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| Homes of hope |
| Evangelicals Now |
| Published 17 January 2006 |
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Habitat for Humanity in Gliwice, Poland
Habitat for Humanity International is a non-profit, fairly ecumenical Christian housing ministry, which frequently provides rich opportunities to share the gospel. Founded in 1976 by Milard Fuller along with his wife Linda, HFHI seeks to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness from the world, and make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action.
Habitat invites people from all walks of life to work together in partnership to help build houses with families in need. Working in 100 countries around the world, Habitat has built more than 200,000 houses.
Through volunteer labour and donations from individuals, churches and businesses, Habitat builds and renovates homes with the help of homeowner (partner) families (many hours of work on site required of them), with no-interest loans paid through a 20-year mortgage, which then raises the next funds to build more homes.
Poland
The idea of establishing Habitat for Humanity in Poland began in Gliwice in March 1990, only four months after the fall of the Berlin wall, and only nine months after Poland held its first free elections. This meant that people could at last begin to rebuild Poland without Communism. 1991 saw the first Habitat for Humanity interest groups in Europe started in Gliwice and Hungary, officially Affiliates just a year later. In the process of gaining the credibility and knowledge necessary for affiliation with the US-based organisation, organisational and financial help from our brothers and sisters in the UK was crucially important. Their advice and giving is to be remembered always with special thankfulness. One offering towards the Gliwice project was collected during the Greenbelt Festival.
After many trials and the pains of Polish bureaucracy, construction finally began on a single multi-family building in 1994. The first Homes of Hope were dedicated in August 1996 and the first five Habitat partner families moved into their new homes with great hopes for the future.
Cramped conditions
The Soyka family of five, one of those first partner families, had previously been living for seven years in cramped conditions in 39 square metres, and that was an improvement from their previous smaller place where, among other things, the electricity was often cut off because their landlord periodically ‘forgot’ to pay the electric bill, even though he had collected all of the rent. Since the Soykas had already paid in full for a state-authorised flat of proper size for five people, M-5, the 30-square-meter flat was supposed to be temporary. The state co-operative stopped building long before they had built an apartment for the Soykas, yet kept their money for many years after the Soykas became Habitat partner families.
Similar tales can be told by many others who are now among partner families of Habitat. These families had all been previously living in cramped and/or inadequate conditions with no hope of being able to afford an adequate, simple, decent place to live.
The second, third, fourth and fifth (housing twice as many families) multi-family buildings in Gliwice were dedicated in 1998, 2000, 2001, and 2003. Just a few days ago, the sixth building was dedicated, with 12 families receiving keys to their new houses and, as always, specially dedicated Bibles. These dedications provide excellent opportunities, in the presence of authorities and media, to testify to the true motivation that stands behind this work — witnessing about God's love for people and the power of prayer.
These buildings are on the same site, with two more to be constructed there. Building number 7 is well under way. The standard worldwide for all Habitat for Humanity homes is that they are simple, decent, and affordable plus volunteer-friendly to construct.
Revolving fund
Every Habitat for Humanity Affiliate has an Affiliate Revolving Fund for Humanity used to finance all local building and renovation projects. Repayments by partner families of the no-profit no-interest loan (covering the cost of construction of their home) go into this Fund, as do donations from many businesses, churches and individuals. Since the repayments by the partner families are usually made over a period of 20 years, they represent only a small fraction of the money available in a given year for building. Significant yearly donations are needed for that Affiliate to continue building.
Sweat, equity and volunteers
In addition to repaying construction costs, partner families must each work at least 500 hours of sweat equity in building both their own homes and those of others. The numerous volunteers helping partner families with building include both local folk and those who come great distances as part of Global Village Teams, all with the same goal of helping to eliminate substandard housing. Working side by side provides the greatest kind of cultural exchange — the sharing of faith and friendship while helping others.
Global Village Teams
Global Village Teams, also called IST or International Service Teams, typically consist of ten to 20 people who go together to a HFH Affiliate (like HFH Gliwice) to help work for one to two weeks. Team members pay all their own expenses and also give a generous donation to the HFH Affiliate Revolving Fund for Humanity used to finance all local building and renovation projects.
Most members of these teams raise at least part of their expenses and donation through local home fundraising projects to raise awareness of what is happening in their target affiliate. We have many returning friends from these teams who continue their prayer and support.
From the UK we have had so far two church groups — one from Rugby and one from Belfast, and also three times a group from the International School of Aberdeen.
What can I do?
We need your prayers, your hands-on support in helping to build through Global Village Teams, and your financial support.
Please help us to continue to bring hope to many Gliwice families by helping them to have a simple, decent, affordable place to live. We build more than houses — the new communities are excellent opportunities for believers to share their faith by building, and then living together. This actually takes place through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ! In a few of our homes there is a regular Bible study. Some of the members of the Association as well as invited guests are organising special events like Christmas parties, concerts, outings — a splendid chance to witness. And helping practically seems to be an effective tool in our modern society to convince people that we love them and really care for them.
‘Let us stop just saying we love people; let us show them by our actions that we really love them’ (1 John 3.18).
Contact information:
Habitat for Humanity Gliwice
ul. Ko_ciuszki 1c/506
44-100 Gliwice, POLAND
Tel/Fax: +48 32 232 4416
Email: gliwice@habitat.pl
Website: http://www.gliwice.habitat.pl
To donate through the UK National HFH Office: 11 Parsons Street, Banbury, Oxon OX16 5LW (01295 264240) and designate your cheque to: HFH Gliwice in Poland.
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© Evangelicals Now
This column is used with permission. |
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