Its ambitious Build a Block project led to Carolina’s selection as Campus Chapter of the Year, Habitat for Humanity International. The award comes with a $4,500 grant from State Farm Insurance, the national corporate sponsor of Habitat’s youth programs, that can be used for a Habitat for Humanity school break volunteer trip or to aid in local affiliate homebuilding.
“We commend the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill campus chapter members for their commitment to help families in need of affordable housing,” said Cody Logsdon, volunteer engagement manager, Habitat for Humanity International. “Habitat’s more than 500 campus chapters play a significant role in our work to eliminate poverty housing.”
In the Build a Block project, students, faculty and staff came together to help families of employees at the University and UNC Health Care build 10 Habitat houses in the Phoenix Place neighborhood. The Habitat model of “sweat equity,” donations and nonprofit mortgages enables low-income families to “build community, one home at a time.”
But Build a Block’s slogan was “10 houses, 10 families, 1 Carolina.” Families have moved into five of the houses and the remaining five should be completed by the end of August, said Susan Bourner, development director for Habitat for Humanity Orange County. Donations are welcome for the project, as Build a Block closes in on its $350,000 fundraising goal.