Lehigh Valley Habitat for Humanity

Good Evening!


This Saturday I was able to attend a Lehigh Valley Habitat for Humanity Orientation.

1. You will find a quick recount of the atmosphere of the room. 2. How Habitat for Humanity can be a great resource for doing renovations in your own home. 3. How Habitat for Humanity gives back to the community.

(I)It was an intriguing meeting as the folks  in attendance were amiable and passionate about giving back to their community.

I have rarely been to a community service event where the people did not have a lot of energy. The difference is the effusion given off in the room seemed as important to the participants as a blanket is to a bed during a arctic vortex.

Many people discussed the individual moments where they recounted the importance of home to themselves, or friends, and family. The stories went something like the following, but not verbatim: I had a friend that was destitute and without a place to call his/her own; after buckling down, giving up vices and picking up responsibility, they were able to find home (sometimes with help from HFH, sometimes not).

There was a genuine appreciation for the concept of home that was seemingly compulsory for those in the room. The apex of this compelling community synergy was discussed as a casual aside by the ever-friendly orientation leader, Melissa Lauer; and this aside is that the local chapter of the Lehigh Valley is not solely dependent on  Habitat International and a multitude of their community contributions were/are accomplished through ambitious local support. Very cool. I should also mention there are enough volunteering hour's that the amount available almost equates to "whenever a person wants."

(II) The RESTORE --- I was completely unaware of this new feature from  our local Habitat for Humanity. They provide donated construction materials and furniture; their donors include Lowe's, Home Depot, contractors and people in general. Their store is at the  Old Circuit City Building in Whitehall. There is a culture surrounding finding furniture at these ReStores and rehabbing them and selling them for a higher price. The ReStore is hosting an event with many of the furniture rehabbers to teach folks how to fix their own furniture.

It seems like a great resource to save money on many home related products and services-- and it supports other people create their own home.

(III) So I thought they just build homes for people in need. I was not wrong on the surface, but I was terribly misinformed in regard to the Lehigh Valley's method of building homes for people and the scope of their service.

1. They have a qualification process that is rigorous and finds people that have a deep desire for home. Applicants have to be interviewed and they also have to commit to a minimum amount of time working on their future home. Habitat calls it Sweat Equity.

2. Habitat Lehigh Valley does not just build homes locally here, they also help with property that needs a façade upgrade. They call it their A Brush with Kindness. I think this is a fantastic way to help home values in a given area in a cost effective manner.

Thanks,

Stephen