Featured news

Hello RV Care-A-Vanners,

Neighborhood Revitalization – what is it and why are we doing so much of it? The vision of Neighborhood Revitalization is seeing neighborhoods across the country rejuvenated into vibrant, safe and inviting places to live for current and future residents. Neighborhood Revitalization allows affiliates to serve more families by responding to community aspirations with an expanded array of products, services and partnerships, empowering residents to revive their neighborhoods and enhance their quality of life.

Let me translate that into how it affects us as construction teams. It entails the work we do with Home Preservation Projects such as A Brush with Kindness, Critical Home Repair and weatherization projects. A Brush with Kindness is our exterior repair program. Critical Home Repairs usually consist of significant indoor repair projects or adding an extension onto an existing home. Weatherization projects are repairs such as insulation, adding a new furnace or adding new windows and doors.

So how do these programs work? An assessment of the work and a cost estimate is done prior to our arrival. The scope of work is determined by the repairs needed as well as the ability to repay. That means that we can't always fix everything we think needs fixing. We don't want to leave the homeowner with a loan repayment they can't afford. Sweat equity is required, but it is a little different than what we are used to. The homeowner can do sweat equity on their own home or by volunteering at any community activity such as Meals On Wheels, the local library or simply by baking cookies for the crew. Remember, many of these people are older or disabled and are unable to do construction. The goal of the program is to keep people in their homes and in their current neighborhoods. A minimum of eight hours of sweat equity is required, with an additional eight hours recommended for every $1,000 of repair value.

Clarence Jordan, Habitat's spiritual father, always envisioned building communities from the inside out. This vision is at the core of Neighborhood Revitalization. New construction, Home Preservation Projects, rehabs and community development all play important roles in revitalizing a neighborhood. Neighborhood Revitalization focuses on specific neighborhoods, then with residents taking the lead, it identifies specific community assets and plays a role in helping the neighborhood realize its community goals. By collaborating with residents and other community organizations, a Neighborhood Revitalization affiliate offers a mix of affordable housing products and services to help improve overall quality of life in the community; a noble goal we should all be proud to be involved with.

So the next time you are doing A Brush with Kindness, Critical Home Repair or a rehab project, look at the whole picture. You are increasing the viability of that neighborhood by making the homes more livable and making the community a safer, more attractive and more enjoyable place to live.

Thank you for all your hard work this winter. Remember, because of all the Neighborhood Revitalization projects you worked on, you have impacted many more families than ever before.

Safe travels,

Mary Vandeveld
RV Care-A-Vanner Program Manager
[email protected]
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Announcements

Volunteer needed
I am looking for a volunteer who could assist in developing materials for funding proposals. With the assistance of our friends in Disaster Response and Risk Reduction, we will be looking for resources for our programs, especially in our safety initiative. If you have experience in writing grant proposals, please let me know. I am also looking for any Care-A-Vanners who have connections with corporate or family foundations. We would like to work with our Resource Development department to identify and approach some funders who may be interested in the Care-A-Vanners program and the various initiatives we have underway. Send me a note to [email protected]

Builds in Americus
Yes, the Care-A-Vanners are coming back to Americus next year. Our goals for this initiative are:

Refurbish the Global Village & Discovery Center.
Assist the Americus facility team with repairs and upgrades to Americus volunteer housing.
Enhance the volunteer spirit at Americus and HFHI.
Do community outreach while teams are in town.
Connect with Koinonia Farms.
Identify other volunteer opportunities at HFHI.
Connect with the local affiliate, New Horizons, and assist them with their building program.

Watch for these Americus builds coming soon to our build list.

Affiliate camping requirements
We require a minimum 20-amp electrical service, each with its own circuit breaker and access to water and a dump station within a reasonable drive. Anything more than that should be considered a luxury. All camping units must have holding tanks. Whether or not bathroom and shower facilities are available are not recorded in the build listing. If you do not have a self-contained rig, you should check with the Care-A-Vanner desk before signing up for a build. There are some builds where we camp at commercial or government campgrounds where shower and restroom facilities are available. We would be happy to direct you to these builds.

