Congregations partnering to build homes, community and hope in Franklin County.

Building Homes, Changing Lives

“You have been a refuge for the poor, a refuge for the needy in their distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat.” (Is. 25:4)

What is the good of a home? People with safe, clean permanent housing have more stable lives, healthier lives, financially more secure lives and children that have better social and education outcomes. As OluTimehin Abegbeye says, “The minimum requirement for a dream is a safe place to lay your head.” In other words, secure housing helps make people whole.

Preserving Homes, Preserving Communities

“Behold, all things are made new…” (Rev. 21:5 KJV)

Habitat for Humanity of Franklin County, best known for building new houses, also works with existing homes to preserve communities. Repairing a roof or a stoop may seem small, but for some the cost of repairs may put families and homes in crisis. Our Critical Repair program allows people to remain in their communities. Repair projects are also good opportunities for small groups of people to volunteer on a single project rather than the longer term commitment to build a new house. These projects prevent community deterioration and land loss in communities struggling to stay vibrant.

Calling the Faithful to the Housing Crisis

“For he stands at the right hand of the needy, to save their lives from those who would condemn them.” (Ps. 109:31)

Why should churches and faith groups get involved in solving the affordable housing crisis? Faith is a hope in the unseen, and right now there are thousands of people- because of wage stagnation, development and housing insecurity- who are being left behind in the Franklin County Housing Market. They are often unseen and being forgotten. It takes people and communities of faith to see and remember these people, to see them as valuable to our community, to see them as the image of God. In getting involved with the work of building affordable housing with Habitat, churches and faith groups can hope on behalf of these unseen, hope for a decent place to live for everyone in Franklin County.

We need your help. Join with other supporting congregations. We are looking for partners to help us build houses, community and hope.

To get your congregation involved or to receive additional information contact Eric Anspaugh by phone at 540.488.4630 or send an email to hello@habitatfcva.org.