Founded in 1976, Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit, ecumenical housing ministry dedicated to eliminating substandard housing and homelessness worldwide. Habitat has built over 70,000 houses around the world, providing 350,000 people with safe, decent and affordable shelter. Habitat invites people from all faiths and walks of life to work in partnership, building houses with people in need and making affordable shelter a matter of conscience and action.
Habitat houses are sold to the partner families at no profit, financed with affordable, no interest loans. The homeowners’ monthly mortgage payments are recycled into a revolving Fund for Humanity that is used to build more houses. Partner families are identified based on their level of need, willingness to become partners in the Habitat program, and ability to pay the no-interest loans.
Locally, Habitat works in partnership with Joyful Hands, a consortium of 10 Barrington Churches committed to build one Habitat for Humanity home per year. Each member church pledges to donate a fixed amount through the Joyful Hands Ministry. A majority of BUMC’s financial commitment is raised through the generosity of the congregation in the support of the Sharing Our Gifts Classical Arts Concert. Save the Date for this year’s performance: March 26th!!!!
Last year, a 3 bedroom home was fully rehabbed and has been sold at no profit to a low income first-time home buyer. The family consists of a single parent (mother) and a 14 year old daughter. She recently forwarded an e-mail to those working with the Joyful Hands Ministry:
Hi,
I am actually writing a letter to Joyful Hands to express my gratitude towards you (even though it is hard to express with words since there are so many feelings involved). Once I finish my letter I will send that out to you. This email however, is on behalf of my sister Jenny. She is leaving this coming Saturday and asked me to tell you this:
She is very pleased to have met each one of you, and she leaves amazed by your generosity and your willingness to serve. It wasn’t until she met you that she understood what SERVING meant, she had never experience anything like that before and she can’t wait to tell her friends about the love and the grace that you all showed. She wishes she could have been able to communicate better with you to express her thoughts and feelings. She is truly moved and touched by all of your JOYFUL HANDS, wishes you and your family the best of God’s blessings.
P.S. I don’t have the email address from everybody that helped, please forward this to the ones you know I am missing.
Thank you so much and I will keep in touch
~Norali
Work is proceeding on our current home at 922 Chippewa in Carpentersville. For additional information, contact Brent Hayes.
For more information regarding the Joyful Hands Partnership, please visit the web site.
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