Newspaper Page Text
PAGE 2—The Southern Cross, October 25,1984
"Habitat" Groundbreaking
The Story Of Millard Fuller - Man With A Big Vision
Millard Fuller, who heads the Americus-based
movement called “Habitat for Humanity” is a man with a
big vision -- a decent house in a decent community for
people in need.
A successful lawyer and businessman who in 1968
divested himself of his property to address the needs of
the poor, Millard is Executive Director of a movement
which now has projects in 64 American cities and has
sponsored homes in 11 overseas nations. World wide,
Habitat is building at the rate of one house per day, using
as a basic pricniple the “economics of Jesus.” Each local
project works with funds created from gifts and
no-interest loans. Construction is a cooperative effort
involving both volunteer workers and the recipients of the
houses. The completed homes are sold to selected families
Amerasian Children
ATLANTA (NC) -- Amerasian children need special
help to adjust to their new lives in the United States, Don
Hohl, associate director of the U.S. Catholic Conference
Office of Migration and Refugee Services, said here.
PICKING A PUMPKIN - Ann Shalosky of
Dover, Ohio, selects the biggest pumpkin she can
find for her Halloween jack-o-lantern. (NC photo
by John Fesler)
Divorced/Separated
on a no-profit, no-interest basis. The capital is returned to
a Fund for Humanity” in each project location through
the families’ monthly payments over a 20 to 25 year
period. The money is then used to build more houses.
In Savannah recently for the groundbreaking for the
first home to be built by the Coastal Area Habitat for
Humanity, Millard and his wife Linda talked about
Habitat as a movement which has captured the
imagination of people of all kinds - from former President
Jimmy Carter to the poorest of the families who have
become home owners through the program. Volunteers
range from architects and lawyers willing to donate their
expertise to the former Klan leader in one Southern town
who offered his services as a plumber. The advisory Board
includes people of different racial and religious
Need Special Help
Amerasians, children of Asian mothers and American
fathers, are called “children of the dust” in Vietnam and
are outcasts in most Asian societies, Hohl told a regional
MRS conference in Atlanta.
But, he said, the United States is making efforts to
bring more of these children and their families into the
country.
From October through May 650 Amerasian children
arrived in the United States with 731 of their relatives.
Officials have estimated that thousands more have the
right to come to the United States but have been unable
to do so because of bureaucratic problems.
Secretary of State George P. Shultz announced Sept. 11
that the United States is ready to admit more Vietnamese
children fathered by Americans. “Because of their
undisputed ties to our country these children and family
members are of particular humanitarian concern to the
United States,” Shultz said.
Hohl said the possibility of resettling additional
Amerasian children “makes it increasingly important for
us to set in motion the appropriate volunteer efforts to
help Amerasians make the sometimes difficult adjustment
to American life.”
Most of these children are teen-agers, not infants, he
said, and adoption is not usually a possibility. The
children usually are accompanied by their mothers and
some are accompanied by half brothers and sisters and
stepfathers.
The children often have health problems and little
formal education, Hohl said. Foster homes and tutors for
English lessons are needed. Many do not know their
fathers or are not accepted by them.
MRS and other agencies help provide the things all
refugees need first - food, clothing and shelter.
“Ultimately, however,” Hohl said, “it is the volunteers
who link these children and their families in a personal
and sensitive way that are crucial to their finally feeling
at home in the world.”
backgrounds, the wealthy as well as the poor, and
Republicans as well as Democrats. All share one vision -
that “the poor need capital, not charity ; co-workers, not
case-workers.”
Because the movement’s main offices are in Americus,
the Fullers are neighbors of former President Jimmy
Carter, who has taken an interest in Habitat and joined its
work camps in Georgia and in New York.
Travelling to New York to take part in the
rehabilitation of a multi-family project there, the Carters
rode the bus with other volunteers and slept with them in
dormitory-style accommodations en route.
The Board which has been established for the local
Savannah project is headed by a Catholic - Tom
McLaughlin, of St. James Parish. Members include Father
Liam Collins, Pastor of Most Pure Heart of Mary Church,
and Dorothy Owens, parishioner of St. Anthony’s Church.
Also on the Board are lawyer Charles Bell, dentist Lou
Castilian, retired librarian Ursuline Law, who is a member
of the First Congregational Church, Mary Johnson, a
Baptist and former Union worker, and architect Murray
Barnard, who is an Episcopalian. The site of the first
house, to be built for Frances Williams and her two
children, is in the Cuyler neighborhood, on West 35th
Street and Florence Street.
Lack of funds should be no drawback according to
Fuller, who urged the group to move with faith and God
will move with you.” “If you have money in the bank,
any pagan can build a house, but it takes faith to build a
house with no money,” he said.
“We started our first house (in Americus) in 1968,” he
told the Board, “and we didn’t have the money to finish
one house. We now have 165 houses finished over there,
and there is no debt. They were all finished and paid for
as we went along.”
He is proud of the fact that there have been no
foreclosures, and that no government funds have been
used for the Habitat homes. Municipalities are asked for
water and sewer services but not for grants.
“You have to have a big vision and work at it
systematically,” Fuller said. “And you have to mobilize
the poor. No person is too poor to give.”
The phenominal growth of the program shows that the
idea behind it is right for the times in which we live,
Fuller believes. “It is a historical movement that we are
privileged to be part of.” A man who takes seriously the
biblical admonition against money lending at interest, he
frequently quotes another scriptural phrase which has
provided the impetus for his work: “Unless the Lord build
the house, they labor in vain that build it”
In Georgia, projects are built or planned in several areas
including Cartersville, Rome and Atlanta as well as
Savannah and Americus. Groups are also forming in
Columbus and in Ellajay, Ga., and a ground-breaking will
be held in Forsyth, Ga., within a week.
(Contact Habitat for Humanity at 419 West Church
Street, Americus, Ga. 31709).
Good Turn Out Expected For Nov. 9-11 Retreat
Mary Kay Persse, Family Life Director for the Diocese Retreat for Divorced and Separated Catholics, scheduled Some of last year’s participants will probably return,
of Savannah, predicts a good turn out for the annual this year for November 9 - 11. and enquiries from newcomers are also expected
“We look forward to meeting many old friends as well
as new participants,” Mrs. Persse said at a recent planning
meeting.
Support for Catholics who are divorced or separated is
growing, as Church members become aware of the
difficulties faced by people in this group. The annual
retreats include time for Conferences, Liturgy, Prayer and
the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
“They go away with a feeling of support, and they have
developed or renewed friendships,” Mrs. Persse said. “The
retreat is open to all ages, and to men and women.”
The Retreat, entitled “Crossroads to New Life” will be
led by Rev. Thomas Lynch. Representative for Family
Life at the United States Catholic Conference.
The Sunday program will begin with morning prayer
and breakfast. A final conference will be followed by a
closing liturgy at 10:45 a.m.
Registration forms should be sent to the Diocesan
Family Life Office, St. John’s Center, Grimball Point
Road, Savannah, Ga. 31406.
Retreat For Divorced/Separated Catholics
Name: .
Address:
City .
Phone:
Sex (Dormitory style facilities)
State.
Zip
Weekend Registration
OR
Day Sessions Only . ..
Please enclose your pre-registration deposit of $10.00. Total cost is $35.00 with the balance due upon arrival.
Deadline for reservations is November 5th.
Send To Diocesan Family Life Office, St. John’s Center - Grimball Pt. Rd., Savannah, Ga. 31406