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CHANGING LIVES
Habitat for Humanity is a
community non-profit organization that assists families in purchasing a
home. This group provides communities support for independent living.
Millard and Linda Fuller founded Habitat for Humanity in 1976. Habitat
for Humanity International has built and rehabilitated more than
150,000 houses with families in need, and has become a true world
leader in addressing the issues of poverty and housing. By
providing affordable housing and community involvement this program is
set up to restore independence for families by aiding them and lending
a helping hand financially and physically to potential homeowners.
Families participating in the Habitat for Humanity program go through a
series of steps before a home is complete. A family starts
by obtaining an approved application and then provides ‘sweat hours” or
“sweat equity” by hands on process participation of helping build their
new home. These steps become stepping stones and provide a sense of
self worth, not only for individual gain, but for unity within
the community. Habitat invites people of all backgrounds, races and
religions to build houses together in partnership with families in
need. The goal is to promote self sufficiency for families seeking
affordable housing and independence. A habitat home is not just for
individual freedom, but for a family’s success in connecting with
society. Being a homeowner is a positive asset and a great
responsibility for ones self and the harmony of community.
An article by Camilo Jose Vergara,” Bunkering the Poor: Our Fortified
Ghettos” talks about the poverty level in unchangeable portions
of society and the pressure of how society has accepted poor
conditions of living within the Ghetto. The living conditions of these
poor families have been compared to a prison environment with bars on
the windows, dark hallways, concrete floors where the children play and
metal detectors in the schools. These prison type conditions are
present in our great American communities and represent the poor with
darkness, resentment and depression. Habitat for Humanity shines a
light within these conditions and gives those in need an opportunity to
make change for their family; this program also provides change and
success within local communities of our great American cities.
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