HAC Volunteers Sweat
Side by Side with Self-Help Families
Several volunteers from the Housing Assistance
Council (HAC) traveled to Cascades, Maryland on July
18, 2007 to work with Interfaith Housing Alliance staff
to help families construct a self-help home. These families'
homes have financing from USDA and HAC's Sef-Help Home-ownership
Opportunity Program (SHOP). Interfaith Housing Alliance,
a long-time HAC partner, builds communities and promotes
human dignity and economic justice by providing decent,
affordable housing in Western Maryland for those with
lower incomes.
Self-help construction means that families,
usually working in small groups, help build their own
homes. The average participant in HAC's SHOP program
contributes 1,093 hours of construction labor. By the
time the families move in they have substantial "sweat
equity."
The volunteers met three families working
at the site: Eric and Larry, two brothers who emigrated
from Cameroon, were volunteering hours on behalf of
their mother who is in the IHA self-help program. Sean
got involved because he had driven past the build sites
and saw the sign for the project. With a little help
he was able to contact Interfaith Housing and become
a participant. And then there was Jeff, whose house
everyone was working on that day. He kept suggesting
that folks could put as many nails as they wanted into
his house.
The HAC volunteers were amazed to see
the progress that had been made on the construction.
The highlight of the day, however, was getting to meet
the people who benefit from HAC's work and to hear their
stories.
HAC volunteers included Darren Favello
(Loan Fund), Lance George (Research & Information),
Dan Morris (Loan Fund), Carlos Murrales (Loan Fund),
Michael Spotts (Technical Assistance & Training),
Jen Wichmann (Research & Information).
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Volunteers and
families worked on framing and preparing the exterior
for siding. Pictured (from left to right) are
Sean, Eric, Larry, Darren, and Carlos.
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Break time for
(from left to right) Dave, Dan,
Jeff, Michael, Lance, Howard, and Darren.
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Jen gets tough
on a difficult nail.
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And so it ends,
with a job well done.
Pictured (from left to right) are Darren,
Michael, Dave, Dan, Lance, Jen, Jeff, and Carlos.
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