30 Days and Counting

Submitted by Chuck Vogt
President, Central Indiana Fuller Center for Housing

All of us involved with the Fuller Center are privileged to be a part of this project, transforming a neighborhood into a more attractive place to raise a family, live and grow. Many times we build one home that affects just that—one family—but this time we are here to clean up a whole street and neighborhood which impacts many families and a whole community and it is really exciting. We are all volunteers with no paid staff, so whatever you donate goes entirely to build a house

 

We are only 30 days from raising the walls. We plan for a church to work with each family as a mentor helping them with questions or emergencies and just be a caring, loving comfort in their lives. We would love to have your church become a mentor to one of these families.

 

In every case, their new house payment is much less than their current rent payment for sub-standard housing and it is the elimination of sub-standard housing and that is the reason for the Fuller Center being here today. A few weeks ago, I met our new families for the first time as a group and was explaining the plans for their homes. We do have a unique bathroom plan and after explaining it, one homeowner had big tears running down her face and afterwards explained what her current bathroom was like. I couldn’t believe it.   That’s why we do this— to give people a decent place to live and raise children in a better environment. 

 

Churches –you don’t have to leave this country or city for a mission project! Here it is! Together we can make a difference in this neighborhood and our own city. We are all blessed and it is to be a blessing to pass this on. So their payments make it possible for us to help others. 

 

We don’t give a handout, we give a hand up.  In September, our workday starts at 7:15 am with devotion and instructions for the day. Your lunch and dinner will be delivered at the job site. You will be assigned to the same project and work team for the 5 days. We will have a kickoff banquet on Sunday afternoon the 5th of September and at 3:00 pm on Friday, we will dedicate the homes, give them keys and a Bible followed by a closing dinner Banquet.

 

Each new home has a team leader that has built many, many homes. A long time ago, I was on the BOD of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Indianapolis, so we offered Dean Illingworth, the current director of Indianapolis Habitat one of our lots, so we could partner in honoring Millard Fuller, so they will be building one of the houses with us. 

 

We have partnered with the Shepherd Community center in helping with our family selection of qualified families and with SEND, the Southeast Neighborhood Development in identifying families in need and help in tearing down empty houses and acquiring the property. There is a neighborhood watchdog group called "We Can" and they have also already met with the new families and welcomed them to the neighborhood, as folks that live here are really a tight knit group. 

 

Your Friend in Christ

Chuck Vogt, President

Central Indiana Fuller Center for Housing