Habitat for Humanity of Washington, DC to Build "Pope Francis House"

WASHINGTON, May 27, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In June, Habitat for Humanity of Washington, D.C. (DC Habitat) will launch construction on a house in the name of Pope Francis. DC Habitat has received an anonymous donation in honor of the Pope's visit to Washington, D.C in September of 2015; because this donor is passionate about engaging the Catholic and Interfaith communities in charitable work, they have challenged DC Habitat to raise funds to match their $60,000 contribution. The non-profit builder has taken this challenge to the next level: DC Habitat would like to enlist the help of the DC Catholic populace -- as well as other faith groups and student organizations -- to pay homage to Pope Francis and our donor by raising $500,000, covering all land and construction costs for the Pope Francis House. This project's purpose is threefold:

1. To honor Pope Francis for his commitment to social justice and reinvigorating the Catholic Church;
2. To provide a unifying, celebratory opportunity for both Catholic and non-Catholic volunteers to work together toward a common goal (As Pope Francis says, "Work confers dignity."); and
3. To further Habitat's mission of building and preserving homes.

The Pope Francis house will be a rehabilitation of four one-bedroom condominiums in a building at 60^th Street NE, in Washington, DC. This development will serve the needs of residents in our lowest income bracket – those earning as little as 30 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI).  Due to the rising cost of living in DC, it has been extremely hard to serve working families at the low end of the income spectrum with home ownership opportunities. Rehabilitation projects help DC Habitat keep existing structures in communities, save on building costs, and repurpose otherwise blighted properties into affordable, stable homes.

DC Habitat seeks faith and student groups willing to contribute funds and volunteer hours to the Pope Francis House – and to Habitat's mission, helping the charity give low-income DC residents "a hand up" on the road to homeownership. Those interested in supporting the project may contact DC Habitat at (202) 882-4600.

Habitat for Humanity of Washington, D.C. believes that everyone deserves a house they want to call home. That's why we work to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness in the nation's capital by building affordable, energy-efficient homes for people in need.

CONTACT:          
Heather Phibbs
Habitat for Humanity of Washington, DC
(202) 882-4600, ext. 233
[email protected]

SOURCE Habitat for Humanity of Washington, D.C.

Related Links

http://www.dchabitat.org