We build with freely given support, not with government funds

The Fuller Center for Housing believes government has an important role to play in addressing housing needs. But one of our foundational principles draws a clear distinction between partnering with government where appropriate and depending upon government to fund the building of homes.

The Fuller Center does not seek or accept government funding for the construction of houses.

That principle goes back to the very nature of our ministry.

The homes we build and repair are made possible by people who choose to give — individuals, churches, businesses and organizations moved by generosity, compassion and, often, faith. Their gifts are freely offered to help families build better lives.

That voluntary spirit matters to us.

Government funding comes from taxpayers and can carry extensive administrative requirements or restrictions. Some restrictions can conflict with Fuller Center principles, including our Christian witness and our commitment to a pay-it-forward model in which homeowner partners repay construction costs on terms they can afford so those funds can help another family.

Government funding also can change dramatically with budgets, policies and administrations. Building our ministry around freely given support helps Covenant Partners remain independent, locally driven and focused on their mission rather than dependent upon a funding source they cannot control.

None of that means government doesn’t have a valuable role in the work.

The Fuller Center welcomes government partnerships that help set the stage for building. That can include donated land or homes for rehabilitation, streets and sidewalks, utility infrastructure and certain administrative assistance — provided such partnerships do not restrict our Christian ministry or create undue control or dependency.

We also support government housing initiatives that serve people whose circumstances fall outside The Fuller Center’s partnership model. There is room — and need — for many approaches to addressing inadequate housing.

But when Fuller Center volunteers raise walls, repair roofs and help families build simple, decent places to live, we want the resources behind that work to represent something more than a funding mechanism.

We want them to be gifts.

Gifts freely given by people who believe that helping a family have a decent place to call home is one way we can build a better world — one house at a time.