Civic Engagement Placement
Habitat for humanity
We just finished the Rush Creek House, and now we are starting to build a house in Glade Springs. We do not just focus on one build at a time, we have smaller repairs to help out locals as well such as, replacing damaged floors, roof leaks, plumbing, and more. So far, I have nailed a lot of shingles and dug a lot of fiberglass out of my skin. Although, I love what Habitat stands for. I love working with them and learning about construction as well as the people we help. It's humbling to be able to work with the people you serve and listen to their stories. I learned that this job is not going to random person's house repairing the one problem then leaving. I learned that building needs everyone working together to produce quality results.
Washington County Affiliate
Why Does Place Matter?
Charlotte Affilate
This Fall Break, member from the Habitat Campus Chapter went on a Habitat Colligate Challenge to Charlotte, North Carolina. We worked on a house for 4 days straight. We got the opportunity to see this house transform in a short time. The trusses were bare, but by the end we had completely almost the entirety of the roof from sheets of plywood to shingles. We also closed the house by installing windows, doors, and installation with help from Bank of America volunteers. It was extremely productive, but it also was insightful to go from rural Southwest Virginia to a city like Charlotte. At the core, I was still working with Habitat. The same drive to build homes and hope through a community never changed. Although, there were distinct differences just because of place.
How do we tackle complex issues and accomplish big goals? First, I would say, seek out social capital. When you think What is Social Capital think, "shared values and understandings in society that enables individuals and groups to trust each other and work together." So first you must create bonds, and that typically begins with people that think the same way and share the same culture. Within a place, culture and centered values change which affects how one approaches a problem or situation. For example, Habitat affiliates all over the world have questions that go beyond funding and construction itself, like where can/should we build a house? What materials should we use? How big does it need to be? Should we build up or out? All these questions are very important and can change from city to city, from one of the U.S. to the other, and from urban to rural. In some places it is not sensible to take up a lot of land to put a house. Some people would not be happy about a one-floor 1,100 square ft house. In some areas it is better to build two stories than build out. Another huge contributor is nature. Weather, climate, landscape like, mountains, oceans, and rainfall play a factor, especially in building. Some habitat affiliates are able to use renewable resources like, straw bales. Straw is a good insulator, environmental friendly, strong, and cheaper than timber. Straw is good to use, but it would not be good in places too hot that have many forrest fires, nor would it be good in places with a lot of rainfall. Click below to read more about straw bale construction.
Overall, one huge takeaway from this class and through my service, I learned that place and everything in it including, people, structures, and nature are extremely important when finding social capital within an area.
To me, Habitat is kind, unselfish, and loving, and everyone that works directly with it embodies these characteristics. I love to see the way fixing one small thing in a house like, a pipe leak can empower individuals by allowing them to take a hot shower with good water pressure without the worry of water damaging the floor. Habitat uses strategies from Asset Based Community Development (ABCD) in everything they do. They are concentrated on each individuals needs, and they try not to get carried away by going in, fixing the problem, and leaving. What can the individual do, and Habitat pushes the homeowners to find how they can contribute through sweat equity. This means, before a homeowner can move into their new home, they must complete 200 hours of service with Habitat by working on their own home or someone else or working in the office. By putting citizens at the center, everyone can see they have talents and skills to offer. Working for people, especially in one's home, means building relationships and asking questions in order to do the best work possible. Habitat for Humanity possesses the key assets in ABCD, click below to learn more.
Habitat's mission:
"Seeking to put God’s love into action Habitat for Humanity brings people together to build homes, communities and hope."
"Habitat for Humanity was founded by Millard and Linda Fuller in Georgia, the year of 1973. Habitat has grown over the past 43 years. Today, they work in local communities and all over the world to help people build or improve a place a family can call home. Habitat homeowners help build their own homes alongside volunteers and pay an affordable mortgage. Through Habitat, homeowners achieve the strength, stability and independence they need to build a better life for themselves and for their families."
I innovation at work all the time! The biggest lesson I have learned from the locals we've served is LISTEN, they want to help you succeed. Here is one of the stories: We went to Saltville to repair a slanted water damaged floor and replace a heat pump. Two of the people living in this home had to be in wheelchairs. Because the floor was slanted in one room of the house, they would constantly slide into one corner of room and have difficulties moving anywhere else. Although, the back door is conveniently in that corner of the house, but the frame was not big enough for wheelchairs to fit. So, we fixed the slanted floor and heat pump, but also recognized the inaccessibility by listening to the homeowner's struggles, and we also made the door frame wide enough for their wheelchairs which made the whole house and around the house more assessable.