HOUSING FOR ALL >>>
The Weekly Volcano is partnering with the United Way of Pierce County to run a 12-month campaign focused on the issue of homelessness and affordable housing. We will be highlighting community efforts around the issue and helping raise funds to go directly toward affordable housing.
For those feeling a little empty inside this holiday season, Maureen Fife has the perfect gift - no wrapping required.
"Come out and volunteer," says Fife, Tacoma-Pierce County Habitat for Humanity chief executive officer. "It's an incredible gift someone can give themselves."
It's also a gift that can help put a roof over someone's head this holiday season. Habitat for Humanity builds between 20 to 25 houses a year in the South Sound, and is currently working on a 13-house development in Tacoma at 86th St. and South Ainsworth and another project in Tillicum. When finished, the development in Tacoma will feature a community garden, a tot lot and a basketball court.
"It was a neighborhood eyesore before we started work on it," Fife says.
The goal is to have the development completed by June. But from around Thanksgiving until March, the stream of volunteers starts to slow down, says Jason Gauthier, director of volunteer services.
"We're hoping to change that this year," Gauthier adds.
Even if a person has never picked up a tape measure or a hammer, they can still help out at a Habitat for Humanity job site.
"It's a great learning experience for them," Gauthier continues. "We do everything we can to make sure a volunteer has a great day at the job site."
Project managers at each site delegate tasks and help volunteers learn how to operate power tools.
"We're going to teach you the skills you need for the day," he says. "We'll teach you if you want to learn."
Volunteers also get the chance to work directly with the future homeowner on the job site, creating a real connection to the project. For groups of more than five people that want to volunteer, Habitat will even send a representative out to meet with the group and give the new volunteer orientation.
Those who would like to give in other ways can do so by donating items to the Habitat for Humanity Store, located at 505 Puyallup Ave., Tacoma.
"If you're getting something new and you're getting rid of something, the Habitat store can always use it," Fife says. "The store is an enormous resource for low income families."
The store accepts appliances, furniture, lighting fixtures, cabinets and other items.
"Anything that people purchase at the store goes right back into building houses," Fife says.
The store can also recycle various used items for cash.
"Nothing is wasted," Fife adds.
Homelessness and access to affordable housing is a critical issue for our community. In 2010 - during a 24 hour annual "count" - 1,807 persons were counted as homeless. However, it is estimated that 4 to 5 times more people will be homeless during any year than can be counted on any given night.
For more information on volunteering at a job site or donating items to the Habitat store, visit www.tpc-habitat.org.
To donate money to United Way's effort to provide affordable housing to those in need, text HOUSE to 20222 and donate $10 to provide housing for all.
For more information on United Way's housing programs, click here.