The ideal American family consists of a husband, wife, two children and a house to call one’s own. For many, this ideal may never become a reality. However, through the donation of time and money from the Stony Brook chapter of Habitat for Humanity, the American ideal family, or at least part of it, was realized by Shameka Harris and Donald Henderson onDecember 10, 2002.’
‘Providing housing for others is a concrete expression of what we believe: that Stony Brook is an integral part ofLong Island,’ said President Shirley Strum Kenny. ‘We care deeply about the health of this community, and will work to ensure that all the families of this area have the necessities of life.’
This year, SBU staff and students have again joined forces in an effort to provide a new home for yet another underprivileged family. The project began in mid-July and is estimated to continue through mid-November.
Last Saturday, about one dozen SBU students and staff members traveled from theStudentActivitiesCenterbus port toBellport,NYto continue work on the house, working alongside the family for whom it is being built.
Habitat for Humanity volunteer events are overseen by different coordinators each day. Tasheka Sutton, assistant director of Fraternity and Sorority Life, coordinated Saturday’s activities. Through grime, sweat and hard work, the house grew closer to completion as each new beam of wood was erected.
‘I found it quite refreshing to see the spirit of human goodness in action,’ said SBU freshman Kirsten Jerm’eacute;. ‘The volunteers become truly involved in the lives of the family, especially because they work side-by-side in the construction of the house.”
Habitat for Humanity does not give homes to people free of charge. Future residents must help provide labor into the production of their home, investing an average of 300 to 500 hours of their own time.’ Residents must also help finance the cost of building the homes. ‘
‘I think that Habitat serves a good purpose, because a lot of people are less fortunate and do need housing,’ said Sutton. Habitat for Humanity offers these families a chance to own a home in exchange for some of their time and payment of no-interest loans, Sutton said.
Houses are built principally by volunteers and mortgage payments are kept reasonably low to those unable to obtain conventional financing for a home.
According to the Habitat for Humanity, ‘Owning a home is not the answer to every problem, but can be an important step- often the first step- toward helping people break out of the cycle of poverty.’
‘I strongly encourage involvement in Habitat for Humanity,’ Jerm’eacute; said. ‘Not only is it fun and rewarding for the volunteers, it also provides impoverished families with a home-something most of us take for granted.’
Anyone interested in becoming involved with Habitat for Humanity should take part in one of six more building events running from October thru November, starting Oct. 25. To sign-up, go to SAC Room 219 two to three weeks in advance.’ More information will be posted on target vision and flyers as the date of the volunteer events approach.’ A full volunteer schedule is listed on the Stony Brook Habitat for Humanity website http://ws.cc.stonybrook.edu/sb/habitat/.
