The Many Faces of Habitat
Below, read a Q&A from an HFHSA sponsor project coordinator.
Habitat Sponsor Project Coordinator Susan McClure
Susan McClure has served as Habitat for Humanity project coordinator for St. Matthew Catholic Church for six years. The church has built eight homes in total with HFHSA.
Q: What does Habitat mean to you?
A: The Bible verse that drives our Habitat ministry at St. Matthew is from James 2:18: “I will show you my faith by what I do.” Habitat gives me the opportunity to put my faith into action and help a family in need of a home. Truly the Holy Spirit is in the driver’s seat - how else can 400 mostly inexperienced volunteers come together and in the course of just seven short weeks, build a house? Habitat is God’s work in action.
Q: What do you feel Habitat means to our community?
A: Without Habitat, some families in desperate need of a home might not be able to have a simple, decent place to live. Habitat means that these families can pull themselves out of their desperate situation and make a better life for themselves.
A: What is your involvement with Habitat and how has it changed you?
Q: St. Matthew Catholic Church has just finished its eighth build. I have been the project coordinator for our last six houses. Habitat is like an infectious disease – once you have been “infected” by the Habitat bug you just can’t give up. You know that you are doing God’s work and you just want to continue helping.
Q: What is your most memorable Habitat moment?
A: The most memorable moment about any of my Habitat experiences has to be the dedication and blessing of our St. Matthew Habitat houses. The joy on the family’s faces as they celebrate the completion of their hard work brings tears to my eyes. They are so grateful to our St. Matthew community for helping them make their dream come true.
Q: What would you tell others who may not be familiar with Habitat about the program?
A: Most folks who are not aware of the Habitat mission think that it is give away program. Volunteers often ask me questions about the program and are amazed when I tell them that Habitat is a “Hand-Up” and not a hand-out. They are also impressed that the homeowners buy their house and must provide at least 300 hours of sweat equity.
Q: How important do you feel Habitat is and why?
A: Habitat is EXTREMELY important to our San Antonio community. Habitat reaches out to families in need of a simple, decent place to live and provides them a means for purchasing a home. Without Habitat, these families might not be able to afford a home.
Q: As a volunteer, how have you benefited from your service?
A: Habitat makes me appreciate the countless blessings that God has put in my life. I am thankful for being given the opportunity to help make a dream come true for a family in need of a home. The benefits that I receive for my service far out weigh the time I give to the program. The joy and happiness of the families that I have helped is priceless.
Q: St. Matthew has built eight homes since 1999. What has been the contributing factor for the congregation making the decision to continue as a sponsor each year?
A: We see Habitat for Humanity as a Ministry at St. Matthew. Habitat gives us the opportunity to reach out to families in need and to put our faith into action – to be Jesus to the family.
Q: What have been some of the obstacles as a congregation you have had to face over the years of your involvement?
A: One of the biggest obstacles has been finding enough Friday volunteers. Some parishioners help build every Friday. God always provides who we need to get the job done.
This year has been a bit more challenging raising the sponsorship money due to the ailing economy.
Q: You have mentioned your reliance on God to succeed. Tell us more about that.
A: Sponsoring a Habitat house is NOT part of the St. Matthew budget. Our pastor, Monsignor Mike, says that we must raise the money for sponsorship. We pray and trust that God will provide the funds necessary to sponsor a build. If God truly wants this Ministry to continue at St. Matthew, then He will provide. Our parishioners are very generous and they always come thru with the funds. God always provides what we need for a build – the sponsorship money, the volunteers, and the food/drink for our volunteers.
Q: What are your top three “tips” or suggestions for successful fundraising?
A: Pray/Trust – Pray/Trust again that God will provide the funds needed to sponsor a house.
Make the fundraising “affordable” for all parishioners to participate. We sell “square feet” of the house for $20. Think about it - $20 is less than most folks spend for a night out at the movies or a new pair of jeans. $20 can change a family’s life and make a dream come true. A huge house plan (3 ft by 6 ft.) is placed in the church foyer and if they wish, the donor’s name will be written on the square(s) that they buy. We also have a dissection of the house and for those wanting to donate larger amounts they can sponsor the foundation, the roof, etc. Our community is very generous and knows that their donation is helping us reach our goal in sponsoring a full house and in changing the lives of those in need of a home.
We start our fundraising at the beginning of October. Starting in July, informational articles begin to appear in the weekly church bulletin that gives facts and other helpful information about Habitat. This helps to educate others on the importance of this ministry and what their donation is being used for. Once the fundraising has started, the parish is updated on a weekly basis on it progress. We rejoice and are thankful when God has provided the funds needed to reach our sponsorship goal. Typically the money has been raised by the end of October or middle of November.
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