Habitat of Lakeland Blog

 

Lakeland Habitat Supports FREE ELECTRONICS RECYCLING
Lakeland Habitat for Humanity now accepts all computers and electronis as donations.  In partnership with GreenSite, a leading recycler of excess and surplus computers and other electronics components.  GreenSite will does not send electronics to landfills instead all components are recycled them and other down-line processors using methods approved by the EPA and state governments. 

Bring in all you old and recyclable electronics and donate towards helping to build a home for a needy family.

By Jonathan Reckford, CEO of Habitat for Humanity International

Recently, I was given the honor of delivering the 12th annual John T. Dunlop Lecture at Harvard University. The lecture is sponsored by Harvard’s Joint Center for Housing Studies. My purpose was to either persuade or remind the business leaders, students, academics, policy makers and others who were gathered that access to affordable housing is a vitally important issue that requires action from all sectors of society. I wanted them to join me in the belief that people of widely varying incomes can be successful homeowners, and I hoped we might leave as better advocates with a renewed sense of urgency for tackling difficult challenges.

My talk focused on three myths that I often hear about affordable housing:

Myth 1: Housing is important, but it is not at the top of the list. The reality is that affordable housing is central to education, health, employment and economic development.

Myth 2:  Affordable housing is someone else’s problem. Housing at all economic levels has to be set in the context of community.  If we are to provide affordable housing for all, then public, private and social sectors must work together.

Myth 3:  Homeownership really isn’t for low-income people. We need the full spectrum of housing products, and people of many income levels can be successful homeowners.  At Habitat, we believe that owning a house is a “power move” for many low-income families.

I shared examples of compassionate and ingenious responses concerning shelter for some of those affected by the 2004 tsunami in Asia; of a community in North Carolina that has been transformed from an unsightly center of crime and blight to a thriving and inviting place to live; and about the health, education and livelihood improvements that have resulted from our efforts to provide housing solutions in a village in Brazil.

I find that while almost everyone knows of Habitat, few realize the breadth and depth of our global work so I welcome these chances to remind people that a world of hope starts at home. I urge everyone to consider the effect that stable housing has in communities all around the world. Ponder the fact that poverty housing affects everyone — across demographics — and that it takes everyone to address the challenges of ensuring adequate shelter for all.

Habitat for Humanity Partners with HAP International

ATLANTA (July 15, 2011) — Habitat for Humanity International has been named an associate member of the Humanitarian Accountability Partnership, the first international self-regulatory body for organizations involved in humanitarian assistance and disaster response.

Established in 2003, HAP International is currently comprised of more than 75 nonprofit member organizations from around the globe and seeks to make humanitarian action accountable to its intended beneficiaries through self-regulation and quality assurance.

“It is with great pleasure and interest that we received the application of Habitat for Humanity International to join the Humanitarian Accountability Partnership,” said Angela Raven-Roberts, Executive Director of HAP International. “Shelter is a human right and key to the survival, livelihood, protection and well-being of families, particularly those emerging from crises and situations of forced displacement. The work of Habitat has been and continues to be vital in mobilizing support for the millions around the world who remain homeless.”

Habitat for Humanity is no stranger to disaster response. This year alone, Habitat has responded to a number of natural disasters worldwide, including the devastating earthquake and subsequent tsunami in Japan and the series of deadly tornados that recently struck the Midwest and southeastern U.S.

“Partnering with fellow disaster response organizations that have such agreed-upon standards of accountability simply makes sense,” said Kip Scheidler, Senior Director of Global Disaster Response with Habitat for Humanity International.

“With a number of active disaster relief and recovery operations throughout the world, it’s important for Habitat to use internationally recognized and well-vetted standards of accountability and quality assurance,” said Scheidler. “We thank HAP International and our fellow member organizations for the opportunity to partner together so that the people we help know that they are fully benefiting from the resources generously given to us by our donors.”

For more information about HAP International, visit the Humanitarian Accountability Partnership website.

About Habitat for Humanity International
Habitat for Humanity International is an ecumenical Christian ministry that welcomes to its work all people dedicated to the cause of eliminating poverty housing. Since its founding in 1976, Habitat has built, rehabilitated, repaired or improved more than 400,000 houses worldwide, providing simple, decent and affordable shelter for more than 2 million people. For more information, or to donate or volunteer, visit Habitat.org.

In The  Beginning

Habitat for Humanity International was founded in 1976 by Millard and Linda Fuller.  
The concept that grew into Habitat for Humanity International was born at Koinonia Farm, a small, interracial, Christian community outside of Americus, Georgia. Koinonia Farm was founded in 1942 by farmer and biblical scholar Clarence Jordan.

