Calling all churches: Sponsor a home

Americus, Ga. (Jan. 26, 2010) – The Fuller Center for Housing is inviting all churches to sponsor a home in Haiti as part of its plans to establish a long-term recovery effort there. 

The Fuller Center, a nonprofit ecumenical Christian housing ministry with covenant partners in 50 locations throughout the U.S. and 17 countries in the world, partners with low-income families to build and renovate homes.

The Haiti initiative will rebuild as many homes for earthquake victims as can be funded. The Fuller Center is partnering with Lazarian World Homes, a non-profit organization based in California providing a unique house model just for Haiiti — a one-room 16’ x 16’ earthquake, fire and hurricane-resistant home which be sponsored for $3,000. 

“The need to respond to the heartbreaking tragedy that hit Haiti is daunting. We invite every church to take this chance to help,” Fuller Center President David Snell says.

Churches are already getting involved.

The Fuller Center signed a partnership agreement and will be working side-by-side with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, creating volunteer and house-building opportunities in Haiti.

“The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship is honored to be a part of long term planning and rebuilding in Haiti with The Fuller Center,” Charles Ray, U.S. Disaster Response Coordinator of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, said. “Together we will continue to change lives in being the presence of Christ.”

And the assistance and support of faith-based organizations from denominations like Assemblies of God, Mennonites and the Church of the Nazarene helped get this initiative off the ground.

With this support, The Fuller Center has the resources to set up the effort in Haiti. But funding is necessary to keep rebuilding. The need in Haiti will be great for many years to come.

The Fuller Center hopes to begin building as early as March and has already begun signing up volunteers for those interested in joining work teams once construction begins. The sign-up form can be found at http://www.fullercenter.org/haiti.

While building homes, The Fuller Center will seek out partnerships with economic development programs to help Haitians move beyond dependency on aid. 

This initiative goes hand in hand with The Fuller Center Faith Builders program that allows churches to sign up with The Fuller Center to build and renovate homes. To learn more about Faith Builders visit www.fullercenter.org/faith-builders. 

To learn more about The Fuller Center’s involvement in Haiti recovery, to donate or sign up for a work team visit www.fullercenter.org/Haiti.

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About The Fuller Center for Housing

The Fuller Center for Housing is a non-profit Christian organization that promotes collaborative and innovative partnerships with individuals, organizations, corporations, and groups of all faiths in an unrelenting quest to provide adequate shelter for all people in need. To learn more about The Fuller Center for Housing, visit http://www.fullercenter. org.