March News from Habitat

Habitat News and Events

March 2011
Issue 21

Dear Friends,

Actress and Carter Work Project volunteer, Emily Bergl, recently wrote about her experience working with Habitat. She says, "On a purely selfish level, I get such a sense of accomplishment seeing houses go up. I work in a business where what I create is often fleeting and amorphous, so it feels good to create something solid like a roof. Before I went on a build, I could barely change a lightbulb on my own. Now, if something needs to be fixed in my apartment, I don't immediately call the super any more; I have the confidence to solve the problem on my own."

Recording artist and Habitat volunteer, Trisha Yearwood, also talks about her experience building houses with Habitat. She says, "A personal favorite Habitat memory was working on my first house in New Orleans. I had learned to build wall frames and had been working all day long and - in addition to walls - had built up some nice blisters on my hands. One of the supervisors came over and gave me a "real" hammer. It was so much easier to use! I guess I had to prove myself on the girl hammer first. It felt good to earn the big hammer!"

Many of you could probably tell similar stories of how good you feel working on Habitat builds. There is something special about this organization/ministry; and it is a privilege working alongside all of you to make a difference in our community. This year, 14 more families will receive a Habitat home in St. Joseph County. Let the hammering begin!

Jim

Tell Congress: Make decent housing a priority

The federal government's proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year has been released, and we need your help to make sure that Habitat's life-changing work isn't endangered.

Several programs are being affected including the following:

· SHOP (Self-Help Homeownership Opportunity Program), which covers up to $15,000 a home in infrastructure expenses (usually about 5 homes a build season), is in danger of being eliminated.

· HOME Investment Partnerships Program, a program that provides funding to cover construction expenses for many of our homes, is in danger of being drastically decreased.

Nobody knows the reality of making due on a tight budget better than the families we serve. And we at Habitat understand that in tough economic times, our country will have to make some tough budget decisions. But not all budget cuts are equal. Reductions should not focus on federal programs that have strong track records of success and that can leverage outside investments.

Congress needs to hear this message--it's in our nation's best interest to maintain affordable homeownership as a real priority.

Click on Habitat International's link below to advocate for these much needed programs!

Tell Congress: Make decent housing a priority in the budget

Homeward Bound Walk/Run 2011

Homeward Bound 2010 Teams of walkers from hundreds of Indiana companies, churches and other organizations will raise dollars by collecting pledges to support local homeless and affordable housing programs at several locations across the state in 2011.

One of the locations is right here in South Bend and will feature a walk/run to benefit agencies that assist in the fight against homelessness in St. Joseph County. The following is the list of benefitting agencies:

· AIDS Ministries

· Center for the Homeless

· Fuller Center for Housing

· Habitat for Humanity of St. Joseph County

· Hannah's House

· Hope Ministries

· Robinson Community Learning Center

· Youth Service Bureau of St. Joseph County

The event, which includes a 5K run for the first time this year, will take place the morning of Saturday, April 2, starting at the College Football Hall of Fame. Registration is at 8:00 a.m., with the walk and run proceeding at 9:00 and 9:30 a.m., respectively.

If you are an avid runner, this is the perfect time to begin your training!

You can walk, run, or donate on behalf of your favorite agency (any of those listed above) or as a general donation divided up between all the agencies.

If interested in participating, go to the Homeward Bound Indiana website at homewardboundindiana.org and select "St. Joseph County." Call Elena at the Habitat office at 288-6967 if you have any questions.

Bid on a piece of the Golden Dome!