The Fullers first visited Koinonia in 1965. They had recently left a successful business and an affluent lifestyle in Montgomery, Alabama to begin a new life of Christian service.

At Koinonia, Jordan and Fuller developed the concept of “partnership housing.” The concept centered on those in need of adequate shelter working side by side with volunteers to build simple, decent houses.

The Fund for Humanity
The houses would be built at no profit and interest would not be charged on the loans. Building costs would be financed by a revolving fund called “The Fund for Humanity.” The fund’s money would come from the new homeowners’ house payments, no-interest loans provided by supporters and money earned by fund-raising activities. The monies in the Fund for Humanity would be used to build more houses.

The Fund for Humanity’s mission statement:
What the poor need is not charity but capital, not caseworkers but co-workers. And what the rich need is a wise, honorable and just way of divesting themselves of their overabundance. The Fund for Humanity will meet both of these needs. Money for the fund will come from shared gifts by those who feel they have more than they need and from non-interest bearing loans from those who cannot afford to make a gift but who do want to provide working capital for the disinherited . . .    The fund will give away no money. It is not a handout.

Inception of Habitat for Humanity
In 1968, Koinonia laid out 42 half-acre house sites with four acres reserved as a community park and recreational area. Capital was donated from around the country to start the work. Homes were built and sold to families in need at no profit and no interest. The basic model of Habitat for Humanity was begun.

Zaire
In 1973, the Fullers decided to apply the Fund for Humanity concept in developing countries.

Workers build the exterior wall of a house in Zaire in 1975

 The Fuller family moved to Mbandaka, Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo.) The Fullers’ goal was to offer affordable yet adequate shelter to 2,000 people. After three years of hard work to launch a successful house building program, the Fullers returned to the United States.

Expansion into Habitat for Humanity International
In September 1976, Millard and Linda called together a group of supporters to discuss the future of their dream. Habitat for Humanity International as an organization was born at this meeting. The eight years that followed, vividly described in Millard Fuller’s book, “Love in the Mortar Joints,” proved that the vision of a housing ministry was workable. Faith, hard work and direction set HFHI on its successful course.

Phenomenal growth
In 1984, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalynn took their first Habitat work trip, the Jimmy Carter Work Project, to New York City. Their personal involvement in Habitat’s ministry brought the organization national visibility and sparked interest in Habitat’s work across the nation. HFHI experienced a dramatic increase in the number of new affiliates around the country.

Habitat today
Through the work of Habitat, thousands of low-income families have found new hope in the form of affordable housing. Churches, community groups and others have joined together to successfully tackle a significant social problem ― decent housing for all.

Today, Habitat for Humanity has built more than 400,000 houses, sheltering more than 2 million people worldwide.

New Habitat House

Exciting times here at Lakeland Habitat For Humanity!  Thursday morning, we had the pleasure of giving the keys of a new home to a very beautiful family.  As a bonus, sponsors of the new house which included former  professional football player, Warrick Dunn, along with Aaron’s Inc and Etrade representatives, came to award Deliliah Baez-Perez and family with a down payment and a fully furnished home.

Warrick Dunn

In 1997, Dunn established the Warrick Dunn Family Foundation and the Homes For The Holidays Program, which helps struggling single parents purchase homes. The program buys homes through a down payment provided by Dunn, who also worked with area sponsors to furnish and outfit the homes. The program, as of April 2010, has assisted 103 single parents and 274 dependents in Lakeland, Atlanta, Baton Rouge, Tampa, and Tallahassee. Dunn’s goal is help these parents realize the dream that his mother was not able to give to him and his siblings, to own their own home.

Warrick Dunn Surprises Delilah and son

This beautiful home,  near the heart of downtown Lakeland, was sponsored by Aaron’s Inc. and E trade and built with the sweat of local Habitat volunteers.   Ms. Baez-Perez was awarded the down payment through the Homes For the Holidays Program for single moms, and will be able to pay for this home interest free through Habitat of Lakeland.

Handing over the keys

To see if you qualify for a Habitat For Humanity home, call 682-3812.

Interested in owning a home of your own? This Saturday, April 16th, Lakeland  Habitat for Humanity will be holding an open meeting for people seeking affordable housing. This meeting will be to inform people on how to qualify for a Habitat for Humanity Home.  Applications and instructions will be provided.
Most Habitat homes will cost the homeowner less than $500.00 per month including mortgage, taxes and insurance. PLUS, Lakeland Habitat will hold the mortgage at 0% interest. Please come or tell a friend about this meeting and make your dream of home ownership come true. Habitat homeowners are beginning school teachers, firemen, city and county workers, bus drivers, workforce people and people on a fixed income.

