Habitat Homeowner

I don’t know if I would have ever decided to volunteer at a shelter in St Paul if it wasn’t for this assignment; I am very thankful for this

Based on the article “Changing the Face of Poverty” the issue that Diana George is responding to is poverty and its representation in the world. George first discusses how the nonprofit organization Habitat for Humanity tries to eliminate poverty by constructing houses for Americans who are suffering because of poverty. However, she states that the images which the nonprofit organization uses are pictures that try to “evoke the desire to give or to act, so that the benefactors don’t turn away” (George 240). These pictures may not completely depict all people who are suffering from poverty.

One of the tenants is the Empowerment Plan, a non-profit manufacturer who builds jackets that convert into sleeping bags for the homeless. What started out as a class assignment for the Detroit based College for Creative Studies has become a full time job making 6,500 coats a year. She realised that the jacket was only a Band-Aid for a larger systemic problem of homelessness. So she began employing single parents who have been homeless, providing them with a skill, a job and self-empowerment.

I have spent copious amounts of time in communities stricken with low socioeconomic statuses, less fortunate than the usual neighborhoods I see in Pikesville. The experiences has engrained a strong moral compass into me, leading me to have a solid goal; of beautifying and bettering areas of destitute.

In turn, George’s thesis is an interesting one because of the depth she adds to it, but that should not deter your attention from her original argument. George provides a variety of examples, but elaborates on Habitat for Humanity and their publications in particular, to show their dependence on certain stereotypes. These

To really captivate the interest of donors and spark that emotional response that will lead to action we will have a group of those who have struggled with being homeless in the winter months of New England tell their stories to donors. As previously noted women give causes that support women. We will focus on the stories of young mothers and young ladies fleeing terrible circumstances then show how FHCHI does not just offer hope it leads to change. When presenting these stories and images FHCHI will ensure that the representations are not demeaning, exploiting, or misleading the public (Burnett, 2002). The organization will also ensure that the dignity of those depicted remains in tact. The sole purpose of telling these stories it to spread awareness and inspire others to take action.

This summer an eye-opening event occurred in Houston in the form of hurricane Harvey. Lives and homes were lost in the unexpected event, resulting in many citizens being homeless. The owner of a gallery furniture store, Jim McIngvale, had a unique way of portraying compassion towards helping the temporarily homeless citizens of Houston by opening up his furniture store as a sanctuary. Jim was putting others needs before his own when he was inviting them to stay in his store, and providing them with necessities such as a toothbrush, dry clothes, soap, and shoes.

Habitat for Humanity (Habitat) envisions a world where everyone has access to affordable housing (Habitat, 2015). Habitat seeks to break the cycle of poverty by partnering with low income families to help build a decent, affordable home. Habitat was started in 1976 by Evangelical Christians as a non-profit organization that built affordable houses for families in need (Baggett, 2000). Habitat offers a sweat equity program that requires the homeowner to dedicate 300 hours of labor in building their home and other habitat homes (Habitat, 2016). Through the sweat equity program, Habitat aims to make homeownership possible to the economically disadvantaged. Habitat provides this service by offering affordable homes in safe neighborhoods

Philip shares with me his personal experiences working with the individuals who found themselves living on the streets during the years of 1986-1996. He explains why eventually he dealt solely with those individuals who would not go in to the missions and shelters or even accept food from the mobile soup wagons. Philip relives the moment that he first realized that houseless people were not in their current situation because of a life misled or because they were lazy or criminal, as may be the common

I hope this message finds you in good health. As you know home and supplies are some of the most important necessities people need in life. Helping out individuals deprived of these necessities is a must for those with the power to do so. Today, I am contacting you on behalf on my team with a goal to build affordable houses for the people who are financially able to move out of the shelters and start living on their own. As we have made the intent to build a housing society for homeless people, achieving this goal is not so easy which is why we want your company, J.C. Penny to help us make this dream true. Accomplishing this goal will help to decrease the number of homeless in Dallas and also ensure that those who are ready to move into homes will no longer have to wait for available housing.

There are many people who live in poverty in the United States and throughout the years, different organizations set up donations and sent volunteers to provide help to those in need. In order to get the message out to the donors, organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, created advertisements and posters that simulate people’s emotions to assist the unfortunate (236). Although, Habitat for Humanity has provided enormous help to those that lived in poverty, their strategy in advertisement has also misled the people that needed the aid. In their videos and posters they included:

Another meaningful experience that sticks out to me is when I regularly volunteered at a children’s homeless shelter in Roxbury, Mass. for two years, and was reminded of the fact that the statistics we hear every day about homelessness are real people – not just numbers. Every child I played alongside,

Upon arrival, our first activity was to work in the trailer park. While these people were not homeless, they were in quite severe poverty. However, they were nothing like one may expect. One was a very friendly older woman who had worked and gone to college in her younger days but she had been abducted and hurt severely in her twenties. Even though that happen, she was cheerful and had poetic talents. Another was a family whose screen door we replaced because they could not afford a new one. The father was hard working and was made sure all of his children had an education and a roof over their head while the mother cooked and cleaned. Each was doing their part to make the best of their lives. The last was a middle aged couple who needed their trailer badly cleaned. They not only were thankful but they prayed over our group before we left. We a blessing to each of their lives but, they were to ours as

I believe the small things make the biggest difference in a community. Over the years, I have served many, worthy volunteer organizations. From lobbying to the state legislators on bills to alleviate hunger in our communities, to serving lunch at the local senior center, to assisting disabled children at sporting events, I’ve enjoyed many opportunities to make a difference on a large scale. But one ordinary day, I did something I am truly proud of and I think it made my community a better place. I was driving home from work one afternoon during the summer. It was hot by San Diego standards; the temperature approaching more than 90 degrees. As I neared my home, there was a team of workers digging trenches to install reclaimed water pipes

I looked outside and it looked cold so I grabbed my sweatshirt that I had received from my school’s football team. I loved it because it had my name and number on it so I felt proud. I stepped out the door and I was right, it was brisk out with a slight breeze blowing the remaining leaves from the tall trees of our neighborhood. As I walked with my hands tucked deep in my coat pockets, I watched the last leaf of a tall oak tree slowly sway side to side down from its branch. I checked the clock of my phone and saw that it was nearly 9:30 in the morning. The city-wide rummage sale started at 10:00 so I knew I had time before the house started becoming overflowed by people of the community. As I strolled to the end of the street I noticed the house had already set up tables and spread some random items out on them. I noticed an old woman seated in a rocking chair near the end of the tables. She smiled brightly and slightly lifted her fragile hand into the air in a half-hearted wave.