Habitat for Humanity and Plastics Industry Build Together

Every day, as millions of hardworking families throughout the U.S. and around the world struggle to survive without decent housing, Habitat for Humanity International offers hope. And from Atlanta to Washington, D.C., to Los Angeles, plastics companies are joining the effort.

Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit, ecumenical housing organization, which works in partnership with families in need to build and renovate decent, affordable housing. The houses are then sold to "partner families" in need at no profit and with no interest on the mortgage. The program builds lives as well as houses, restoring hope and helping to end the cycle of poverty. A hand up, not a hand out

Habitat for Humanity is not a giveaway program. Partner families invest hundreds of hours of their own labor-sweat equity-into building their homes and homes for others. Their monthly mortgage payments go into a revolving Fund for Humanity that is used to build more homes. Additional funding comes from tax-deductible donations of money and materials. Volunteers provide much of the construction labor, working with partner families.

Habitat for Humanity is a community effort, and plastics companies, particularly members of the Vinyl Siding Institute (VSI), have been important contributors to the program's success. Here are some of the contributions they're making.

• The VSI donated vinyl siding and accessories for 20 homes built near the Olympic stadium complex in the Peoplestown neighborhood in Atlanta. (See Document #2443 for more on the effort.)
• In Washington D.C., VSI members supplied vinyl siding and accessories, industry workers, and expertise for a D.C. Habitat for Humanity building project. More than 40 industry volunteers helped build nine, two-story townhouses in six days and organized and operated an on-site vinyl scrap reclamation project. (See Document #2427.)
• The VSI and its member companies supported a similar recycling effort at a Habitat for Humanity project in the Watts/Willowbrook area of Los Angeles.
• The VSI's participation and contributions have gone a long way in creating better housing-and better living-for Habitat for Humanity partner families. Success stories abound, proving that Habitat for Humanity really works, helping communities and businesses as well as individual families. For example:
• Homeowner families have seen their lives transformed, becoming stronger members of society and making a positive difference in their communities. The children do better in school, health often improves, and adults often are able to complete their education and become better employees, or seek better employment opportunities.
• Neighborhoods have seen their crime rates drop, property values increase and businesses grow as a result of Habitat for Humanity's homes in their midst.

The VSI and its individual member companies are being recognized as positive contributors to their communities. And Habitat for Humanity has endorsed vinyl siding as the product of choice for easy-to-maintain, durable, economical homes.

Offer a hand

Habitat for Humanity is a grass-roots movement. Local affiliates direct and control their local building projects, and each is responsible for fund-raising, family selection. construction and more. There are active affiliates in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and more than 40 nations worldwide.

To contribute your time, talents or gifts (or those of a team from your company or community organization) to Habitat for Humanity, contact your local affiliate or call Habitat for Humanity International headquarters at 1-800-HABITAT.

For more information about the VSI's Habitat for Humanity partnership, contact Jery Huntley, VSI executive director, at 202-974-5232.