This week, former President Jimmy Carter and former first lady Rosalynn Carter are joining with hundreds of Habitat for Humanity volunteers in the 33rd annual Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work project in the uptown neighborhood of Memphis, Tennessee building 19 new homes, providing six critical home repairs for elderly homeowners in the neighborhood and 10 neighborhood beautification projects.

Several presidential election cycles ago, Habitat for Humanity began hosting builds at both the Republican and Democratic National Conventions to give volunteers, sponsors and members of Congress the opportunity to meet the need for safe, healthy and affordable housing by supporting a Habitat project in convention host cities.

The housing industry is blessed with a very robust research and analysis organization called the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University.  Annually, they release a very extensive data-filled report called State of the Nation’s Housing.

Here is a link to the report: http://www.jchs.harvard.edu/research/state_nations_housing

And here is a quick summary of the findings from Habitat for Humanity’s Government Relations and Advocacy Office:

Terry and Kathie Vermouth began volunteering with Habitat Wake almost a year ago, but their work with Habitat for Humanity goes back 10 years. The Vermouths were introduced to Habitat Wake by their daughter-in-law, who worked for Habitat for Humanity International. Originally from Massachusetts, Terry and Kathie work as House Leaders on construction sites four to five days out of the week. “Things are a lot different here than they were in Massachusetts,” recalls Kathie. “We had to shovel snow before we could build a house.”

My name is Justin Kobler, and I am 16 years old. I decided to come on this trip to Malawi because I recognize that throughout my life I have been greatly blessed, and to me, it seems that helping others living in much worse conditions is the least I can do. I have always wanted to travel to Africa, and so far this trip has been more amazing than I ever could have imagined. Since we arrived in Malawi, the people have been extremely welcoming and friendly.

Our team is just back from a wonderful time serving with our partners from Habitat for Humanity Malawi in southern Africa—one of the most materially poor countries in the world and where 80% of the population lives in substandard housing.   We were welcomed in song in the village and by having two home sites ready for us to start laying bricks.  12,000 of them on each house!   And that we did….all the bricks laid on two homes for two extended families incorporating orphans due to HIV.

Carletha (right) and Amanda are spending this summer giving back by participating in Habitat Wake’s Summer of Service program. Carletha is a rising senior at Middle Creek High School. After graduation she plans to earn her EMT certification and attend nursing school. Amanda recently graduated from Wakefield High School and will attend Oakwood University in the fall to pursue a degree in nursing.

Arriving in the village today, we were greeted with a sound we had not yet heard: silent. We were immediately missing the singing we had quickly learned to love. Our fearless translators, guides, wonder women extraordinatire (Faith and Chifundo) let us know soon after that a member of the village had passed away last night. We were very sad to learn that the grandmother of one of the villagers had died. Uncertain if we would be welcome to work during the mourning period, some of us paid our respects to the family members who were mourning the loss of their loved one.

Today was our first day in the village. It was a good hour drive from our hotel by Lake Malawi to the village in the Salima District. Twenty minutes of the ride was spent along a very bumpy rutted dirt road. Our arrival at the village was a treat. We were greeted by women from the village singing in beautiful harmonies. The acapella music was rhythmic and uplifting. We were introduced to the village chief and local Habitat representatives.

I am writing you from the last leg of our long journey to Malawi. Our flights through Washington DC, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia were uneventful. I’ve never been on a plane with more children than the long flight to Addis.

I figured I would take this time to introduce you to our partner families.

Anne is a widow who lost her husband some years back. She currently takes care of her six children, ranging in age from 4 – 16. Anne engages in farming to earn a living and support her family.