (CEO) down, JM Family is committed to supporting Habitat for Humanity in its construction of the largest affordable housing development in the area

Enhance your home with new window treatments

This is the perfect time of year to refresh and update your home with new window treatments! Trending colors, styles, and finishes can accommodate every taste and every budget with our wide range of custom blinds, shutters, shades, and drapery. Choose ultimate comfort and convenience with smart home technology and Somfy® motorization, implement safety for children and pets with cordless options, or green with eco-friendly products. Adhering to safety and social distancing mandates, you can explore your options with in-home or virtual consultations at many locations. Call 866-879-9730 go online at www.budgetblinds.com to find a Style Consultant near you and schedule a consultation that works for you.

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