1. Engaging the Faith Community in Charity and Justice Rev. Andrew Wilkes October 13 th 2012

2. Who Are We? Our mission Habitat for Humanity – New York City transforms lives and our city by building quality homes for families in need and by uniting all New Yorkers around the cause of affordable housing.  An independently funded and operated affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International  Founded in New York City in 1984.  Builds in the five boroughs of New York City.  Built more than 260 homes for low-income New York City families

3. Who we serve Habitat for Humanity – New York City Offers a hand up, Not a handout. Our family partners  Are willing to work – at least 200 “sweat equity” hours per adult member in lieu of a down payment  Live in substandard or overcrowded housing.  50 to 80% of AMI (Area Median Income) Habitat-NYC housing is not free. Habitat-NYC families pay a monthly affordable mortgage, which helps provide for the construction of additional homes.

4. Universal Statement on Faith and Values Habitat-NYC is a faith-rooted housing ministry. We mobilize people of faith, and of conscience, to build and advocate for affordable housing. Our faiths empower and enjoin us to undertake the work of charity and justice. In response to that sacred summons, we work together to provide shelter for those in need and create a more just City for all.

5. Faith-Rooted Relations Theology of the Hammer –“People who may not agree on a whole lot else agree that people need a simple, decent place to live” Millard Fuller Charity –Volunteering mobilizes charity to build houses –Matthew 22:37-40 Justice –Speaking and standing up for affordable housing Prophetic call for justice –Hebrew prophets –Dr. Martin Luther King –Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel

6. Faith Partner Covenant Faith Volunteering Faith Advocacy Faith Giving Praying Teaching/Preaching

7. Faith Advocacy Paper House Advocacy Campaign –40 congregations; 4200 paper houses signed –Housing Sabbath Borough-specific Citywide Campaign

8. Faith Advocacy Why did Habitat-NYC decide to become involved in Advocacy? Production Vs. Need: At Habitat – NYC, we build approximately 20 homes each year and over 2 million New Yorkers are in need of affordable housing The Power of the Habitat Name: Involving ourselves and our name in the political arena can potentially have a tremendous impact on influencing public policy to build the units that we cannot It’s our Mission: Habitat for Humanity is committed to ending poverty housing. We can do this better and faster by engaging in advocacy Family Partner Mike Murphy in D.C. with Congressman Greg Meeks of the 6 th District (SE Queens)

9. Faith Volunteering Quarterly volunteering opportunities –Brush with Kindness –Construction Unique opportunities –Gingerbread houses for families –Purim bags for volunteers Managing expectations –Too many opportunities? Broad engagement –Too few opportunities? Fairness

10. Place-Based Outreach Faith outreach around homebuilding efforts Volunteering opportunities Homeownership information sessions Clergy Groups –African-American Clergy and Elected Officials (AACEO), Brooklyn Council of Churches, Queens Congregation United for Action

11. Praying Home Dedications & Ribbon-Cuttings –Opportunities for clergy engagement –Hosting, Invocations Home Blessings –Liturgies for Home Blessings Special Events –September 11 th Prayer and Interfaith Litany Bulletin Inserts for Worship Services –Update on homebuilding and advocacy work –Prayer request

12. Teaching/Preaching Special Events –MLK Build Keynote Opportunities –Building on Faith Clergy Build Keynote Opportunities Minute for Mission –Opportunity to talk about Habitat’s work within or between services

13. Faith Giving Congregational Pledges –Builder Awards Gala –Speaking Grants –Program Documentation –Proposals Habitat for Humanity Grants –Interfaith Activity

14. Standardized vs. Personalized Standardized –Faith partner covenant –Letter of receipt for donations –General updates Personalized –High-touch –In-person meetings and phone calls vs. e- mails and snail mails –Visiting congregations, grabbing coffee Tabling Speaking before, during, and after services or meetings

15. Faith & Community Relations Habitat-NYC Community Resident Survey BUILD: Housing and Community Development Fair –Concord Baptist Church “Come and See” Visits –Brush with Kindness outreach to elected officials New Yorkers for Responsible Lending –Lobby visits, sign-on letters