Habitat for Humanity urges support for National Service during Voices for National Service Hill Day

WASHINGTON (July 10, 2012) — Supporters of national service — including representatives from Habitat for Humanity — will meet tomorrow with congressional leaders in Washington, D.C., to urge their support of the public-private partnerships enabled by national service programs administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS).

The Capitol Hill Day event, hosted by Voices for National Service, highlights the service of members of the AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps VISTA programs to communities across the United States. Habitat for Humanity will join with hundreds of national service alumni, program staff, service partners and corporate sponsors who will be on Capitol Hill urging elected leaders to preserve CNCS funding.

“The work done by Habitat’s AmeriCorps members has created a tremendous, cost-effective return on investment in the communities they serve,” said Liz Blake, senior vice president, Habitat for Humanity International. “At a time when a record number of people are seeking the help of organizations who use and share the cost of the AmeriCorps programs, like Habitat for Humanity, members of Congress must understand how cuts to CNCS translate to diminished local nonprofit capacity and reduced services that many Americans rely on daily.”

Since Habitat’s partnership with CNCS began in 1994, AmeriCorps members have contributed more than 12 million hours of service, mobilized more than 2.5 million volunteers and served approximately 15,000 Habitat partner families nationwide. Additionally, AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps VISTA members have played integral roles in launching and implementing several of Habitat’s national initiatives, such as its Veterans Initiative and Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative.

“Habitat for Humanity greatly appreciates the commitment of the AmeriCorps members who serve with us. Their dedicated efforts have tangible results, enabling affiliates to serve thousands of additional families each year,” said Peter Rumsey, director of National Service for Habitat for Humanity International. “We sincerely thank members of Congress for their long history of support for CNCS, and we urge them to maintain these cost-effective and impactful programs.”

About Habitat for Humanity International
Habitat for Humanity International is a global nonprofit Christian housing organization that seeks to put God’s love into action by bringing people together to build homes, communities and hope. Since 1976, Habitat has served more than 500,000 families by welcoming people of all races, religions and nationalities to construct, rehabilitate or preserve homes; by advocating for fair and just housing policies; and by providing training and access to resources to help families improve their shelter conditions. For more information, to donate or to volunteer, please visit www.habitat.org, or follow us at www.facebook.com/habitat or at www.twitter.com/habitat_org or join Habitat’s blog community at www.habitat.org/blog.

About Habitat for Humanity AmeriCorps Programs
Habitat for Humanity AmeriCorps members have performed more than 12 million hours of service, engaged more than 2.5 million volunteers and helped serve more than 15,000 families throughout the United States. For information about AmeriCorps programs, visit www.habitat.org/americorps or www.americorps.gov.

About the Corporation for National and Community Service The Corporation for National and Community Service is a federal agency that engages more than 5 million Americans in service through Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, Learn and Serve America and the Social Innovation Fund, and leads President Obama’s national call to service initiative, United We Serve. For more information, visit NationalService.gov.