AmeriCorps Build-A-Thon Projects

For six years AmeriCorps and Vista members have attended Build-A-Thons organized either by Habitat Wake or by Habitat for Humanity International. The sites for the Habitat AmeriCorps/Alumni Build-A-Thons:

20-Home Build-A-Thon in Mississippi

AmeriCorps members from Habitat Wake helped build 20 Habitat for Humanity homes in Gulfport, MS, one week in May 2007. Brad McHugh, Habitat Wake's Construction Manager and AmeriCorps program supervisor, and more than 500 AmeriCorps members and alumni from across the country, grabbed hammers, saws and nails to help build homes with Habitat for Humanity of the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

Said Brad: It was an amazing experience working alongside fellow AmeriCorps members to build these homes. Habitat for Humanity’s efforts to help families in the Gulf Coast who continue to recover from the 2005 hurricanes is making a real difference in communities.”

The Habitat for Humanity neighborhood will consist of 20 new homes that will help families affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita improve their living conditions. As of the end of May 2007, Habitat has begun construction or completed more than 1,000 homes in its program to help families who earn low incomes throughout the Gulf Coast recover. By year’s end, Habitat for Humanity of the Mississippi Gulf Coast expects to complete 125 houses for hurricane-affected families in Harrison and Jackson counties in Mississippi.

Said Jonathan Reckford, CEO, Habitat for Humanity International: “Habitat for Humanity benefits heavily from the hard work, talents, and leadership of AmeriCorps members all across the United States. We are delighted to gather so many members in a single place not only to build decent homes, but to celebrate the incredible accomplishments we’ve been able to make together in communities throughout the country.”

The 2007 Build-A-Thon marks 13 years of AmeriCorps and Habitat for Humanity working together to build affordable houses and eliminate substandard housing. Since 1994, Habitat for Humanity AmeriCorps members have performed more than 5 million hours of service and engaged hundreds of thousands of community volunteers to build more than 6,500 houses.

Habitat Wake AmeriCorps Team for 2007-2008

AmeriCorps engages 75,000 Americans each year in intensive service to meet our country’s critical needs in education, public safety, health, and the environment. AmeriCorps members tutor and mentor youth, care for the elderly, improve health services, build affordable housing, help communities respond to disasters, and mobilize and manage other volunteers. For more information, visit www.americorps.org.

At Habitat Wake, AmeriCorps members serve an 11-month term constructing houses under the guidance of Habitat Wake construction staff. While in service, AmeriCorps members receive a living stipend and insurance. An education award is granted upon completion of a successful term of service. Opportunities are available to adults age 18 or older who possess a high school diploma or GED. Previous construction, community service and/or leadership experience is helpful but not required for acceptance into this program. Habitat Wake will hire six (possibly seven) AmeriCorps members to serve September 2007-July 2008 as a construction supervisors. For information about how to apply, please review our Fequently Asked Questions and job description.