By LIZZY GORDON
A house is not simply a place to live; it is a fortress where people find comfort and security.
Families find themselves living impoverished houses and neighborhoods. Families tend to lose their sense of safety; but Habitat for Humanity helps restore their lives
Since 1976, Habitat has been seeking to prevent poverty housing. With the support of local companies, the non-profit organization, has built more than 200,000 houses worldwide, as well as provide 1 million people with safe, decent, affordable shelter.
“I applied because I am a single parent. [My daughter] was born with Spinal Bifida and is wheel chair bound. It has been a mission to find an affordable, wheel chair accessible place to live, and also I wanted to ensure that she would always have a place to call home,” Guidance clerk Ileana Quinones said.
Habitat does not give anyone a home. To receive a home, a family must attend orientation, send in a completed application, and then Habitat will look through finances to ensure that the family is capable of reimbursing them.
Families can only be approved if they meet qualifications and agree with something called sweat equity. Sweat Equity is when a parent of the household volunteers with Habitat for Humanity. The time required depends on how many parents are present.
A single parent has to volunteer 300 hours; a two-parent household must complete 500 hours. People can meet these hours by helping build their own homes, a neighbor’s home and by working at the Habitat headquarters.
“Because I have a full time job here at Boone, I really only worked on two houses, mine and another family’s home for about the same amount of time,” Quinones said.
According to the Proclamation of the City of Orlando, 600 women spent 5,000 hours building 12 homes during the 2010 and 2011 Women Build Week. Last year 24 houses were built in all, volunteers are always needed.
“The issue of housing affects everyone. Houses give you a sense of stability; families that apply tend to move a lot due to financial issues. Some youth may act up because of the stress of moving,” volunteer coordinator for Habitat for Humanity Jennifer Gallagher said.
If a student wishes to volunteer and get involved, he must be 16-years-old or older and must complete a volunteer application online. Students can help build a house by stabilizing walls, shingling the roof or by landscaping.
Students interested in volunteering can go to habitat-orlando.org for an application. Volunteer workdays are Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
“[Volunteering] was so much fun because everyone was cheerful. There is something everyone can do to help,” Diane Ringlund, a volunteer, said.
Students under the age of 16 can also get involved without working onsite.
“We have an off-site educational system where students can learn about Habitat for Humanity. They can also make lunches for volunteers and workers,” Gallagher said.
Each house costs roughly $59,000; to donate students can text “HOME” to 41518. Each text donates $10.