ST. MARY OF THE FALLS PARTNERS WITH HABITAT FOR HUMANITY

2020 was the 6th year St Mary of the Falls has supported the Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanity Apostles / Thrivent Faith Build.  With financial donations, prayers, and work-build days at the jobsite.  There will be 10 new Habitat homes on Grandview Avenue by the end of 2020, and our Parish should be proud to be counted as 1 of only 15 Greater Cleveland partner churches.

2020 Faith Build Update Thrivent 

The 2020 Thrivent Faith Build is on target to complete the Faith Build House, and the house has been chosen by a family.  Marie is from the Congo. She spent 7 years in a refugee camp in Uganda and came with her two daughters to the United States through Catholic-Charities in 2018. She is a woman on a mission- to create a stable home for her family.  Not only is she working and taking care of her daughters, she is also taking steps to bring her husband and son to the United States. The home will not just be a safe and affordable shelter for Marie’s family, it represents a new start and a place where her family can prosper for generations. 

Habitat’s Model of Racial and Economic Inclusion Works 

Much of the modern housing/wealth disparity between white and minority families stems from federal housing policies in the post-depression 1930’s, and further by post-WWII America’s urgent need to house returning soldiers and their families.  In the 1960’s, on the backs of racial, political, and war protests Millard and Linda Fuller began to transform owning affordable homes into a powerful tool to combat racial and economic inclusion. 

Out of humble beginnings, Habitat for Humanity emerged in 1977 with a belief that all people have a right to safe, decent housing.  Habitat’s view is that you cannot address inequity - whether racial or economic- without affordable housing that enables families to stabilize, grow roots and wealth, and pursue self-improvement.

Since 1987, Cleveland has been a local partner of this international movement.  Habitat’s approach to affordable homeownership and neighborhood revitalization has been a vehicle for reconciliation that breaks down barriers between people and economic and racial isolation.  Imagine 3, 4, and even 5 family generations knowing only segregated public housing and the culture of treading water and never getting ahead.  What Habitat is doing works, the results of which are inspiring, energizing , and most importantly, serves as a catalyst positively impacting generations.  

St Mary of the Falls is a proud partner of the local mission that is the Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanity. 

To get involved, reach out to parishioner John House at 440-668-6045 or via email at casasu12@gmail.com.