If you feel uplifted by helping your neighbors and improving your community,
and if you enjoy working shoulder to shoulder with others who feel the same
way, read on.
Of the charitable organizations that deal with housing, one of the best known
is Habitat For Humanity. HFH builds new homes for needy families. These are
generally people who've worked hard all their lives, but who never got far enough
ahead financially to buy a home. Although HFH often builds for lower-income
people, they do work in some nice neighborhoods and construct good housing.
Families who receive this benefit must invest 500 hours of sweat equity—a
contribution of good faith. HFH projects often enhance the neighborhood.
As we think about the good work that HFH does, we're reminded of an important
sector of the community that often gets overlooked—homeowners—specifically,
older ones on a fixed income. Some skeptics figure that if they were able to
buy their own homes, they don't need help. This often is not the case. Frequently
a couple retires to their dream home not realizing that living costs can soar
beyond their retirement income in short order. To continue to be able to afford
the basic necessities of life, many of these persons are forced to give up their
homes to use retirement income they have for the bare necessities of life—food,
medicine, etc.
People who once were vibrant and energetic can become ill or disabled, and
when an inflating economy attacks, things fall apart fast. Basic home repairs
such as painting and gardening can become abandoned. Checked on the price of
a gallon of paint lately? How about a bag of fertilizer? The cycle of trying
to get a step ahead of the economy through higher wages eventually is passed
on to other consumers; it's known as inflation. To some extent inflation can
be a good thing for both the company and the worker. Higher wages and more profits
can result. Who could be unhappy with that? Retired persons—when their
retirement income doesn't increase in keeping with the rest of the economy.
Then there are couples who live on social security and retirement pensions;
little incomes combined to create a livable one. When one dies, the other is
left with lesser benefits. Try keeping a lawn green or buying food on that kind
of reduced income. Some believe we don't owe these people a living. It was their
responsibility to prepare themselves financially. But does that mean that we
overlook them—forget that they exist?
Well, if you are a member of Rebuilding Together, you haven't given up and
you do care. Rebuilding Together is the new name of the former Christmas in
April group that helps people who own a home and exist on a limited income,
or those who are too ill to take care of important home repairs and maintenance.
It is a volunteer organization that revitalizes homes and communities across
the 50 states.
If you are inclined to be of help to others, a little research can enlighten
you on how to share in worthy causes.
