1/5/15 Habitat for Humanity in the Metro Denver area and Across the Globe Our History, Impact, and Faith
A History of Service: Internationally Habitat for Humanity International is the parent organization that connects and guides local affiliates across the globe. This includes: 2,300 affiliates in the United States, and 550 affiliates in 90 other nations across the globe, serving over 3,000 communities. Since its inception in 1976, Habitat has helped to build or repair over 800,000 houses and serve more than 4 million people worldwide. At the current rate of international new construction and repairs, that means a Habitat home is completed every 4 minutes.
A History of Service: Locally Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver (HFHMD) was founded in 1979, making us the fifth oldest affiliate. For the first decade, HFHMD operated entirely through volunteer efforts. We now employ over 75 staff members at our office, construction sites, and ReStore Outlets in order to engage over 5,000 volunteers each year.
A History of Service: Locally Since 1979: HFHMD has provided over 500 simple, decent, affordable new homes. HFHMD has refurbished 15 homes to bring existing housing stock up to our quality standards for sale. Combined, these homes have sheltered more than 2,000 individuals. Our Critical Home Repair program, launched in 2012, has repaired 39 homes for Globeville homeowners in its first two years.
A History of Service: Locally HFHMD builds in the Metro Denver area, including: Denver, Aurora, Golden, Lakewood, Littleton, Englewood, Sheridan, Westminster, Commerce City, Arvada, and Thornton. In 2015 HFHMD will complete 32 new homes and 30 Critical Home Repairs. Habitat in Colorado There are 29 local affiliates in Colorado, including our closest neighbors: Flatirons Habitat (Boulder Valley and Broomfield) Loveland Habitat for Humanity Fort Collins Habitat for Humanity Blue Spruce Habitat for Humanity (Evergreen) Habitat for Humanity Estes Valley (Estes Park) Pikes Peak Habitat for Humanity (Colorado Springs) Habitat for Humanity St. Vrain Valley (Longmont)
Global Need, Global Work HFHMD builds locally, but we re also an active part of the global movement to provide simple, decent, affordable housing. HFHMD upholds a House for a House tithing philosophy, sponsoring the construction of one home in a partnering country for every new home we build in Denver. HFHMD is one of only ten affiliates to have tithed over $2 million since 1985 to other affiliates across the globe. This has allowed us to sponsor homes in more than 40 countries and regions around the world. Our current Habitat tithe partner countries include: Nepal Haiti Macedonia Kenya Nicaragua
The impact of simple, decent, affordable housing In 2012, HfHMD and Didi Fahey, Ph.D., conducted a survey of more than 400 families who have partnered with our program and live in a Habitat home in the metro Denver community. This is some of the impact we discovered: Education Children raised in a Habitat home are twice as likely to go to college. Habitat homeowners are more likely to seek out additional educational opportunities. Habitat homeowners are more likely to read often and be very involved in their children s education. More than 90% of children raised in a Habitat home anticipate going to college. Health and Lifestyle Habitat homeowners are more likely to practice healthy diet habits. Habitat families are more likely to celebrate special occasions in their home. Parents feel that their home is large enough for their family. Stability Habitat homeowners are more likely to feel safe in their home and their neighborhood. Habitat homeowners feel that they have job security and like their jobs. More than 80% of Habitat homeowners feel confident in managing their finances. All statements are in comparison to local averages from data gained from national databases and are based on similar demographic and economic groups.
Habitat is founded on Christian principles. What does that mean? Volunteers begin the workday with a prayer at Habitat Broward in Ft. Lauderdale, FL.
Habitat for Humanity s Christian Principles Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver is an ecumenical Christian organization. As an ecumenical organization, we partner with and serve individuals of all faiths or no faith. As a Christian-based organization, our mission and several key facets of how we operate are derived from Christian principles. Our Mission: Seeking to put God s love into action, Habitat for Humanity brings people together to build homes, communities and hope.
Habitat for Humanity s Christian Principles Habitat Metro Denver partners regularly with a diverse demographic of faith communities to build homes and hope. These include: Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Unitarian, Episcopalian, Mennonite, Community and non-denominational, Religious Science, Muslim, and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Our faith communities support the mission and the work of Habitat by providing prayer, volunteers, and funding.
Habitat for Humanity s Christian Principles Being an ecumenical organization does not mean simply being tolerant of other faiths. It means being understanding, accepting, accommodating, and welcoming. Faith doesn t stay at home. We welcome all faiths in our office, at our ReStores, and on all of our construction sites. Habitat is a place where many people come to practice their faith.
Prayer: What does that look like on a construction site? Upholding Christian beliefs may mean a morning prayer before work begins and saying Grace before lunch. Upholding Muslim beliefs may mean taking breaks for prayer during work. There are as many types of prayer as there are faiths. Diet: Dress: You may see many types of dress at Habitat that you wouldn t expect to see on a construction site. There may be simple scarves, beautiful dresses, and head coverings like hijabs or full burqas. There is no right way to dress or look on a Habitat site, as long as volunteers and partner families are comfortable and safe. Many faiths include dietary restrictions for example, Hindus don t eat beef, Muslims and Jews don t eat pork, many Buddhists are vegetarians, and many Mormons don t drink caffeine. Catholics abstain from certain foods during Lent, many religions uphold strict fasting for certain holy days, and Muslims fast during daylight hours for the entire month of Ramadan.
Remember, we re all here for the same reason: to help provide simple, decent, affordable housing for hard-working local families. Habitat is about coming together, learning together, and working together. You don t have to understand a person s faith to respect it.
Common Misconceptions about Habitat Habitat was not founded by Jimmy Carter. The former president is our most famous volunteer, and continues to be a strong and inspiring advocate for our work and for the global need for housing. The Jimmy and Rosalyn Carter Work Project, which was hosted in Denver in 2013, continues to be a powerful international event for building, fundraising, and advocacy. Jimmy and Rosalyn Carter at the 2013 Carter Work Project in Denver. Millard and Linda Fuller on a build site in Abilene, TX in 2008 Habitat was founded by Linda and Millard Fuller. The Fullers were a married couple from Georgia who chose to give up their hard-earned wealth in order to serve their faith and help alleviate poor housing conditions. Millard founded Habitat in 1976 and served in executive roles until 2005, after which he founded the Fuller Center for Housing. He passed away in 2009.
Common Misconceptions about Habitat We do not work primarily with the homeless. We partner with families and individuals currently undergoing significant housing needs, but our partners need to demonstrate dependable income and the ability to make monthly mortgage payments. There exist many other organizations which provide emergency, transitional, and short-term housing, and others which provide longterm and subsidized rental housing. Habitat provides homeownership opportunities for partners ready to commit to paying a mortgage.