Joplin Receives Disaster-Resistant Homes from Convoy of Home, TF Forming Systems

OZARK, MO – Convoy of Hope, the Christian-based non-profit relief agency, recently announced it will provide 18 homes in the devastated neighborhoods in Joplin, MO.

The homes will be using the ThermoForm system by TF Forming Systems, the same company building the Pensmore home in Highlandville, MO. (www.pensmore.com).

“We are proud to have been selected by Convoy of Hope to participate in their mission of restoring hope to the people of Joplin,” says Kirk Brown, TF Forming Systems CEO. “Our wall systems are energy efficient and disaster resistant. There is no better time than now to offer this type of home to those who were physically, financially and emotionally affected by the tornado.”

Initially, six homes will be built with construction beginning in late February with a target completion date of May. The homes will be built between 15th and 32nd Streets.

Like so many of those directly affected by the tornado, their stories are heartbreaking. With these new homes, their quality of life will be better than it was before the storm.

“One of the home owners was on a level pay of $200 a month for her gas bill and was paying another $50 a month for electric. She wouldn’t turn the heat on unless it was so cold, she couldn’t stand it,” explains Van Hoesen, energy consultant for the project. “She couldn’t afford to eat, pay for insurance and pay her utility bill. With the ThermoForm system, we anticipate her total utility bill to be under $75 a month, allowing her to afford everything she needs to live comfortably.”

“We believe the building system that TF Forming Systems offers will be the foundation in giving our recipients the homes they need – lower utilities bills, safety and a true peace of mind,” says Jeff Nene, Senior Director of Convoy of Hope. “This is what Convoy is all about – bringing hope to the lives of hurting people, giving help in times of crisis, and attempting to make sure their lives are improved for years to come.”

Along with extreme energy efficiency, the homes are disaster resistant with walls engineered to withstand 200 mph winds.

“These homes are survivable in a storm. The windows may blow out or they may lose part of the roof, but the overall structure will be able to survive a storm, which is something they didn’t have before,” Van Hoesen says.

TF Forming Systems’ President, Jerry Spude, says this is just one reason why TF’s wall systems are needed in today’s climate.

“It is our responsibility as a company to build homes that are energy efficient and disaster resistant. It is our responsibility as people to make sure those affected by disasters like the one in Joplin are given the opportunity to not only rebuild, but rebuild better. Along with Convoy of Hope, we believe we are achieving that”, says Jerry Spude, President of TF Forming Systems.

Project Details:

  • Non-profit relief organization: Convoy of Hope
  • Building System: TF Forming Systems
  • Total number of homes: 18; six beginning immediately
  • Location: Between 15th and 32nd Streets
  • Home details:
    • 1150 SF
    • 2 & 3 bedroom
    • 1 ½ bath

If you would like to schedule an interview with TF Forming Systems, please call Mary Guccione at 417.200.0052 or 920.73.4070 or email her at maryg@tfsystem.com.

About TF Forming Systems:

TF Forming Systems is an industry leading manufacturer of insulated concrete forms (ICF) and complete integrated concrete wall systems for residential and commercial construction. Our wall systems offer the ultimate in energy efficiency and disaster resistance. In business for over 15 years, TF Forming Systems products have been used in thousands of projects across the globe, spanning the market from simple residential structures to architectural master pieces. In 2005 TF entered the commercial construction segment and since that time has supplied wall systems for numerous commercial structures, including retail, churches, hotels, cold storage, municipal, schools, offices, and government buildings.

We are very proud to offer unique forming systems, ICF, hybrids, and others, that easily conform to the desires of architects and/or designers for both residential and commercial construction.  We especially take pride in the fact that these buildings will perform well for generations, saving energy and the environment, benefitting all of society.

In 2009 new investors joined the company with a vision for a revolutionary step forward in concrete forming systems. This vision came to fruition in 2010 with TransForm.

The first TransForm project is Pensmore (www.Pensmore.com). A 70,000 sq ft+ residence in Missouri, it will be one of the ten largest private houses in America. Standing five stories high and designed to withstand tornados earthquakes and man-made disasters, it is entirely made of concrete. The second project, now finished, is a commercial scale ICF church addition, standing two stories high and comprising some 8,000 sq ft. Since TransForm’s introduction in late 2010, over two miles of 12″ thick concrete walls have been poured, with varying height configurations, some as tall as 16′ high, and without a single blowout or product failure; a success TF stands proudly behind.

About Convoy of Hope

Convoy of Hope, founded in 1994, is a faith-based organization with a driving passion to feed the world through children’s feeding initiatives, community outreaches, disaster response and partner resourcing.

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