A Hand Up ... Not a Handout
St. Paul’s works with the Bay Area Chapter of Habitat for Humanity International.  Since the early 1990's, Bay Area Habitat has started two new and vibrant communities in Dickinson with a total of about 50 houses (to date).  Bay Area Habitat is currently developing a subdivision at Deats Rd. and Ohio Ave. in Dickinson. St. Paul’s is planning to help build another Habitat house in this neighborhood this Spring. We need your help!

This is an opportunity to live out our Christian principles, performing service to others as our Lord, Jesus Christ, taught us.

How Habitat for Humanity Works
Habitat for Humanity International builds homes with the help of the homeowners through volunteer labor and tax-deductible donations of money and material.  Habitat’s family selection committee chooses partner families based on their level of need, their willingness to become partners in the program - including their acceptance of Habitat’s Christian-based principles - and their ability to repay the loan.  They must then invest 350 hours of “Sweat Equity” into the construction of their home or other Habitat homes.  Houses are sold to the partner families at no profit, and no-interest mortgages are issued over approximately a 20-year period.  Small monthly mortgage payments, including taxes & insurance, are deposited in a revolving “fund for Humanity” which supports the construction of more houses - both here locally, and in third-world countries. You can learn more about Habitat for Humanity by accessing their site at www.habitat.org. You can access the local Bay Area Habitat web site at www.bahfh.org/index.html.

Building a New Community One House at a Time
Since 1993 St. Paul’s has worked with other area churches, qualifying owner families, and the Bay Area Chapter of Habitat for Humanity to build homes for the owner families. In the early 1990's, Bay Area Habitat built a new and vibrant community of 16 houses in an area of Dickinson where there once were brambles and run down crack-houses. Habitat then began building a new subdivision at Deats Rd. and Ohio Street in Dickinson. Thus far 32 new homes have been built in this development and construction is continuing.

Each of the participating area churches agrees to provide construction help and in some cases financing for one of the new Habitat homes. Since1993 St Paul's has contributed approximately $5,000 per year to this cause. Churches are then scheduled for work days (normally a Saturday) when parishioners are encouraged to help with construction.

For those persons not interested in construction, Habitat has several standing committees, such as Fundraising, Family Selection, and Family Support which are made up of volunteers. Through the years many St Paul parishioners have sat on the Habitat Board of Directors or on one of these standing committees.

Work Day Guidelines
Getting ready to come out to a Habitat Work Day? Here are some guidelines:

• We start at about 8am and work about 2pm.  You are welcome to come for a couple of hours - or stay all day.

• A knowledgeable construction supervisor will be on the work site to make sure that you know what to do and teach you how to do it (if needed).  No particular construction skills are required - only a desire to help.

• The best tools to bring are a hammer, a tape measure, and a pencil. You can also bring any other general carpentry tools that you have and want to be responsible for or you do not have to bring any tools at all.

• Habitat generally supplies the larger items such as miter saws and ladders. Habitat also has all necessary painting supplies and landscaping items such as rakes, shovels and wheelbarrows.

• Wear comfortable clothing suitable for construction work. Safety glasses and work gloves are also recommended. Bring sunscreen.

• Habitat provides a water cooler full of ice water.  Lunch and drinks are provided for most St. Paul’s-sponsored workdays.

• Habitat’s accident insurance requires that anyone on the work site be at least 16 years of age. All volunteers will be asked to sign a Release and Waiver of Liability form when they sign in to the work site.

Would You Like To Help?
If you want more information or are interested in volunteering to help with construction, or to assist in any way, call Buck Gay at (281) 333-4662, Tom Dill at (281) 648-0665 or e-mail Tom at tnjdill@yahoo.com. 

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