Habitat recruits for a Faith Action Committee

By Emma Maple

Habitat for Humanity Spokane is creating a Faith in Action Committee to gather people to advance the organization's mission of ensuring everyone has a safe, affordable place to live.

"Housing costs have gone up so much that it's hard for many families to realize their dream of home ownership," volunteer and faith outreach manager Gloria Penaflor said. "We hope that by working with many faith organizations, we can build more homes to build communities."

Gloria is recruiting members by networking with area faith and nonprofit groups. Recruitment will be ongoing, with the goal of 15 to 20 members.

Gloria plans to hold the initial meeting the first week of March as an orientation with introductions, selecting a chair and goal setting for the rest of the year.

The committee will meet once a month and involve members for two to four hours a month. Terms will be one to two years. 

The group will help advance Habitat's goal of building 25 homes in Spokane County in the near future. It can help organize volunteer groups, raise donations or participate in Faith Builds. 

"We have different beliefs, but the one thing that connects us all is our love for our community and our neighbors," Gloria said.  

Committee members will be liaisons between Habitat and their faith communities. Gloria invites people of different ages, demographics, races, nationalities and religious beliefs—or no beliefs—to sign up. She hopes "the faith community is reflected in the committee." 

"Habitat's mission is to put God's love into action. We envision a world where everyone has a decent place to live," she said. "The committee will identify needs of our community and families to reach that vision." 

"One thing that ties most religions and cultures together, even though we have differences, is the golden rule—love your neighbor as you love yourself," she said.

The Faith in Action Committee will advance current partnerships.

Habitat-Spokane has always worked with churches and faith groups, but Gloria said it's often more one-on-one rather than through a group setting. 

"We would be stronger together as a group," she said. "Despite our differences, what binds us together is our love for our community and our commitment to making the community better."

Many Habitat organizations across the country have a similar committee. 

"Since the beginning, Habitat has been built on a foundation of faith with a mission to provide for our neighbors," she said.

"Building houses in the community, volunteering at Habitat, doing builds and coming together unite us," she said. "Getting to know each other and celebrating our differences, we can work for our common goals." 

For information, call 824-2595 or email gpenaflor@habitat-spokane.org.