Next safety course
Our next Master Safety Training Course (Dec. 7-11, 2015 in Americus) is full, but I want to thank all the applicants for their interest in this program. We intend to hold more courses every year or two, so there will be opportunities to get involved in this exciting new program.

Family build
Is anyone interested in doing a family build? My thoughts are parent/children or perhaps grandparent/grandchild groups would be good for this. It would be great fun and would give us an opportunity to share what we do on a Habitat build with our kids or grandkids. Because of OSHA rules, all children would have to be at least 16 to participate. Let me know if you might be interested. If I get enough response, I will then look for a host site. Drop me a note at [email protected].

Background checks
I received a few questions on the background check issue and I wanted to try to answer them. One question was, "if you already had a background check to purchase a firearm, would that be adequate?" The answer is no, because the Care-A-Vanner program cannot verify and review results, and not all relevant criminal history prevents someone from purchasing a gun or carrying a concealed weapon. I want to ensure that the background check we use are acceptable to all affiliates so you will only be asked to submit to one check. The other question I got was, "if we are not working Neighborhood Revitalization projections, do I still need to have a background check?" The answer is yes because as you know, affiliate construction schedules change. We need to be flexible and ready to respond to whatever the needs of the affiliate are. It would also be difficult to track who could work on these projects and who would be excluded because they did not have a background check. Feel free to send me questions. Next month I will talk about cost and what the process for getting a background check would be.

Affiliate brochure
I created and had printed a trifold affiliate brochure. This is meant to be handed out to affiliates to help explain who we are and what we do. It includes information on regular Care-A-Vanner build teams, our Collegiate Challenge program as well as our disaster rebuild team and our Competent Person Safety Training. If you would like to have some copies to pass out to affiliates you are visiting, please drop me a note and I will send some to you. I can also email you a digital version. Send your request to [email protected].

Waivers
A special thanks from Lu Tillotson at our registration desk who reports that we are all getting much better at doing our waivers on time. You are saving Lu a lot of extra work and she is very grateful! Keep up the good work!

Featured builds:

Waynesboro, Virginia - May 3, 2015: This build has been a favorite of Care-A-Vanners over the years. It got listed late this year, so I am hoping we can still get a good response. Go to our build list to sign up.

Boone, Iowa: We got great reports on this build last year. Boone is a small, mainly volunteer affiliate who needs help! Camping is only $6 per night. The builds are listed as follows: GV15-0217 Jefferson, Iowa, July 19, 2015, and GV15-0218 Boone, Iowa, on Aug. 16, 2015. Let's show this affiliate some Care-A-Vanner support!

Adrian, Michigan: Adrian has a build scheduled to start on April 12, 2015. Camping is $10 per night. They hosted their first build with us last year and it got great reviews, so sign up today!

Cripple Creek, Colorado: We have built in Teller County in past years and they are looking forward to our return. I just listed the following build for them: GV15-0227 Cripple Creek, Colorado, on May 31-June 7, 2015. Go to our build list to sign up today!

Hours and stories needed:

We need everyone to report their hours to the Care-A-Vanner desk. If you are on a build without a team leader, be sure that someone is assigned to keep the hours. If you are a drop-in, those hours count, as do ReStore volunteer hours. Affiliates do not report your hours to the desk. I need hours worked and number of houses worked on. This data is very important for grant applications and grant reporting. We also love to hear those "why we build" stories! It is the partner families that keep us motivated, so send your stories and your hours to [email protected]

Tithing connections

What is the Global Mission Fund that Habitat affiliates can tithe to?

U.S. affiliates can designate their annual tithe to the Global Mission Fund – a fund that finances diverse housing solutions to serve more families in urgent need of decent shelter.

