I didn’t realize how serious the lack of affordable housing was until I came to Habitat for Humanity. I grew up in a house where I had my own room, with a yard to play in. I didn’t have to worry about lights not working. I didn’t have to worry about my safety if I went outside. It took me a long time to realize that not everyone was as lucky as I was.
My responsibilities during my years of service with Habitat AmeriCorps included doing outreach and guiding families through the homeownership application process. While this mostly resulted in fielding phone calls and people dropping by the office, I was also there to listen to families when they needed someone to talk to, even if it was only 10 minutes.
Those of us in family services know that it’s common to bring our work home with us. We all have a story that stays with us forever, a story that reminds us why we do this even when it seems too hard. For me, it’s the family of seven living in a two-bedroom apartment. Their living room was so small you could touch the walls on either side if you held out your arms; the back door was locked with duct tape; mold was making them sick.
Experiencing firsthand the conditions so many families endure before becoming Habitat homeowners is both shocking and galvanizing. My fellow Habitat AmeriCorps alums will agree that it doesn’t take long before our attitudes toward community development go from “what can we do?“ to “what can’t we do?“ We immediately recognize the need to enact change, and we’re ready and willing to do whatever it takes.
My time at Habitat has taught me so much about housing inequality and situational poverty that it’s hard not to see it everywhere. I learned how easy it is for families to get stuck in a cycle of low-income housing, how working two or sometimes even three jobs doesn’t necessarily lead to financial sustainability. Many families dream of homeownership, but the possibility is always just out of reach. At Habitat, we make safe, decent, affordable housing attainable.
Our work, however, goes beyond construction sites. I’m empowering families when I help them realize that they can own a Habitat home. When I talk to applicants and partner families about budgeting, I’m helping them grow their wealth. When I facilitate a workshop on home maintenance, I’m creating a situation where families can have pride in their home and neighborhood. Serving with Habitat, I’m making my community safer, stronger and healthier.
As the number of Habitat AmeriCorps’ national alums grows, I know that we will continue to advocate for affordable housing. But to succeed, we need AmeriCorps members to carry the torch for us in communities where Habitat works across the U.S. If you’re still reading this blog post, it’s because you also have the spirit, dedication and drive to make affordable housing attainable for all. Working together in partnership with our communities, we can make our voices heard. I did. You can.