House struck by Hurricane | Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity, a non-profit organization focused on helping house people in need, is starting a chapter here at Wright State University.
What is Habitat for Humanity?
Habitat for Humanity International was founded in 1976 by Millard and Linda Fuller in hopes of addressing the growing concern for people with housing issues. However, the roots of the organization can be traced back to 1942.
Their goal is to help people with housing, whether that be through building the house or doing needed repairs at a low cost and offering a 0% interest rate.
In March 1984, U.S. President Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalynn joined the organization, volunteering, fundraising and raising awareness of the housing crisis. Today, Habitat for Humanity works in all 50 states in the U.S. and in more than 70 countries worldwide.
In the Dayton area, the organization has been active for over 40 years and are now looking for a group of WSU students who can join them on future projects.
Societal impact
Having a house is a necessity but unfortunately, lots of people struggle with keeping up with housing payments while also supporting themselves, especially with the current state of the housing market.
Habitat for Humanity and the services it provides relieve some of the financial pressures and can help change lives.
Krissy Day, the volunteer services director for Habitat for Humanity, shared a bit about her experience with the organization and how it has made a difference.
“My favorite thing about Habitat for Humanity is seeing families get a home who have never had a home before,” Day said.
In addition to building and fixing houses, the organization also offers educational classes for first-time buyers. This helps them learn about budgeting, credit cards and more.
Amber Barga, a volunteer, talked about the benefits that people receive after getting help from the organization.
“Our work has a great impact on local counties. You can see people’s entire personalities shift and their mental health approves,” Barga said.
Why students should join
Creating a chapter for the organization on campus would allow students to be a part of the volunteering. The chapter hopes to meet once a month and get a group of students who can go into Dayton and work on these houses.
David Mauch, the development director of the organization, encourages students to look into joining and all the benefits of it.
“Habitat for Humanity is the #1 non-profit in Ohio, and it’s a great way to build your resume, meet other students, have a positive impact on your community and get some real-life experience,” Mauch said.
If you are interested in finding an organization to join, or volunteer work in general, contact the Student Involvement and Leadership offices to find out more about the Habitat for Humanity chapter.