With 1.6 billion people living in poverty housing today, our work is far from over. Our mission calls for us to expand our efforts to serve even more families and communities across the globe. The Global Mission Fund enables Habitat to have a greater impact abroad. U.S. affiliates have the option of designating part or all of their tithe contributions to help support the Global Mission Fund. All of these unrestricted dollars are sent internationally and give Habitat the means to:

Leverage resources to match funds for innovative programs and partner with other agencies.
Support pilot projects that test small-scale ideas for new approaches for housing solutions, which require funding for research and staff development.
Build capacity in countries that have difficulty attracting funds.

These unrestricted funds have been integral in many of Habitat's efforts abroad, including our responses to the Indian Ocean tsunami, the earthquake in Haiti and the creation of housing for orphans and vulnerable groups.

Next month, I look forward to sharing with you all some "real world" examples of how the Global Mission Fund has supported Habitat's work abroad.

Katie Grover
Tithe Specialist, Habitat for Humanity International
[email protected]

Windows to Washington - April

Habitat for Humanity is asking for a small piece of a big pie

My colleagues here in our Washington, D.C., office asked me to write this month about the Self-help Homeownership Opportunity Program, or SHOP. Federal funds from SHOP are critical to Habitat’s work building affordable housing, but before we dive into that, let’s talk about pie.

As fresh fruits come into season, can’t you just picture the lines in your fingers dyed slightly purple from picking the blueberries that you later fold into a light, flaky crust? Picture that pie looking heavenly as it cools on a rack in the kitchen. But as you’re anticipating that first generous slice, there’s a knock on your front door. When you answer, you find thousandsof people outside who smelled the pie and want a slice, too! Imagine if one of them said to you, “I just want a very small slice of the pie and, if you give it to me, I will use it to serve thousands of other people.” That might sound like magic (or like the miracle of the loaves and fishes, though with higher sugar content) but if it were true, you’d give that person a small piece of pie, wouldn’t you?

This is what Habitat for Humanity is asking Congress to let us do with SHOP funds. Since 1996, when Congress created SHOP, this U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development program has funded self-help (meaning “sweat equity”) housing organizations like Habitat for Humanity who partner with lower-income homeowners. SHOP funds can only be used for land acquisition and/or infrastructure improvements, not construction costs. This focus means that land, including many vacant properties, is put to good use with support from SHOP. Plus – and here’s where the magic comes in – SHOP funds must be used as leverage to secure additional funding. Building performed on the sites acquired with SHOP monies is funded both by the SHOP federal funds and by private funds. As of 2013, HUD has awarded Habitat almost $200 million in SHOP funds, which Habitat has used to raise more than $1 billion of private investment. All of this supports local communities. Those funds have completed 16,565 homes with more than 1,300 more in progress.

Every year, Congress has a pie – the federal budget – and I know you’ll believe me when I tell you that everyonewants a piece of that pie. Every year, members of Congress struggle to determine how to divvy up that pie. There’s a temptation to cut small pieces even smaller, assuming that those slices are so negligible that a decrease won’t make much of a difference. That assumption is wrong, especially in the case of the organizations like Habitat that can multiply that small piece to satisfy critical needs of people across the country. In fact, the most recent review of HUD programs found SHOP to be among the four most effective in addressing the shortage of decent housing for lower-income families.

This is where we need your help. As a constituent, your voice matters as your representatives decide how to slice the federal budget pie. Every year, SHOP funding is a key priority for Habitat as we reach out to lawmakers. This year, in light of recent cuts to USDA programs that serve rural areas, the SHOP program, with 40 percent of its funds supporting rural areas, is even more critical. With many new faces in Congress, it’s more important than ever for our lawmakers to understand how important it is to fund SHOP as generously as the budget “pie” will allow.

