Himani Karia

Contributing Writer

hvk5499@psu.edu

According to CBS, two years after the pandemic ended, homelessness in the US is on the rise and about 421,400 people were homeless last year. Also, according to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, homelessness rates have been increasing 6% every year since 2017. Also, because of increasing interest rates, low inventory, and inflation, many people are unable to afford homes.
Homelessness is becoming a pervasive issue, which is why organizations like Habitat for Humanity are so important. Habitat for Humanity is a global nonprofit housing organization that works in local communities across all 50 states in the United States. This organization was founded by Millard and Linda Fuller in 1976 outside Americus, Georgia. This organization helps low-income people around the world access decent housing. Habitat for Humanity helps homeowners pay amore affordable mortgage. They also help build, repair, and renovate new homes.
On November 4th 2023, six Penn State Behrend undergraduate students, two medical students, and three faculty members volunteered for a Habitat for Humanity workday. When the volunteers came in, a Habitat for Humanity worker explained everything about the purpose of the organization, what was going to be completed that day, and information about the house we were working on. Then, together, at this house, the volunteers sanded the walls, spray painted the walls and ceilings, and plastered the walls and windows.

Through this experience, the students/volunteers got to know each other better and discussed their future plans. Many of the students were pre-med students, so they talked about their shared interests of helping people and the medical field. When Himani Karia was asked about her experience volunteering for this organization she stated, “I found this experience to be rewarding because I was able to give back to my community and meet others who have similar interests. I think that it’s amazing that this organization mitigates the cost of homes and for low-income individuals and families.” The house that the volunteers worked on was for a family of eight: six kids and two parents. The house will hopefully be completed by this Christmas. The volunteers did a lot of work and completed
several $1000 worth of labor.
Overall, the volunteers used good communication and team-working skills to complete all of the tasks. When there was a volunteer who didn’t know how to do something, another came in and helped them with the task. Habitat for Humanity’s mission statement is, “Seeking to put God’s love into action, Habitat for Humanity brings people together to build homes, communities, and hope.” Habitat for Humanity is an excellent organization that helps those in need of an affordable home. At the end of this workday, the volunteers felt accomplished and were thankful that they got to be a part of such a good cause. Habitat for Humanity was truly a transformative experience that united all of us as individuals to build an affordable house for a family in need. The hands-on work that we did helped foster a sense of accomplishment and community. This workday empowered us to make an impact by providing homes for families with housing challenges.