MARCH MISSION OF THE MONTH
LOCAL MISSION: Habitat for Humanity-Lakeside
This mission helps families with housing and changes communities through the volunteer and support efforts of individuals, churches, and businesses. Tehmina Zeb, Executive Board Member, will visit St. Paul’s on Sunday, March 8, 2015 to give a talk on Habitat for Humanity-Lakeside. Envelopes and baskets will be available at the entrances to the sanctuary for donations to this mission.
Habitat for Humanity Lakeside, founded in 1993, is a local affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, an ecumenical, non-discriminatory, Christian-based ministry seeking to provide affordable housing and to make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action.
Vision: “A world where everyone has a decent place to live.”
Mission: Habitat for Humanity works in partnership with God and people everywhere, from all walks of life, to develop communities with people in need by building and renovating houses so that there are decent houses in decent communities in which every person can experience God’s love and can live and grow into all that God intends.
Serving both Sheboygan and Ozaukee Counties, Habitat for Humanity Lakeside has built or refurbished homes in Sheboygan County and Ozaukee County and relies upon volunteers to govern the affiliate via its Board of Directors and operate the committees that work together to organize house builds.
Homeowners are chosen based on their level of need, their willingness to become partners in the program and their ability to repay the loan. Every affiliate follows a nondiscriminatory policy of family selection. Neither race nor religion is a factor in choosing the families who receive Habitat houses.
Homeowners are usually expected to put approximately 500 hours of “sweat equity” into their own or other project homes, although this amount may vary by location, the number of wage-earning adults in each family, and the recipients’ health issues. Mortgage payments from homeowners are deposited into a locally administered “Fund for Humanity,” the proceeds of which go toward future construction.
Habitat relies on volunteer labor in order to construct simple and affordable homes with its partner families, as well as to build community and civil society in the areas in which it works. Many churches sponsor houses and provide a large amount of the volunteers from their congregations. Some corporations and businesses who value good corporate citizenship provide financial support to the projects and/or donate materials for use in construction. Many politicians and celebrities have volunteered with Habitat, reflecting its profile as a highly regarded non-profit.Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter became involved with Habitat for Humanity in 1984 and has since become its most high-profile proponent. He has been involved in fund-raising and publicity as well as actual homebuilding, taking part in the annual Jimmy Carter Work Project “blitz build”.
In accordance with U.S. federal guidelines, youth must be at least 16 years old to be on an active construction site, and must be 18 years old to engage in certain build activities. For one week during the summer, students ages 16 to 18 can experience Habitat’s work outside of their communities. In addition to a week of building, students will also learn about the need for Habitat through educational activities.
Originating in 1991 with a Charlotte, North Carolina home built entirely by a crew of female volunteers, Habitat’s Women Build program encourages women to make a difference by building homes and communities. Through Women Build women feel at ease learning construction skills. Globally, more than 1,400 homes have been completed by Women Build volunteers.
Habitat has shifted its priorities from building one house per year to fixing entire neighborhoods. Current emphasis focuses on turning 12 lots on Erie Avenue and North 10th Street into six newly constructed homes for eligible families. 