Organization
helps build
more than
housing
Constructing houses is only one
goal of Lincoln-Lancaster County
Habitat for Humanity; building family
relationships and a supportive com
munity are the others.
For 10 years, Habitat has been
dedicated to eliminating inadequate
housing in Lincoln.
“There are a lot of needy people in
the community,” said Laurie Fraser,
Habitat vice president. “We are trying
to help those who need us the most.”
Inspired by her father’s Habitat for
Humanity work in California, Fraser
has worked with Habitat for four
years.
“I like the fact that we are helping
people improve their lives,” she said.
“It's the greatest feeling in the world.”
Habitat is a Christian organization
with volunteers from many faiths
working together. Since 1988, the
Lincoln chapter has built 33 houses
throughout the city.
“We don’t give anyone a home,”
the Rev. James Cooke, Lincoln
Habitat president, said. “We build a
home with them.”
Cooke, a 10-year member of
Habitat, said the group’s main mission
is to build houses.
“We are the fun part of the
church,” he said.
Fraser said interested families
wishing to become Habitat for
Humanity families must attend a
homeowner application forum.
Upcoming forums will be Oct. 6, 8
and 10 at Grace United Methodist
Church, 2640 R St., she said.
* ■
“This is where we tell them what
Habitat is all about,” Fraser said. “We
are a hand up, not a hand out.”
Families fill out an application,
and a Habitat family selection com
mittee reviews all applications.
Each family that meets Habitat’s
partnership criteria then participates
in both a family and an in-house inter
view.
“The interviews serve as a chance
for us to get to know the families,”
Fraser said. “We personally get to
know them and see how they live.”
After the interviews, the commit
tee conducts a final review and makes
family partnership recommendations
to the Habitat board of directors.
Fraser said Habitat does not limit
the number of houses or families it
sponsors each year.
Cooke said being involved with a
Habitat home can do a lot of good,
both for the volunteer and the partner
ship family.
“As you work on a house you see
instant results,” Cooke said. “Habitat
is building lives one house at a time.”
Habitat offers many volunteer
opportunities throughout the year.
Fraser encouraged everyone to get
involved.
“If you are proud of Lincoln as a
community, helping families become
strong is the greatest gift you can
give,” she said.
For volunteer opportunities and
information call Lincoln-Lancaster
County Habitat for Humanity at (402)
477-9184.