A Return to Tulsa, and a Journey to Homeownership

Welcome home, Joel!

For years, Joel dreamed of owning a home by the time he turned 40. After a turbulent young adulthood, he returned to Tulsa in his early 20s, got clean, and began rebuilding his life piece by piece. A home of his own felt like the natural next step — he just didn't know how to get there.

That changed when his employer, Bama Companies, partnered with Green Country Habitat for Humanity to host an informational event. "Afterward, I was like, I have to apply to this," Joel said. "I thought it was going to be a long shot, but it just seems too good to not shoot for."

He dove in headfirst, working quickly so he could move straight from his expiring lease into his new home. Along the way, he discovered he'd already saved the amount he needed for a down payment. "This has got to be a sign," he said. "I just got to go for it."

Joel chose the Whittier Townhomes for their central location near Bama's Tulsa facilities — and fell for the layout and high ceilings on sight. "It's just perfect," he said.

The homeownership classes surprised him too. What looked like a lot of work upfront turned out to be invaluable. "You need to be doing these classes before you own a property. It's worth knowing all that."

But what stuck with him most was the people. "Everyone I interacted with was so nice and so helpful. I kept thinking, there's got to be a catch. But it wasn't."

His advice for anyone considering applying? Just do it. "Even if you're not eligible, they have amazing resources to help you get there. There's no loss in putting in your application."

Congratulations on your new home, Joel! Special thanks to TTCU for providing an affordable mortgage.

Watch Joel’s Full Story Here

Do you know someone looking to take the step into homeownership? Tell them about Habitat’s Homebuyer Program. A single conversation could change a family’s future.

Progress You Can See at Black Wall Street Square

Big changes have happened at Black Wall Street Square this summer, and there are even more to come. Despite the extreme heat, our construction crews have now installed the roofing material and windows. Interior work is next.

Phase one of this project just north of Pine and MLK Jr. Boulevard includes buildings one and two: a total of 14 3-bedroom, 2.5-bath townhome units, each with an attached garage. Most of these units can be purchased through Green Country Habitat's Homebuyer Program. A select number of larger units will be sold at market rate, bringing together people of various economic backgrounds.

Learn more about our Black Wall Street development and stay up to date on project milestones at the link below.

Beat the Back-to-School Rush at the ReStore Rack

We know that buying school uniforms, backpacks, and shoes adds up quick. At the ReStore Rack, you can get what you need at a price that doesn't break the bank. This year, we had some help stocking our shelves thanks to T.D. Williamson and First United Bank. These organizations and their employees donated several large boxes worth of quality clothes, backpacks, shoes, and more.

Find them this week at ReStore Rack and get your back-to-school shopping done before class starts.

ReStore Claremore Celebrates 5 Years of Business

ReStore Claremore is turning five this month, and we want to celebrate with you! Stop by between August 13–15 for sweet treats, giveaways, and raffle prizes.

As one of Green Country Habitat's four local ReStores, our Claremore location makes it easy to purchase and donate home improvement supplies, tools, and more. As we look back on the last five years, we're thankful for the support of our customers and the broader community. We look forward to how much we'll grow in the next five years, and we hope you'll be there with us along the way.

Our First Fill the Truck Was a Hit

Green Country Habitat for Humanity held its first-ever Fill the Truck event benefiting our four area ReStores. On Saturday, August 1, we set up in the All Souls Unitarian Church parking lot where neighbors lined up to drop off their donations. The goal was simple: give people an easy way to clear out their space and support a good cause, without having to drive across town to do it.

We can't thank everyone who donated enough, and special thanks goes to All Souls for partnering with us on this inaugural event. Do you know an organization that would like to partner with us for a similar event? Let us know by emailing our marketing team at the link below.

Sewer Lines Go In at Blitz Build Site

Major infrastructure work is underway at the 2026 Clark Howard's Blitz Build site in the upcoming Wilshire Trails neighborhood near 33rd Street North and Peoria. In recent weeks, crews have been working to install a brand-new sanitary sewer line for the upcoming 31-home neighborhood. If you can believe it, this site, which is in the City of Tulsa, has been on septic this whole time. Now, thanks to the work we're doing here, residents will finally be hooked up to a modern sewer system.

Our annual Blitz Build kicks off on September 26. Sponsor and volunteer groups will raise walls on 10 of the planned 31 homes in one day, a major feat and our biggest Blitz Build project to date.

If your organization is interested in getting involved with a project like this, or you just want to learn more, visit the link below.