Habitat Building Blitz Underway in Detroit

Hundreds of volunteers gathered in southwest Detroit this morning for the start of the Jimmy Carter Work Project 2005 - a week-long building program designed to supply brand-new homes to 30 deserving families.

The Jimmy Carter Work Project (JCWP) - an event that Carter and his wife preside over for one week every year - is part of the work of Habitat for Humanity International, a non-profit housing ministry whose goal is to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness from the world.

Habitat for Humanity Detroit - one of over 2000 affiliates of Habitat for Humanity International - expects more than 1500 volunteers from Detroit and beyond to gather at this year's target area, Thurgood Marshall Village, to help in the construction of the 30 homes. Contributing to every aspect of the home-building process, volunteers perform labor-intensive tasks like raising and insulating walls, installing cabinets, and hanging doors. Many of these individuals, along with corporate and church sponsors, also make financial donatations needed to buy the supplies for Habitat supplies.

Detroit, which is one of two host cities for the former President's 2005 event, was chosen because of its need for good-quality housing, as well as its high-level of poverty-stricken neighborhoods. Benton Harbor, Michigan, is the other host city that was chosen for this year's Work Project. In all, 225 Habitat homes will be built this week throughout Michigan and Windsor, Ontario.

Started in 1986 by Fred and Ellen Schippert, HFH Detroit was the recipient of the 2003 Habitat Affiliate of the Year by Habitat for Humanity Michigan, and for good reason: since its founding almost 20 years ago, HFH Detroit has constructed more than 150 houses in the D. In addition, many of these homes were built in areas that hadn't seen new construction in two or more decades.

For information on volunteering, donating, applying to become a Habitat homeowner, or learning more about Habitat for Humanity Detroit, please click here.