HFH Australia Calls For Support

Habitat for Humanity Australia calls for support to help rebuild communities devastated by the Victorian bushfires

ATLANTA (Feb. 12, 2009) – Habitat for Humanity Australia will help rebuild the communities devastated by the Victorian bushfires by partnering with authorities and families over the coming months.

As the emergency services and disaster response teams continue their vital roles of containing the fires and providing much-needed assistance and support, Habitat Australia will deliver a long-term strategy to construct houses in partnership with low-income families affected by this disaster.

Habitat Australia is calling for volunteers and skilled tradesmen to assist in a unique way by actively getting involved in the recovery program and to help with the rebuilding efforts over the next year as soon as the immediate clean-up operation is complete and overall plans are settled.

A donation to Habitat Australia’s Victorian Bushfire Rebuilding Fund will directly assist the construction of homes. To donate or volunteer, visit www.habitat.org.au.

Habitat Australia’s Chairman, David Benn, said, “Gaining the support of the Australian public is vital to ensure we have the resources to assist those in desperate need of safe and secure housing after losing virtually everything.”

Habitat Australia’s Executive Director, Scott Langford, added, “Shelter and housing needs will need to be met for months and even years to come. We want to make sure that we are helping people get on the road to recovery at the earliest available opportunity. With the help of generous Australians and willing volunteers, we can make this happen.”

Habitat Australia is part of a global network of affiliates that operate under the international organization, Habitat for Humanity International. Habitat has met the challenge of natural disasters worldwide and helped rebuild homes and hope in partnership with affected families in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, the Indian Ocean Tsunami, the China Earthquake and the Myanmar Cyclone.

Following collaboration with community leaders, government and humanitarian aid agencies, the funds raised in this appeal will be used to help families that are most in need of decent, affordable homes.

About Habitat for Humanity International
Habitat for Humanity International is an ecumenical Christian ministry that welcomes to its work all people dedicated to the cause of eliminating poverty housing. Since its founding in 1976, Habitat has built more than 300,000 houses worldwide, providing simple, decent and affordable shelter for more than 1.5 million people. For more information, visit www.habitat.org.

Upcoming Events: The Rundown

Event: Opening Reception
Date: February 18, 2011 (Friday)
Time: 5:00-6:30 pm
Location: Paterson Museum, 2 Market St, Paterson
Admission: Free
What:  An Opening Reception for the exhibit entitled: "25 Years of Housing Hope and Humanity".  The exhibit showcases 25 years of Paterson Habitat's history. More information.

Event: Taste for Habitat
Date: February 18, 2011 (Friday)
Time: 6:30-9pm
Location: Paterson Museum, 2 Market St, Paterson
Admission: $15.00 (21 and older)
What:  Social event after the Opening Reception.  Hors d'oeuvre, wine and beer will be served. More information.

Event: Information Day
Date: February 26, 2011 (Saturday)
Time: 10:00am-12pm
Location: Paterson Museum, 2 Market St, Paterson
Admission: Free 
What:  Information about home ownership and volunteering will be available. Have questions? We've got answers! For more information please contact - homes@patersonhabitat.org or 973-595-6868 x108

Take a Minute...

Paterson Habitat has benefited enormously from Americorps in the past two years.  We hope to expand our National Service (Americorps/Vista) volunteers next year so this pending threat to the program will have great consequences for us locally -- and affect many of our nonprofit partners who depend on these talented, hard-working young people.

Beyond that, we've seen first hand the great work of Americorps in the Gulf coast.

All in all the national service corps are a huge value for tax payer cost and we need to tell our legislators to fight to save this program.  During tough budget times, the programs that need to survive are those with the greatest impact and we have seen first hand the benefits.

U.S. House Plans to Cut $100 Billion from Federal Budget
Appropriations Chair Rogers (R-KY) proposes to eliminate CNCS programs, including AmeriCorps

CALL YOUR MEMBER OF CONGRESS TODAY.  URGE THEM TO VOTE NO ON A CONTINUING RESOLUTION THAT ELIMINATES FUNDING FOR CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAMS, INCLUDING AMERICORPS.  TELL CONGRESS HOW THIS WOULD HURT THEIR COMMUNITY

Starting on Monday, February 14, the U.S. House of Representatives will begin consideration of a Continuing Resolution that will fund the last 7 months of Fiscal Year 2011.  House Appropriations Committee Chairman Hal Rogers has announced that the bill will immediately cut $100 billion from the federal budget.  Major news outlets including TIME, AP and others have reported that the bill will eliminate funding for programs of the Corporation for National and Community Service, including AmeriCorps.  We know the Republican Study Committee wants to cut deeper, and has proposed to shutdown the whole agency and all service programs.  


Habitat National Service Fast Facts

·         In the current service year, 485 members are placed with 140 Habitat affiliates around the country.

·         VISTA and AmeriCorps members will play an indispensible role in standing up Habitat’s national veteran initiative over the next 12-18 months.

·         National service members mobilized, trained and managed over 200,000 volunteers in the last year who provided over 1.6 million hours in volunteer service

·         Resources generated by VISTA service members for local HFH house building:

o    Cash funding:   $3,655,314

o    In-kind resources generated: $1,083,909.80

·         Habitat funds half of the cost of each service member, enabling the federal government to meet critical local needs at significantly lower cost than through traditional social services.  The revenue generated by VISTA service members also assists local HFH affiliates to meet critical housing needs, acting as a force multiplier for limited federal affordable homeownership investments.

How You Can Help:

We need to reach every single Member of the House of Representatives and urge them to vote no on a continuing resolution that eliminates funding for the Corporation for National and Community Service and AmeriCorps.  Talking points and information on how to contact your Congressperson are below.

Talking points for Calling the House of Representatives: 

• I am calling to urge you to vote NO on any proposal to eliminate funding for AmeriCorps or the Corporation for National and Community Service.   
• The CR will decimate vital services in our communities when millions of Americans need food, shelter, healthcare, job training and educational support. 
• Communities are counting on Habitat’s AmeriCorps members, national service participants and community volunteers to meet the increased demand for services resulting from the recession.    
• Habitat national service members mobilized, trained and managed over 200,000 volunteers in the last year who provided over 1.6 million hours in volunteer service

HOW TO CONTACT YOUR MEMBER OF CONGRESS

► If you need help determining the members of your congressional delegation, visit www.congress.org. This database will provide you with contact information for your elected officials.

► You can call your Representatives directly or be connected through the House Operator (202-225-3121).  Once connected, identify yourself as a constituent and ask to speak to the Legislative Assistant in change of national service and education issues.

► Given the severity of the cuts proposed by the House, you may experience some difficulty calling the Capitol.  It is important that you keep trying.  If you can't reach your representative by phone, please send a fax communication to their office.  This is time sensitive ask.  Emails or mailed letters will not reach the decision makers in time.  It is critical that our lawmakers hear from the constituents directly impacted by their decisions.

Still Hammering Away

Read this awesome article about Paterson Habitat for Humanity written by the great folks at PatersonPress.com.  Full Article.

Going Back Again...

Read the first blog entry from our great volunteers who are heading down to the Gulf Coast on the 21st.  Don't miss all the action - new blogs posted daily during their trip! GO HERE!

We're at the Museum!

Don't miss our exhibit this month at the Paterson Museum - 25 Years of Housing Hope and Humanity.  Here's a shot of one of our walls at the exhibit.  To see more, head down to the museum -  Paterson Museum, 2 Market Street, Paterson, NJ (exhibit will be up till Feb. 27th) website