“Sweat equity” furthers families’ sense of pride, ownership
“Sweat equity” furthers families’ sense of pride, ownership
Editor’s note: “How we build a better world” is a regular series of articles taking a closer look at the methods and principles of enlightened charity that make our affordable housing ministry work so effectively.
One of the most important principles in The Fuller Center for Housing’s model of enlightened charity is “sweat equity.” Homeowner partner families are required to work on their homes alongside volunteers. It not only reduces the costs of building, but it also increases the personal stake family members have in their home.
“Sweat equity” also is part of The Fuller Center’s mission to provide a hand-UP instead of a handout. People tend to take more pride in things they help build than things that are simply handed to them. It enhances their sense of ownership.
The number of hours they put in varies by location, but is usually between 300 and 500 hours. Of course, in a shorter blitz build where a home is constructed in less than a month or even just a week, that total can be less.
The Fuller Center’s 10,000th home was built in March in Fitzgerald, Georgia, in a span of just three weeks. Homeowner partner Brandy Spivey and her children were required to work 150 hours but wound up contributing 234 hours.
“I told Brandy she’d already hit her mark, and she showed up the next morning,” house leader Dave Diffendal said. “They kept coming. That’s what it’s about.”
Rachel Henderson of Warrensburg, Missouri, is another of the many homeowners who exceeded the sweat equity requirement. Her house was not part of a blitz build and was instead a more typical months-long project.
“We built our home,” she said. “We worked here every day for a long time. Just knowing what goes into that, the sweat equity is more than just sweat equity. It’s a pride and a sense of ownership that you can’t otherwise get. Even if someone has a house built, you don’t quite understand what it takes to get this done.”
For homeowner partner parents, it also sends a message to their children that you must be willing to work for what you want out of life. For Marcus Johnson of Americus, Georgia, he received that message loud and clear 40 years ago from his grandmother, who partnered with Habitat for Humanity to build a home that she insisted the entire family work on.
“I think it means a lot,” said Johnson, who has volunteered with The Fuller Center in recent years. “I think it gives you immediate ownership. It also goes back to what my grandmother said: Nobody has to do anything for you. I really think that it makes a difference when people are actually being a part of the process. It’s a hand-up, not a handout. You’re not giving me anything. I’m actively participating in what we’re doing.”
It also enhances the experience of Fuller Center volunteers when they see how hard a family works to build a simple, decent home.
“What’s especially great is being able to work with the homeowners and getting to know them during the week,” said Jim Tomascak, who has served as a house captain on many projects. “It means so much more when you actually have a chance to meet and work with the family.”
“It’s unfair to the many volunteers who give their time, their money, their resources and their energy to build homes if the homeowners are not involved in the process,” said Lee Jeter, who is executive director of The Fuller Center for Housing of Northwest Louisiana. “That is the heart and soul of this ministry — making sure the homeowners are engaged in every step of the process. It’s very important. The volunteers expect it, and we demand it.”
We'd love to hear your comments!