When: Saturday, April 16, 2011

Where: New Bethel AME Church
2122 Martin L King Jr. Avenue, Lakeland, Fl.

Time: 10:00 AM

Call 682-3812 for more information.

Dear Lakeland Habitat Supporter,

Through the combined efforts of our local community, volunteers, and individuals like you, Lakeland Habitat for Humanity has been able to provide habitable homes for families throughout Polk County. We have seen lives dramatically changed and hearts forever touched. Building a home not only offers stability, but is gives a family a sense of dignity and pride. This was only made possible by Your support. Lakeland Habitat for Humanity say’s Thank You.  

We look to the future holding vast to the ideals of a better tomorrow. We look at the children not of tomorrow, but we grasp the hand of the child of today. Understanding the state of the economy, our hearts go out to those who are facing financial hardships. Even as you read this letter, there are yet still children who do not have the privilege to sleep in their own bed. They share a bed meant for one, but it is shared with two other siblings because of insufficient rooming space. Due to lack of sleep, the child’s ability to succeed academically is compromised. A peaceful nights rest is something that some children will never know.

As parents we place all of our strengths and efforts in affording our family, especially our children, a chance to grow and cultivate in a safe, clean environment. I know for some of us it is hard to imagine growing up with no heat in the winter or no cool air in the summer, but for some children and families this is a fact of life. Having to deal with broken windows, doors that do not keep the elements out, and kitchen appliances that are without hope, families have to deal with dilemmas such as this everyday. No child should be subjected to this type of living environment. For some families this is their plight.

 A donation to Lakeland Habitat will give families the prospect of a better tomorrow. Having not to be concerned with the safety and well-being of their children’s living conditions, parents can now focus on things like a college fund for their children.

 At this very moment the lives of three families are getting ready to change. The dream of better living conditions has finally come true. The children can now rest in knowing they are in a safe habitable environment. A dream is now becoming a reality. This is only possible with your support.

 Not all families are in need of a new home, but there are some families who live in homes which need minor repair, but because of low-income they can not afford home improvements. The Lakeland Habitat Restore affords families and public to purchase household items such as windows, doors, paint, nails, flooring and other household objects. Once you donate to the Restore, it not only helps you find a new home for unwanted or unused items, but also provides us with the inventory we need to resell to the public. Your donation also helps the environment by keeping usable goods out of landfill

               Lakeland Habitat Restore   

 As we continue to brave the economy, let us not forget about the children and families who may not be as fortunate as we. There is still work to be done, however, and families to be helped.

As August 3rd 2010 approaches marking the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, we owe it to our children to make sure we do a  better job of defending them in the wake of the next catastrophe.

Lakeland Habitat supports this just cause.  From pediatric care, nutrition and counseling to child-friendly shelters and temporary schools, defending kids in the coursework of emergencies requires that nonprofits, businesses, and federal, state and local governments work together.

Habitat for Humanity is working with Congress and the President to establish the National Commission on Kids and Disasters to be sure that children are never an afterthought in a catastrophe again.  Read more and sign our petition today! Click Here…

Make a donation today and support Lakeland Habitat’s Housing efforts to help the less fortunate.

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With poverty rates becoming increasingly lofty, the US has become home to over 100 million homeless people. These rates continue climbing as one third of the people in the US are having difficulty paying their housing bills.  Millions of families are forced to live in poor housing conditions which are often unsafe and unsanitary. This housing problem was recognized as a potential epidemic when it was first dealt with in the 1970’s. Now, Habitat for Humanity is among the most widely respected charities in the world.

Habitat for Humanity is a Christian housing ministry founded in 1976. People from every race, color, and creed are invited to become part of the Habitat movement through donation and/or volunteer work.  Read the rest of this entry »

Lets Build a House Facebook Fans!

$1.00 WILL BUILD A FACEBOOK FRIENDS OF LAKELAND HABITAT HOUSE!!!

Don’t think your $1.00 won’t count!

Everyone carries a burden, yet some are heavier than others…Your ONE Dollar along with another $1.00 and another 1.00 will Build a Habitat Home for someone in need, you will Build Hope for a better future. DONATE TODAY!

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Our donation system’s security measures keep your personal information safe.

Good Stewardship Read the rest of this entry »