Local housing nonprofit now partnering with the Fuller Center for Housing

Editor, The Sun:

The local affordable housing ministry formerly known as Habitat for Humanity of Wakulla, Inc. is now operating as a covenant partner of The Fuller center for Housing. Wakulla Fuller Center’s mission remains the same – extending a hand-up to families in need of simple, decent and affordable places to live.
The Fuller Center for Housing – headquartered in Americus, Georgia – was founded in 2005 by Millard and Linda Fuller, the same couple who founded Habitat for Humanity in 1976. The Fullers founded the nonprofit as a re-commitment to the grass-roots, Christian principles with which they launched their affordable housing movement in the early 1970s.
A 1996 recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, Millard passed away in 2009, but Linda remains active in the ministry. Millard was succeeded as president by long-time friend and colleague, David Snell, who continues to lead the international organization today. The Fuller Center for Housing has been given a 100% score for accountability and transparency by Charity Navigator and has received GuideStar’s highest-level Platinum rating for transparency.
The Fuller Center for Housing (FullerCenter.org) builds and repairs homes in more than 70 U.S. communities and more than 20 countries around the world. Homeowners are full partners in the building process – contributing sweat equity as they work alongside volunteers and then repaying the costs of materials on terms they can afford, with no interest charged or profit made. Those repayments stay in the local community to help others get the same hand-up.
Cheryll Olah, president of the Wakulla Fuller Center said that a primary reason for joining The Fuller Center is the international headquarters’ guiding principles that place emphasis on local decision-making rather than a top-down, bureaucratic approach.
“The Fuller Center believes that local leaders are in the best position to decide what our community needs and the most effective ways to address those needs,” Cheryll Olah said. “They provide assistance and expertise while we promise to adhere to the simple, grass-roots, Christian principles that guide the work. Locally, our work will not appear any different, but we believe this transition will allow us to be more productive and maximize the generosity of our supporters.”

For more information, contact Cheryll Olah, 850-519-1421 or Alice Stokley 850-509-9053 or leave message, 850-926-4544 or visit our website www.Fullerwakulla.org.

Navigating the claims process: expert
advice for hurricane recovery

Editor, The Sun:

First and foremost, thank you for all you are doing with your reporting. As Floridians begin the recovery process from Hurricane Helene, my thoughts are with those who were impacted. As your readers start returning to their homes and begin the recovery process, it can daunting to know where to start. I wanted to reach out to share some tips from the Florida Association of Public Insurance Adjusters (FAPIA) that may be of help.


Insurance Claim & Safe Recovery Tips:

  1. Only work with state-licensed professionals. It’s an unfortunate reality that scam artists prey upon consumers in their time of need. Whether you’re hiring a contractor to make repairs or a public insurance adjuster to help you understand and submit your insurance claim, make sure they are licensed to conduct business in Florida (go to www.beclaimsmart.com for easy verification). And don’t forget, only public adjusters and lawyers are authorized by the law to negotiate a claim with your insurance company. Anyone else who offers to do so is committing a felony.
  2. Check permits. If the correct permits aren’t being pulled for the property repair of your home or business, then the job isn’t going to get done (or get done well). Be vocal and ask your contractor about required permits in your city or county, and to show you confirmation of their filing.  Additionally, local building departments may hold you liable for re-doing the work when they learn that required permits were not pulled.
  3. Don’t pay in cash. Credit cards, checks and debit cards are much safer forms of payment, and more easily tracked. Ask for a receipt if you are not given one – you’ll need this for your insurance claim.
  4. Report any “Assignment of Benefits” language. Following recent legislation, asking a customer to sign over Assignment of Benefits (AOB) is illegal. This agreement was used to authorize the receiving party to manage every aspect of your insurance claim, including the collection of your payout and filing a lawsuit for your claim. If you see this language in any contract report it to the Department of Financial Services.
  5. Don’t wait too long to file your claim. Florida requires that all hurricane damage claims be filed within one year of the date of loss.  As a result, it is important to have a professional inspect your home for damages and file a claim on a timely basis. 
  6. Prevent further damage as best you can. Failing to mitigate additional damage to your property could result in your claim being denied. Provided it is safe to do so and the issue is manageable, work with a professional to take care of anything that could become a bigger problem, such as tarping a damaged roof or covering broken windows.
  7. Watch out for scam artists. Florida’s insurance market and policyholders have been hurt by fraud and scams. Don’t be a victim. If you see contractors, roofers or anyone who is not a licensed public insurance adjuster or an attorney offering to handle your claim, they may be engaging in criminal activity. Contractors and roofers are not insurance professionals. Unfortunately, there are some who would use the “handling of your claim” as a sales tactic. Don’t fall for it. They are neither licensed nor trained to represent your insurance claim interests.

Ryan Greene
On behalf of FAPIA