The Publication of Habitat for Humanity International | December 2008
| The Publication of Habitat for Humanity International | December 2008 |
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 Milestone with momentum Habitat raises walls on 300,000th and 300,001st houses Habitat for Humanity marked a major milestone in mid-November, when construction began on the 300,000th house in Naples, Fla., and 300,001st house in Zacapa, Guatemala. Habitat volunteers and homeowners raised the walls as part of the builds hosted by Habitat for Humanity of Collier County and Guatemala Habitat for Humanity. “It’s truly an extraordinary accomplishment to reach the 300,000th house milestone, and countless partners have played a vital role in that,” says Habitat CEO Jonathan Reckford. “However, as much as we have to celebrate, we are equally humbled by the extent of the housing problem worldwide. We realize we have so much more to do, and we’ll continue building upon the momentum that each of these 300,000 homes has helped generate.” The 300,000th house is being built in remembrance of the late Mary Ann Durso, former executive director of Habitat Collier County, who died in May 2008. Mrs. Durso spent 15 years working alongside her husband, Dr. Sam Durso, as a full-time volunteer to build the largest annual producing Habitat affiliate in the United States. Under the leadership of the Dursos, Habitat Collier County has helped provide more than 5,000 people with safe, decent and affordable shelter. Only one day after construction began in Naples, volunteers broke ground on Habitat’s 300,001st house in Zacapa, Guatemala. As a region, Zacapa suffers one of the lowest levels of community and social development in Guatemala and therefore has the most need of adequate housing. More than 1,200 Habitat houses have been built in the region, reaching some 7,500 people. “It’s a tremendous pleasure for Habitat Guatemala to be part of this celebration,” says Luis Samayoa, Habitat Guatemala’s national director. “It is not only an opportunity for us to show our commitment to the families in Guatemala and across the world in need of adequate housing, but also proof that by working together we can make a sincere difference in each other’s lives.” Construction of the house in Guatemala is being made possible by a Habitat Collier County contribution as part of Habitat’s annual tithe program. Habitat Collier County has maintained a relationship with Habitat Guatemala since September 2004, when they first dedicated their yearly tithe towards Guatemala’s building efforts. To date, Habitat Collier County has financed the construction of more than 100 homes in Guatemala, and this year alone will support the construction of 32 houses. |
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 Many hands, many hammers News PSAs celebrate Habitat volunteerism A series of new public service announcements hit the airwaves in September to help build awareness of the need — and the outcome — of Habitat’s house-building work through affiliates and national organizations around the world. The PSAs celebrate countless Habitat volunteers — “the strangers, friends, builders, dreamers” — who have now built more than 300,000 houses with partner families over the past 30 years. For the first time, translated versions of the 30- and 60-second spots were made available to Spanish-language media in the United States and to CNN International and CNN Espanol. Radio versions of the ads will also help raise awareness. “Placing Habitat’s mission on the hearts and minds of the public is central to our work,” says Chris Clarke, Habitat’s senior vice president of communications. “We strive to do that in numerous ways, but one of the most effective in recent years has been through our PSAs. In the U.S. alone, radio and television stations donated $28 million worth of free air time for our last campaign. “I hope readers of Habitat World who have not yet seen the PSA will take time today to visit our Video Gallery at www.habitat.org, see the new campaign and, as these new spots encourage, ‘Help Build It!” |
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 Ingrid Mattson, president of the Islamic Society of North America, cuts a ceremonial ribbon at the group’s convention, inviting participants into an interactive poverty-housing exhibit. Building bridges, building homes Habitat partners with Islamic Society of North America In late August, Habitat for Humanity International partnered with the Islamic Society of North America and representatives from Jewish and Christian organizations to build awareness of poverty housing. During the Islamic Society’s annual national convention in Columbus, Ohio, volunteers built the front part of a Habitat house frame, and visitors to the convention center viewed the interactive End Poverty Housing exhibit, which gives participants a chance to see dramatic images of poverty housing in the United States and abroad. Materials from the framing were donated to the Habitat Greater Columbus affiliate to be used in a home later on in the year. Habitat CEO Jonathan Reckford was a guest speaker at the convention, addressing the event’s main plenary session. “All three monotheistic faiths share a call to serve the poor among us,” he told the assembled conventioneers. “In the case of Habitat for Humanity, an effort to answer that call created a global house-building organization that empowers families to overcome poverty through shelter.” |
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Who We Are Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit, Christian housing ministry that works both to eliminate poverty housing around the world and to make adequate housing a matter of conscience and action. Habitat welcomes to the table partners from any faith — or from no faith — who are willing to pick up a hammer to help improve the lives of families needing decent shelter. What We Do Local Habitat for Humanity affiliates build and renovate houses in partnership with people in need, and then sell the houses to the homeowner partners. Homeowners are selected by local affiliates based on their need for housing, ability to repay a no-profit mortgage and willingness to partner with Habitat. Mortgage payments contribute to a Fund for Humanity, which in turn provides the money to build more houses. Because of Habitat’s no-profit loans and because the houses are principally built with volunteer labor, mortgage payments are affordable for low-income partners. Where We Work Habitat for Humanity started in the United States in 1976, and today its work reaches around the world. Currently, Habitat is at work in all 50 states of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Territory of Guam, and other countries around the globe, including: Afghanistan | Angola | Argentina | Armenia | Australia | Bangladesh | Bermuda | Bolivia | Botswana | Brazil | Bulgaria | Burundi | Cambodia | Cameroon | Canada | Chile | China | Colombia | Costa Rica | Cote d’Ivoire | Dominican Republic | East Timor | Ecuador | Egypt | El Salvador | Ethiopia | Fiji | Germany | Ghana | Great Britain | Guatemala | Guyana | Haiti | Honduras | Hungary | India | Indonesia | Japan | Jordan | Kenya | Kyrgyzstan | Laos | Lebanon | Lesotho | Macedonia | Madagascar | Malawi | Malaysia | Mexico | Micronesia | Mongolia | Mozambique | Myanmar | Nepal | Netherlands | New Zealand | Nicaragua | Nigeria | Northern Ireland | Pakistan | Panama | Papua New Guinea | Paraguay | Philippines | Poland | Portugal | Republic of Ireland | Republic of Korea | Romania | Russia | Rwanda | Senegal | Sierra Leone | Singapore | Slovakia | Solomon Islands | South Africa | Sri Lanka | Suriname | Tajikistan | Tanzania | Thailand | Trinidad and Tobago | Uganda | Vanuatu | Vietnam | Zambia You Can Help Volunteers fill key roles in Habitat for Humanity's work, both on the construction site and in other positions such as family selection and support, fund raising and advocacy. For more information about becoming involved with Habitat for Humanity, please contact us at 121 Habitat St., Americus, GA 31709. |
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