Volunteers build homes for needy families

Habitat organization uses crew members visiting Toronto for World Youth Day to build bungalow

By WALLACE IMMEN, The Globe and Mail
Thursday, July 25, 2002

It was one of dozens of volunteer social-service projects connected to the Roman Catholic Church's World Youth Day gathering this week.

On Monday, swirling winds and sheets of rain punctuated by lightning forced the young people to pack up their tools and flee for shelter.

Then, a provincial Ministry of Labour inspector ordered the volunteers to stop work until they could be outfitted with the steel-toed boots required on construction sites.

The bungalow is one of 18 being built this year by Habitat for Humanity, but this one will have the distinction of being blessed by Pope John Paul on Sunday when he visits Downsview Lands for an outdoor mass.

Neil Hetherington, executive director of the charitable housing organization, said it is a tribute to the volunteers from dozens of countries who worked on the project for the past three days that it was finished on time.

The volunteers, who had come from many backgrounds, quickly developed a rapport. On Monday, they broke into a chorus of Singing in the Rain as they waited out the storm.

Lou Noel, who came to this week's event along with a group of Haitian youths, said she wanted to help build, but had to paint instead because she had only running shoes. But she added, "I can see how wonderful it is when everyone works together."

"These young people will bring the message to their countries," said Habitat founder and president Millard Fuller. He said the Christian charitable group already operates in 87 countries and aims to build 100,000 homes by 2005.

Throughout the week, World Youth Day pilgrims who join other volunteer projects will help out in a variety of social-service agencies, including many that are not connected to the Catholic Church.

They can volunteer to participate in community cleanups and plantings, work with the homeless and in mission programs, assist at retirement homes and learn about the needs of the city's diverse ethnic communities.

Adam Morris, who is from Canberra, said he was impressed by his experience at the Habitat home-building project. He has also become excited about duplicating Toronto and Vancouver projects that collect surplus perishable food from restaurants and stores and redistribute it to the needy.

"It is a wonderful concept of building, recycling and regeneration," he said.

The volunteer work has an immediate effect on people's lives.

The bungalow built this week is a simple, standard design that has been modified to make it accessible for the occupant, who uses a wheelchair.

"This is indescribable. I am blessed that all these young people are helping out," said future homeowner Barry Brown, who visited the site with his wife, Brenda.

"I want to thank everyone from the bottom of my heart," said Mr. Brown, who has multiple sclerosis and has waited four years for a Habitat home.

To qualify for a Habitat home, a person must be living in substandard housing and have an income below the poverty line. The homeowner contributes volunteer hours on the project and takes on a long-term, no-interest mortgage.

The 18 homes Habitat will build in Toronto this year is double last year's total.