RUTHERFORD COUNTY, TN - Join the Rutherford County Area Habitat for Humanity (RCHFH) and Nissan Smyrna for a special panel build event for Rutherford County Habitat’s 200th House on Thursday, August 23, 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. at Nissan’s Vehicle Assembly Plant in Smyrna, Tennessee. Over 100 volunteers from Nissan and the community will build the walls for RCHFH’s 200th house in just 5 hours. As the walls are built, they will be erected to create a temporary house right in the parking lot. We invite you to join us for this exciting event!
Following the event, the walls will be transported to Habitat’s Legacy Pointe subdivision in Murfreesboro for the full house build for future homeowner Chanelle, a single mother of three who works in administration for a mental health provider. Chanelle and members of her family will work hand-in-hand with Nissan volunteers on the panel build, who will be able to tour the house with her and see where her family will live. They will also sign the walls with words of encouragement and well-wishes for Chanelle and her family.
Construction of the 200th house will begin the week after the August 23 panel build event and conclude in late November. Habitat will have a special event for the home dedication and ribbon cutting during the holidays. RCHFH is also celebrating their 35th anniversary, founded in Rutherford County in August of 1989 as an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International. Since then, the affiliate has built 200 houses in Rutherford County, including in LaVergne, Smyrna and Murfreesboro. RCHFH developed an 18-acre affordable housing community called Legacy Pointe in Murfreesboro in 2019 and has since built 34 homes there. The development will eventually include 76 homes.
Like many Habitat future homeowners, Chanelle has had trouble finding affordable housing over the years and has often worked two or three jobs to make ends meet. The cost of rental housing in Rutherford County has skyrocketed, so many residents have been paying 50% or more of their monthly income on housing alone, leaving little money for other family needs. With the Habitat program, Chanelle will buy her home with an affordable mortgage that will cost only 30% of her monthly income. She will also build wealth equity and stability for her family. The impact of homeownership on many Habitat homeowners includes better health, better work attendance and career advancements, more disposable income and children often see their grades and attendance improve.
In 2023, Nissan proudly renewed their commitment with a Nissan Neighbors grant award of $1.3 million in support of building projects in Nissan-operational communities across the United States.
In the last 19 years, Nissan has contributed:
- 160 donated vehicles.
- 112,000+ volunteer hours.
- $21 million+ in contributions.
- 50+ communities impacted.
- 300+ families in new homes.
“We've built more that 15 million vehicles at the Nissan Smyrna plant, which is an incredible feat. But this team’s commitment and dedication also drives opportunities to give back to our community; building homes for Habitat is a great example of the significance of what we do and the positive contributions we make to the community that supports us,” states Brian Crockett, vice president, Manufacturing, Smyrna Vehicle Assembly Plant. “We’re honored to help build Habitat’s 200th home in Rutherford County.”
About Rutherford County Area Habitat for Humanity (RCHFH) - Rutherford County Area Habitat for Humanity, a non-profit, non-denominational Christian housing ministry, seeks to bring people together to build homes, communities, and hope. This is done through building quality, energy-efficient, affordable houses while partnering alongside working families. Homes are built by RCHFH construction staff, Future Homeowners, and community volunteers. After a home is completed, it is sold to the family at no profit with an affordable monthly mortgage.
About Nissan Smyrna - The first auto assembly plant in Tennessee, Nissan Smyrna currently builds the Nissan LEAF, Murano, Pathfinder, Rogue and INFINITI QX60. To date, Nissan has invested $7.1 billion USD in the Smyrna plant. With more than 5,700 employees and an annual production capacity of 500,000 vehicles, Nissan’s Smyrna operations represents the largest U.S. manufacturing site within the company’s network and one of Nissan’s largest factories in the world
