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When it comes to creating affordable housing, Habitat for Humanity International has hit the nail on the head— more than 100,000 houses in 60 countries since 1976, including some 30,000 in the United States. And Knox College students, faculty and staff have done their share, helping the local chapter of HFHI build more than 20 houses in Galesburg and Knox County. (Photo right: Knox student Jacqueline Sevarino on a Habitat project.)
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Habitat for Humanity Grant to the Knox chapter
"The Knox College Habitat Campus Chapter has always been recognized for its outreach to the local community," said Sara Franing, '97, who helped found the Knox Habitat campus chapter in 1996 and currently works at HFHI's headquarters in Americus, Georgia.
"We at Habitat think the ideal campus chapters should have most of their interaction with the local affiliate and participate on their boards. Knox College does just that.
"While the Knox chapter participates in spring break trips offered through HFHI, I tried to make working with the local Knox County Habitat chapter the focus of our (Knox College) chapter," continued Franing. "We built with the local affiliate every weekend possible. To this day each Knox County Habitat homeowner is very special to me. I realized then that I wanted to work with them one-on-one, and help to end the cycle of poverty that many of our homeowners find themselves in."
HFHI, a nonprofit, nondenominational Christian organization, seeks to break that cycle by building simple, decent, affordable houses, in partnership with those in need of adequate shelter.
Three factors make Habitat a success: houses are sold to the occupants at no profit, with no interest charged on the mortgage, making them affordable to low-income people worldwide; homeowners and volunteers build the houses under trained supervision; and individuals, corporations, faith groups and others provide financial support.
The "Envelope Theory"
Franing has her own ideas about why Habitat succeeds at building— not just a quality home but a better quality of life. She calls it the "envelope theory."
"As a child, I observed my parents filling out taxes, creating a will, making house payments, going to work, etc.," said Franing. "My father worked for the government and when I was a child I thought that the government would one day send me a letter telling me what I would do for the rest of my life. Looking back now, I realize that I had received that envelope every day, through the nurturing of my parents and my community. (Photo, right: Rosayln Carter, Jimmy Carter, Sara Franing.)
"When I started working with Habitat homeowners, I realized that many of them had not received that envelope. It had nothing to do with them, but more with up-bringing and the cycle of poverty. Habitat is not just about building a home. It's about building yourself and others."
Franing's first job at HFHI was a volunteer position in Information Systems. She is now the Development Research and Grants Officer, helping foundations and organizations form partnerships with Habitat affiliates around the world.
Habitat's Americus campus reminds Franing of Knox.
"Having our diverse staff is a lot like the wide-ranging campus at Knox," said Franing. "International Partners have training sessions here in Americus. We have international dinners, celebrations and discussions that come from our international folk. Although Habitat is a Christian organization, we have a diverse roster of religions here, and they are welcomed with open arms."
Franing continues to volunteer for Habitat, serving her local affiliate in Sumter County, Georgia.
"That is the heart of Habitat, and every employee and volunteer needs a reminder of what Habitat is all about," said Franing. "(Habitat employees) are granted up to 10 days each year to work with affiliates in building around the world. I just completed working in the local Jimmy Carter Work Project (JCWP) this past fall. I am also a family partner with two families here in Sumter County, helping to provide a support system for our new homeowners."
JCWP 2001 takes place August 5-10 in South Korea, involving as many as 10,000 volunteers and 120 houses. South Korean President Kim Dae-Jung will be on hand, building houses with former U.S. President Carter, volunteers and homeowners. JCWP 2001 coincides with Habitat for Humanity International's first World Leaders Build, in which current and former heads of state will be building Habitat houses in their capital cities.
International success story
Also doing great things for HFHI is Shi P'ng Ch'ng, '99. He is volunteering to set up a West Malaysia affiliate in Penang, Malaysia, and is targeting to complete the groundwork by mid-2001.
"HFHI Malaysia started in 1997 and has built a few houses in East Malaysia," said Ch'ng. "All activities are centralized in the Borneo part of Malaysia, and so far they have had no luck in any activity in West Malaysia due to land prices and availability."
Ch'ng completed an internship with HFHI in 1998 and volunteered for HFHI in Spring 2000, coordinating the Miami Spring Break Collegiate Challenge, the largest HFHI spring break event in the world.
"It was painful, tiresome yet wonderful. Coordinating 250-plus students per week was overwhelming," said Ch'ng. "I drove 100 miles each day to four construction sites and three residential areas in Dade County."
The Knox College Habitat chapter has journeyed south the last several spring breaks to build for Habitat. This year, the team of 17 students, with Carol Brown, '99, Director of Telecommunications at Knox, and her husband Jim, journeyed to Columbus, Georgia, for "Blitz Build." A blitz build enables a local affiliate to erect several houses in a short time. In this case, 250 students from 14 colleges and universities built 10 homes. This was the first time Knox participated in a Blitz Build.
A small part, a major impact
"When we arrived at the site on Monday an entire block stretched in front of us, with nothing but six foundations. When we left on Friday, there were six houses," said Rebecca Bartelt, a junior elementary education major from Polo, Illinois. "The houses were built by teams, so our team included the 19 people from Knox and seven people from Purdue. (Photo, right: Students from Knox and Purdue at a Blitz Build 2001 site in Columbus, Georgia.)
"The thing that I enjoyed most is knowing that I had a small part in making a major impact on a community that really needed help," the Knox chapter vice president continued. "The people in Columbus explained how much of a difference these houses would make, and I was glad to be able to contribute in a small way."
"What struck me the most during the trip were the examples of Habitat's ability to motivate its volunteers," said Justin Hoye, a senior philosophy major from Belton, Missouri. "The energy and enthusiasm to render a service to the community is palpable, especially on-site where one is constantly reminded that his or her work results in a tangible product.
"When you see a house being built before your eyes, other goals— like eliminating substandard housing from a county or city— become that much more feasible," the chapter co-president continued. "You become caught up with the realization that large goals can be accomplished through your efforts, and that propels a volunteer to continue with the work of Habitat."
Marianne Voss, a junior elementary education/history major from Brookfield, Illinois, enjoyed the side trip to Americus, Georgia, for a tour of Habitat communities. "Seeing people sitting in front of their homes and children playing in the yards made the week more meaningful," said the Knox chapter secretary. "Often we build the house and move on to the next project. However, seeing the families living in the homes helped to make the projects more real."
Brown echoed those sentiments. "The story we heard of the community people organizing the fight to take back their neighborhood was inspiring," she said. "It was definitely the hardest physical labor I've done in awhile but was absolutely rewarding. It was also very exciting to see so many college students sacrifice their spring break time to volunteer for such a worthwhile effort."
Brown was hooked on Habitat last year when working with a future homeowner, who was putting in some sweat equity on her home.
"I observed her talking to one of the men about plans for the house. The obvious excitement and anticipation she felt was contagious," said Brown. "The end result is important in a way that many of us take for granted. Habitat provides not only housing, but home ownership for people who may have believed that to be an impossible dream. There's no greater reward than helping to build a home, not simply a structure but a place where dreams are realized and memories are made."
Reprinted from the Knox Alumnus, May 2001