Please take a moment to use your voice to tell Congress that you care about SHOP and, even though it may seem like a small piece of a huge pie, keeping its portion as generous as possible is key to families across the country. We provide a petition here, or you can personalize it with your own words. Once you’ve signed the petition, ask three friends who also care about decent housing to sign as well – and tell them there’s no pie for them until they do!

Team leader corner

Hello team leaders,

A special thank you goes out to our Marvelous March team leaders. They are Jeff Greenstreet; Jay Guild; Bill and Barbara Epting; Jay and Linda Buchtel; Bob Gillespie; Dyana Todd; Mem and Larry Halstead; John and Kathryn Dech; Jeffrey and Sharon Lawrence; Angela Sayler and Jake Newell; Fran and Frank Cornwell; Brenda Sawyer and Kit Perry; Maria Small; Pamela and Joe Hortenstine; Carl and Linda Schmidt; Mike Humes; Joe and Jane Gano; and Dan and Carolyn Banks.

Remember, if you've been thinking about becoming a team leader but are not sure what's involved, contact me at [email protected] and I will send you the guidelines. Lack of construction experience is not a reason to pass on being a team leader. Organization and people skills are what are important. So, don't forget to check the "team leader interest" box on your registration if you are willing to lead the build.

If you are unable to read the roster I send you, or things appear to be on the wrong lines, chances are you have a Mac or iPad and Word documents do not format correctly. Just let me know and I will send them in PDF.

Please, team leaders, when you contact me about a build, provide at least a date and location of the build, and the GV number if possible. With so many builds, it is very time consuming for me to find the build you are referring to without this information.

Regarding drop-ins: If a Care-A-Vanner shows up unexpectedly at your build, please have them contact the desk to register. Please let myself, Mary or Lu know. We have had a problem with people dropping in and, although the affiliate may not "mind" them being there, we would like everyone to go through a registration process. The affiliate does not have any knowledge of waitlists, or other factors that may affect someone's participation in the build. If you have any questions about this, please do not hesitate to contact me. Remember, I am here to support you in what you do.

Finally, team leaders are needed for the following builds. If you are available and willing, please contact me.

May 3-17, 2015	Durango, Colorado
May 3-17, 2015	Waynesboro, Virginia
May 17-31, 2015	Crooksville, Ohio
May 24-June 6, 2015	Iowa City, Iowa

Thank you and happy hammering!

Brenda Sawyer
Team leader coordinator
[email protected]

Spread the word
Send your RV friends a Care-A-Vanner brochure about this wonderful mission by clicking on this link and pasting it into an email or just print out and give to fellow RVers in campgrounds.

Safety corner

In a construction setting, the term "safety stand-down" is used to describe a wide variety of activities where normal work is paused and the entire site focuses on a particular safety issue. While some employers may use stand-downs to call attention to specific hazards present on their site as an intervention, the National Falls Campaign has adopted the use of the stand-down to draw attention to fall hazards, which are present on most construction sites. The first National Safety Stand-down to prevent falls was last June, with contractors, workers and safety professionals across the nation participating. Huge strides were made in the fight against the leading cause of death for construction workers. OSHA estimates that 1 million workers were educated on fall protection, including how to properly inspect and use protective equipment. Many companies took this opportunity to replace old or worn harnesses and lanyards. The stand-down demonstrates the level of success that can come out of a nationally coordinated effort.

Stand-downs can be tailored to specific industries and job sites, making it easy and beneficial for anyone to participate. They may be very short, consisting of a toolbox talk or a safety huddle where specific hazard controls are discussed, or they may be longer to include training and information on a variety of hazard controls. Others have used stand-downs as an opportunity to inspect fall prevention or protection equipment.

Don Hartle
HFHI safety specialist
[email protected]

Collegiate Challenge and Care-A-Vanners

The Collegiate Challenge builds were highly successful this spring for both the affiliates, the students and for our small teams of crew leaders, but we know there are affiliates that don't know about how our Care-A-Vanners can help them when they host students. If you visit an affiliate that hosts students each year, but struggles to have supervision for them, let me know and the Care-A-Vanner desk will follow up on your suggestion.

