Engaging the Faith Community in Charity and Justice

Rev. Andrew Wilkes

October 13th 2012

Who Are We?

Our missionHabitat for Humanity – New York City transforms lives and our city by building quality homes for families in need and by uniting all New Yorkers around the cause of affordable housing.

An independently funded and operated affiliate of Habitat for Humanity

International

Founded in New York City in 1984.

Builds in the five boroughs of New York City.

Built more than 260 homes for low-income

New York City families

Who we serve

Habitat for Humanity – New York City Offers a hand up, Not a handout.

Our family partners Are willing to work – at least 200 “sweat equity” hours per adult member in lieu of a down payment

Live in substandard or overcrowded housing.

50 to 80% of AMI (Area Median Income)

Habitat-NYC housing is not free. Habitat-NYC families pay a monthly affordable mortgage, which helps provide for the construction of additional homes.

Universal Statement on Faith and Values

• Habitat-NYC is a faith-rooted housing ministry. We mobilize people of faith, and of conscience, to build and advocate for affordable housing. Our faiths empower and enjoin us to undertake the work of charity and justice. In response to that sacred summons, we work together to provide shelter for those in need and create a more just City for all.

Faith-Rooted Relations

• Theology of the Hammer– “People who may not

agree on a whole lot else agree that people need a simple, decent place to live” Millard Fuller

• Charity – Volunteering mobilizes

charity to build houses– Matthew 22:37-40

• Justice– Speaking and standing

up for affordable housing

• Prophetic call for justice– Hebrew prophets

– Dr. Martin Luther King

– Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel

Faith Partner Covenant

• Faith Volunteering• Faith Advocacy• Faith Giving• Praying• Teaching/Preaching

Faith Advocacy

• Paper House Advocacy Campaign– 40 congregations;

4200 paper houses signed

– Housing Sabbath• Borough-specific

• Citywide Campaign

Faith Advocacy

Why did Habitat-NYC decide to become involved in Advocacy?

Production Vs. Need: At Habitat – NYC, we build approximately 20 homes each year and over 2 million New Yorkers are in need of affordable housing

The Power of the Habitat Name: Involving ourselves and our name in the political arena can potentially have a tremendous impact on influencing public policy to build the units that we cannot

It’s our Mission: Habitat for Humanity is committed to ending poverty housing. We can do this better and faster by engaging in advocacy

Family Partner Mike Murphy in D.C. with Congressman Greg Meeks of the 6th District (SE Queens)

Faith Volunteering

• Quarterly volunteering opportunities– Brush with Kindness– Construction

• Unique opportunities– Gingerbread houses

for families– Purim bags for

volunteers

• Managing expectations– Too many

opportunities?• Broad engagement

– Too few opportunities?• Fairness

Place-Based Outreach

• Faith outreach around homebuilding efforts

• Volunteering opportunities

• Homeownership information sessions

• Clergy Groups– African-American Clergy and Elected

Officials (AACEO), Brooklyn Council of Churches, Queens Congregation United for Action

Praying

• Home Dedications & Ribbon-Cuttings– Opportunities for clergy

engagement – Hosting, Invocations

• Home Blessings– Liturgies for Home

Blessings

• Special Events– September 11th Prayer

and Interfaith Litany

• Bulletin Inserts for Worship Services– Update on

homebuilding and advocacy work

– Prayer request

Teaching/Preaching

• Special Events

– MLK Build• Keynote Opportunities

– Building on Faith• Clergy Build• Keynote Opportunities

• Minute for Mission– Opportunity to talk about Habitat’s work within

or between services

Faith Giving

• Congregational Pledges

– Builder Awards Gala

– Speaking

• Grants

– Program Documentation

– Proposals

• Habitat for Humanity Grants

– Interfaith Activity

Standardized vs. Personalized

• Standardized– Faith partner covenant – Letter of receipt for

donations– General updates

• Personalized– High-touch– In-person meetings

and phone calls vs. e-mails and snail mails

– Visiting congregations, grabbing coffee

• Tabling• Speaking before,

during, and after services or meetings

Faith & Community Relations

• Habitat-NYC Community Resident Survey• BUILD: Housing and Community Development

Fair– Concord Baptist Church

• “Come and See” Visits– Brush with Kindness outreach to elected officials

• New Yorkers for Responsible Lending– Lobby visits, sign-on letters