World Habitat Day events

World Habitat Day 2009 was a tremendous success
Thanks to the efforts of affiliates, volunteers, advocates and supporters throughout the United States and around the world.

At least 82 World Habitat Day events were hosted by Habitat affiliated organizations in the United States, and at least 31 Habitat-hosted events took place worldwide.

Here are just a few examples of what was accomplished:

• Habitat for Humanity Romania hosted a Big Build of 10 houses in five days. To honor World Habitat Day and shine a spotlight on secure tenure and poverty housing, more than 250 local and international volunteers gathered to work on houses for orphans.
• Habitat for Humanity Niagara in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada, arranged for the illumination of Niagara Falls in Habitat colors for the first 15 minutes of every hour from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.
• In Atlanta, Habitat co-hosted an event with Georgia Tech’s College of Architecture, focusing on challenges and opportunities for affordable housing development after the recent economic recession.
• Online, 4,495 advocates took action for adequate and affordable housing in support of World Habitat Day by sending more than 13,000 letters to government decision makers from October 1–5.
• Through a photo petition campaign designed by the Government Relations and Advocacy Office, more than 1,500 photos of Habitat supporters were uploaded to the social media Web site Flickr. Each Habitat supporter held a sign that read “It All Starts at Home.” All 1,500 photos were used to make a photo mosaic that was part of the World Habitat Day advocacy message distributed online.
• Habitat for Humanity of Washington, D.C. organized a build that included Dr. Anna Tibaijuka, executive director of UN-HABITAT; Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.); and other community leaders. They built alongside Jonathan Reckford, chief executive officer of Habitat for Humanity International, Habitat homeowners and volunteers.
• Habitat for Humanity of Armenia brought together volunteers in the village of Nshavan to finish constructing houses that had been left unfinished since the fall of Communism.
• Habitat for Humanity of Greater Manchester held a piano concert to raise awareness of the need for access to simple, decent, affordable housing.
• Habitat for Humanity Honduras helped organize a women’s brigade build from members of a Savings and Loan Cooperative.
• Through dedicated outreach, more than 270 bloggers posted about Habitat for Humanity and World Habitat Day, reaching more than 3.5 million readers.