About Us
At Habitat, we believe that everyone deserves a safe place to call home. Since our founding in 1987, we have played a leading role in promoting affordable housing in Madison, Limestone, and Jackson Counties.
What Drives Us
Who We Are
We believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to build a better future.
Our Mission
Seeking to put God’s love into action, Habitat for Humanity brings people together to build homes, communities, and hope.
Our Vision
A world where everyone has a decent place to live.
Our Work
We build and repair homes, prepare families for successful homeownership, and strengthen communities, creating lasting change one family at a time.
Why We Build
Our Core Values
Partnership
Partnership is at the heart of everything we do. Families contribute their time and commitment, volunteers share their talents, donors provide resources, and together we build opportunities that change lives.
Community
When a family succeeds, the entire community benefits. Stronger neighborhoods, engaged volunteers, and lasting partnerships create a ripple effect that reaches far beyond a single home.
Faith
As a Christian organization, we put our faith into action by loving every human as a neighbor. We unite people from all faiths and walks of life to work together and learn from each other.
How We Made It to Today
Our History
Nearly four decades of building homes, communities, and hope.
Founded as a Local Affiliate
North Alabama Habitat for Humanity was established as an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, beginning our mission to provide affordable housing in North Alabama. Carolyn Vann donated five lots of land for the construction of Habitat homes.
First Home Built
The first house built by our affiliate was a four-bedroom, two-bathroom home in northwest Madison County.
50 Houses in 10 Years
The affiliate reached its goal of building 50 homes in its first 10 years. To help accomplish this goal, they completed a “Blitz Build” where seven homes were built in just seven days.
24-Hour Dash
Local companies and volunteers rallied around the affiliate and the future homeowner to build a home in just 24 hours. The 24-Hour Dash: A Home to Honor Our Soldiers was a huge success and allowed us to celebrate the safety and protection that community can provide.
National Housing Crisis
Over five years, we rehabilitated 31 foreclosed homes with more than $2.78 million in grant funding through the Neighborhood Stabilization Program.
Meridian Street Community
Eight acres of land in Northeast Huntsville was purchased to begin work on a community of safe, affordable Habitat homes. The property is expected to hold 32 homes once completed, which means 32 families will be able to achieve their dream of homeownership.
Limestone County
Our mission is growing! We began to serve Limestone County and its residents in Spring 2022.
Jackson County
And continues to grow! Our service area expanded to include Jackson County in Spring 2024.
400 Families Served!
Habitat for Humanity of the River Valley has now partnered with over 400 families to build homes, communities, and hope across the River Valley.
The People Behind the Mission
Meet Our Team
Board of Directors
Our volunteer Board of Directors provides strategic guidance, governance, and oversight, ensuring Habitat for Humanity of the River Valley stays true to its mission.
Tamarra Matthews-Johnson
PresidentWilkinson Stekloff LLP
Bobby DeNeefe
Vice-PresidentRetired; Former Real Estate Agent
Tim Green
TreasurerCadence Bank
Alison Drost
SecretaryClearview Cancer Institute
Andrew Dollar
Board MemberHuntsville Committee of 100
Kenny Anderson
Board MemberRetired; Former City of Huntsville Office of DEI Director
Jessica Kinser
Board MemberSmith Thornton Advisors, LLC
Luke Kinzer
Board MemberAnglin Reichmann Armstrong PC
Jenny McGuire
Board MemberMurphy Homes
Jonathan Mayhall
Board MemberMaynard Nexsen PC
Kathi Tew
Board MemberBaron Critical Weather Institute
David Tubbs
Board MemberRetired; Former Pastor
Melanie Brooks
Ex-OfficioHuntsville Area Association of Realtors
Theresa Kennedy
Ex-OfficioHuntsville Madison County Builders Association
Angel Stinson
EMERITUSFirstBank
Lynn Troy
EMERITUSTroy 7, Inc.
Staff Leadership
Our leadership team brings deep expertise across operations, programs, finance, and construction to power our mission every day.
Jeremy Foulks
Executive Director
Liz Brinton
Director of Operations
Dena Einhorn
Director of Finance
Chris Mixer
Director of Resource Development
Traci Draper
People Systems Manager
Emylic Brown
Construction Manager
Karen Jones
ReStore Manager
Lisa Montelongo-Connor
Family Services Manager
Where We Work
Serving the River Valley
Habitat for Humanity of the River Valley serves families across three counties in North Alabama. From Athens to Huntsville to Scottsboro, we’re building homes and strengthening communities throughout the region.
Accountability
Financial Transparency
Habitat for Humanity of the River Valley is committed to the highest standards of financial transparency and accountability. The organization holds a 100/100 rating from Charity Navigator and has earned the 2026 Platinum Seal of Transparency from Candid. Over the past three years, our Program Expense Ratio has averaged 82.36%, well above the 70% benchmark that Charity Navigator identifies as earning full credit. We consistently demonstrate that the majority of our resources are directed toward mission-driven work. Additionally, our liability-to-asset ratio is just 8.79%, reflecting strong financial stability. Together, these metrics underscore our responsible stewardship of funds and should instill confidence in our partners and the community we serve.
Habitat is a 501(c)(3) organization. Our EIN is 63-0951637.
Employment Opportunities
Job Postings
Habitat for Humanity of the River Valley and Habitat ReStore job postings can be found on LinkedIn and Indeed at the links below.