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FALL 2005, Volume 19, Number 1
Habit for Humanity — Not a Hand-out, but a Hand UpHabitat HistoryHabitat for Humanity was founded by Millard and Linda Fuller in 1976, with the goal of eradicating substandard housing. After building houses in Africa, the Fullers realized that the need for low-income housing was also acute in the United States. The first Habitat house was built in 1979 in Americus, Georgia, where the new headquarters were established. By 1981, Habitat for Humanity International had fourteen U.S. affiliates and seven international affiliates and had completed 342 Habitat houses. In 1984 HFHI gained national coverage when Jimmy Carter and his wife got involved by supporting Habitat and founding the Jimmy Carter Work Project. By 1993 HFHI had completed 20,000 houses, and by 1994 it numbered more than 1000 affiliates and was named the seventeenth largest homebuilder in the U.S. Today HFHI builds in North and South America, Africa, Europe, and Central Asia, as well as in the Pacific. The first campus chapter was formed in 1987 at Baylor University. At present, eight hundred campus chapters educate their communities about the problem of low-income housing, engage in fundraising activities, and support local affiliate chapters by providing volunteers. UCSB's Habitat for Humanity chapter was formed seven years ago to raise awareness about the housing crisis in Santa Barbara. By 2000, Santa Barbara County had its own affiliate chapter, whose main work has been the low-income housing project on Via Lucero. Student Volunteer Profile: Florentina CraciunI became involved with HFH UCSB my freshman year in college. Since then it has been a love affair. My first experience was with the 2002 spring break trip to Texas. After a week spent with wonderful people, I knew I wanted to become further involved, so I began work organizing the following year's trip, which I led in 2003. It was the most rewarding experience I ever had. I learned how to make business contacts, how to be a leader, how to make friends, but mostly how to give and appreciate what I am given. Habitat opened my eyes to the outside world and its problems, but most importantly helped me envision a way to solve those problems. I continued as the spring break coordinator the following year, and during my senior year I served as campus liaison with the local affiliate. I planned and coordinated many fundraising events. But the most rewarding part of my volunteer work was the act of building house. In my four years with habitat I roofed, I painted, I nailed, I put walls up, I took walls down, I did gardening, I installed drywall - you name it; I did it! I also enhanced my communication, business, writing and leadership skills. Volunteering for Habitat allowed me to come in contact with a different world outside the UCSB community. It prompted me to think about my future and where I would like that future to take me, probably working in a nonprofit organization. So if you're thinking of volunteering, don't be shy! Just do it! There are many organizations out there! But don't let this overwhelm you; find one that sounds like fun, and you'll find out, as I have, that community service is an important part of being an honors student at UCSB. How to Get InvolvedHonors students are encouraged to volunteer with Habitat for Humanity. In the past, student volunteers left the area for a period of time to build houses in other regions, but now that Santa Barbara has its own affiliate chapter and a building project on Via Lucero, students can work for Habitat locally. In addition, students can sign up for the annual spring break trip, which takes volunteers out of state to work together for a week. Volunteers make friends, develop team-building skills, gain experience in the building trades, and experience regional culture. Volunteers also gain valuable knowledge about substandard housing, poverty, and how to help eradicate the two. For more information, follow these links:Or email the campus chapter at: hfhucsb@hotmail.com |
