Love, Hope, Dreams, Faith and Partnership... This is What Habitat Builds
Habitat for Humanity builds so much more than homes. By working together, people helping people, we are able to build love, hope, dreams, faith and partnerships. Read below to learn more about how Habitat benefits everyone involved.
Habitat for Humanity Builds Love
"Love thy neighbor." The command is simple and clear, and every year thousands upon thousands of people are obeying by volunteering with Habitat for Humanity. And while volunteers come to help others, they find, almost universally, that they themselves leave feeling they have received more than they have given. "[Working together with Habitat] brought me closer to a group of friends than I have been in a long time," says Emily King of Colona, Ill. "It brought me spiritually closer to God, and it gave me an understanding about myself that I haven't known before." Young and old, black and white, Christian and Muslim--volunteers from all backgrounds and circumstances feel united by the mission of Habitat for Humanity and they have accepted the open invitation to become a part of it.
Habitat for Humanity Builds Hope
Imagine not knowing where your children will sleep tonight. Imagine not being certain if you will wake up to find the unstable roof of your house collapsed. Imagine choosing between paying your rent or feeding your baby. Around the world, millions of people are faced with such dilemmas every day. And yet, Habitat for Humanity is helping thousands break the cycle of poverty.
Habitat for Humanity is providing hope to families who otherwise would have none. By offering families a hand up--a chance to build and buy their own affordable home--Habitat for Humanity not only provides them a decent place to live, but also a sense of pride, responsibility, self-respect and hope for a brighter future.
Habitat for Humanity Builds Dreams
Joey and Kristen Maddox, both 26, are anxious to leave a two-bedroom rented apartment where they've lived since Hurricane Katrina. They are pictured here on the site of their new Habitat home in Covington, Louisiana's Faith Village, with their four children. Their fifth child is due in October 2007.
Each and every Habitat house is a culmination of a family's dream, volunteers' selflessness, donors' generosity and God's grace. Habitat for Humanity affiliates, area, national and regional offices, and headquarters all work to bring these elements together. From the time of its founding, Habitat for Humanity has been a ministry that has called special people to devote their lives to helping others.
From an executive director in rural Oklahoma to a development director in the United Kingdom, from a family selection coordinator in Southeast Asia to a construction supervisor in Latin America, every Habitat employee puts his or her heart into the ministry.
Working for Habitat for Humanity is more than just a job--it's a commitment to making the world we live in a better place for everyone.
Habitat for Humanity Builds Faith
Churches are Habitat for Humanity's natural partners. As a faith-based ministry, Habitat offers churches and congregations an unparalleled opportunity to put their faith into action by loving--and helping--their neighbors. Though churches work with Habitat for Humanity throughout the year, the annual Building on Faith week serves as a highlight of church involvement. In FY04, nearly 1,700 congregations in 16 countries partnered to help families in need during Building on Faith. While Habitat for Humanity proudly proclaims its Christian roots and beliefs, the organization welcomes people of all religions to help with the vital work of housing. Jewish, Buddhist, Hindu and Muslim supporters have all worked with Habitat--as have people who espouse no particular religion. Just as Jesus Christ welcomed all people to him, Habitat for Humanity seeks to welcome all people into its worldwide work of building houses and hope.
Habitat for Humanity Builds Partners
Habitat for Humanity benefits greatly from the support it receives from donors worldwide. Whether companies donate gifts-in-kind, funds or volunteer hours, Habitat for Humanity leverages their gifts into homes. Individual donors contribute as well, and all donations--from the wealthiest millionaire's offering to the widow's mite--are appreciated and applied with good stewardship. But Habitat isn't the only beneficiary from these relationships. "Our partnership with Habitat gives us the opportunity to connect with volunteers and homeowners and to establish some great relationships," says Chris Ahearn, public relations director for Lowe's Home Improvement Warehouse. In FY04, Lowe's committed $2 million to underwrite Habitat for Humanity's Women Build program. The list of supporters leading the way toward the elimination of poverty housing could go on and on, as Habitat builds relationships with donors around the world to build more houses with families in need of shelter.
It's a commitment to making the world we live in a better place for everyone.
Ways to Get Involved
Volunteer-Up!
Lumpkin County Habitat for Humanity is a local affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry. We seek to eliminate substandard housing. We are committed to helping local, low-income families finance and construct their own affordable homes.