The Collegiate Challenge program isn't to replace regular builds of two weeks, where Care-A-Vanner team and college students work together, but is about helping for one week at a time a few Care-A-Vanners. These one-week builds are much more laid back with no team leader. Social activities and meals are limited to those times when you are engaged with the students. RV parking will, however, be arranged just like a regular build and you will get a letter detailing directions, number of students and the names of the colleges before the build starts. You also, of course, need to have some construction experience in order to mentor the students.

I would love any feedback you might like to share or suggestions you may have to make this program better. If anyone who went on a Collegiate Challenge build this year would like to write up a short article about their experience, I would love to share it in this column.

Diane Gravlee
Collegiate Challenge coordinator
[email protected]

Welcome new Care-A-Vanners

Geri Brennan, Joe and Debbie DeLosa, Marilyn Fitchett, Keith and Leslie Flanders, Richard and Kathy French, Alan and Ann Gaines, Craig and Deb Johnson, Robert Peters, John Sanders and Mary Beth Comer, Paul and Tammy Smith, Dave and Sylvia Windstein.

Our apologies if we have included a seasoned Care-A-Vanner, or if this is duplication. Habitat for Humanity is grateful for the work that you do!

Disaster Rebuild

Remember our mission in disaster response is to come in at the time of the rebuild efforts and to stay until the last house is replaced or repaired. A lot has to happen before rebuild begins including permitting, fundraising, FEMA grant application and awards, building capacity at the affiliate, family selection, etc. It is easy to remember the disaster that just happened, but where we need the help is the disaster that happened two or three years ago. HFHI Disaster Risk Reduction and Recovery, our partners, are also working with affiliates to do fortified building to reduce injuries and damage to homes and a when disaster does strike. This includes building safe rooms in tornado area, hip roofs in hurricane zones and using anchoring systems appropriate for the risk. If you are interested in learning more about fortification standards, please review IBHS Fortified for Safer Living Standards. Your knowledge can help our affiliates learn more about these new building practices.

Superstorm Sandy: Recovery efforts from Sandy continue to be slow. Funding is the struggle for the affected affiliates. I have listed a build in Toms River for next spring and should be listing more for the summer months. Toms River was ground zero for Sandy and they really need volunteer help, so consider signing up. I know the camping fee is high, but on the coast it is difficult to find cheap RV sites and the affiliate cannot afford to supplement our camping. We hope to get that fee down some. If you would like to be on my email list for Sandy recovery, please send a note to [email protected]. I will notify Care-A-Vanners on my list first about build opportunities for Sandy recovery.
Colorado 2013 floods: We had six affiliates in the flood affected areas in Colorado. Habitat Colorado has a large amount of grant money to rebuild, but they are having trouble finding qualified families. To date, only 18 families with another 10 in process have been identified and more than half of those have been served already. If you would like to be on the list and hear about build opportunities first, send me a note to [email protected].
Tuscaloosa, Alabama: Tuscaloosa is still building homes for people who lost their housing unit in the 2011 tornado. Yes, there are tornado victims who still have not gotten into homes. Our mission continues there as we stay until the last home is replaced. Tuscaloosa loves the Care-A-Vanners and has builds listed throughout the year. It is a very nice place to work.

Questions, cancellations or concerns?
1-800-HABITAT, ext. 7534
1-229-410-7534 (direct)
[email protected]
RV Care-A-Vanner staff contact info

Current list of active builds
Builds list

How to register for a build online
Step-by-step instructions

Roster updates
Please email updated roster information to [email protected] or [email protected], or call 1-229-410-7534.

Report Care-A-Vanner hours
Help us keep track of total volunteer hours contributed, and partner families served. Please email these stats from your drop-in or ongoing builds to [email protected].