Senior News June, 2003 Vol. 22. No. 6

 

Published by the Humboldt Senior Resource Center in Eureka, California. HSRC is a non-profit community-based organization offering services for senior citizens, multi-generational families and caregivers.

Habitat houses build more than structures, they build relationships

Funeral Alliance recommends "last bills" account

Peace workshops planned

Help others, enjoy being part of the solution

Mary Beth Wolford credited with many positive changes at HSRC

Second senior needs meeting set June 14

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Linking the generations
Habitat houses build more than structures, they build relationships
by Jack Surmani

Habitat builders take a break on the McKinleyville site. From left are backhoe operater Bill Stonebarger, a retired millworker; home builder Rich Lewis, a retired teacher; Shalico Madonia feeling her muscles, daughter of Home Partner Rick Madonia; Nathan Rankin, her boyfriend; Madonia whose family will live in the home; and Jack Surmani, executive director of Humboldt Habitat. Madonia also helped build the first Habitat home on A Street in 2002. Stonebarger learned how to drive the backhoe only after he retired, but said most things with levers came easily to him. He now is clearing some acreage in Fieldbrook where he will mill his own lumber and build his own house. Lewis went to work last year helping to build 17 homes in a similar program in Santa Rosa. Photo by Barbara Clark

It is a Saturday morning. Some of the first to arrive at the building site are the seniors. These are retired professionals who have been Habitat for Humanity volunteers for many years. They have raised funds, folded newsletters and been involved in all phases of construction. Some have even joined the board of directors.

The coordinator of the day arrives to set out all the supplies for the volunteers. Coordinators usually often are the Home Partner, the family for whom the house is being built, putting in his "sweat equity" hours through coordinating activities and doing construction. Coordinators come with their kids, who help to set out the drinks and snacks for the volunteers.

Today these senior and Home Partner families will work side by side doing a variety of construction and organizational projects at Habitat Village, our nine-home subdivision in McKinleyville. By the end of the day, volunteers will have bent rebar for foundations, nailed boards on a picket fence, caught up on tool maintenance and organized volunteer files.

Everyone who lives in Humboldt County knows that there is a shortage of affordable housing. Habitat for Humanity makes it possible for more families to own their own homes by partnering community volunteers and resources with home owners in the construction of decent affordable housing. While living in more decent housing, families experience a greater quality of life, children's grades improve, and everyone participates in civic life.

Watching the building of a home is a powerful message to most people. It symbolizes the bringing together of resources, the process of teamwork, and the realization of a dream. Many seniors with construction and people experience find time in their schedules to volunteer and share their experience by supervising a crew of volunteers in planning, framing, plumbing, painting, or organizing.

There are many other ways to work with Humboldt Habitat for Humanity. In fact, in our office are three seniors who are working with us through the Senior Community Service Employment Program. People can make presentations about Habitat to their churches or organizations, recruit and coordinate a group to work on a build, help on a committee, refer someone with technical expertise, name HHfH to receive a bequest, or get a tax deduction on the full market value of a gift of property to avoid capital gains tax.

Jack Surmani is executive director Humboldt Habitat for Humanity. If you are interested in helping to work with Humboldt Habitat, its volunteers, businesses, churches and Home Partners to build a decent place to live, call the Habitat office and talk to him at 441-1006.