March 2, 2009

About 1.6 billion people live in substandard housing and 100 million are homeless, according to the United Nations.

Today, a billion people -- 32 percent of the global urban population -- live in urban slums. If no serious action is taken, the United Nations reports that the number of slum dwellers worldwide will increase over the next 30 years to nearly 2 billion.

February 11, 2009

Housing deprivation leads to an average of 25 percent greater risk of disability or severe ill health across a person's lifespan. Those who suffer housing deprivation as children are more likely to suffer ill health in adulthood, even if they live in non-deprived conditions later in life.

The generally accepted definition of affordable housing is that a household should pay no more than 30 percent of its annual income on housing.

December 1, 2008

According to a 2004 survey, 835 people are homeless in Berkeley, with 17% of those people being currently employed.

The McKinney-Vento Act is an important piece of legislation that provides the first step taken by the government to help with the homelessness issue. (More information on the act can be found at http://www.nationalhomeless.org/publications/facts/McKinney.pdf)

November 24, 2008

Download this to see your updated workday and fundraiser credit.

November 17, 2008

Here are some facts you should know for tomorrow's meeting!

1) 42% of homeless children are under the age of five.

2) According to the National Coalition for the Homeless, 1.35 million U.S. children are homeless on any given night.

Source: http://www.misd.net/Homeless/statistics.htm

November 11, 2008

Download this spreadsheet to see your workday credit.

October 31, 2008

There are almost 16 million Americans paying 50 percent or more of their income for housing.

The United Nations projects that by the year 2030 an additional 3 billion people, about 40 percent of the world's population, will need access to housing.

Want to have your design on this semester's active member t-shirts? Then send your ideas or designs to Kristine (hirschhornk AT berkeley.edu).

And if you love Habitat you can run to be an officer in Cal Habitat! Here's a list of the positions. Just turn in this to Kristine (hirschhornk AT berkeley.edu).

October 20, 2008

A minimum-wage worker would have to work more than 70 hours a week, 52 weeks per year, just to keep a family of four above the poverty line. (What is that poverty line? Only $18,810 per year for the average family of four.)

Over the past 20 years the proportion of people living in poverty in the developing world fell by half—from 40 percent to 21 percent.

October 5, 2008

In the United Sates alone, 95 million people, one third of the nation, have housing problems including payments too large a percentage of their income, overcrowding, poor quality shelter and homelessness.

There is not a single county in the country where a full-time minimum wage worker can afford even a one-bedroom apartment at what HUD determines to be the Fair Market Rent.

September 24, 2008

We've reached the limit on how many people we can take to Berkeley Build Day, so thanks to all those who signed up!

September 21, 2008

October 6, 2008 is World Habitat Day!

World Habitat Day, an annual event created by the United Nations, falls on the first Monday in October and unites people of goodwill and organizations around the cause of housing to remind the world of its collective responsibility for the future of the human habitat. Click here to learn more.

Also, Only ¼ of poor families who need housing assistance actually get it.

Here is an awesome opportunity for Habitat East Bay (our affiliate that runs the Oakland/Edes site) to earn up to $250,000… and they need Cal Habitat's help! Wells Fargo is hosting a "Someday Stories contest," inviting anyone in the community to vote for their favorite of three causes. Habitat for Humanity is one of them! If Habitat for Humanity wins, then the prize will be distributed among the three Habitat affiliates whose supporters generated the most votes. I think we've got a great shot!

September 7, 2008

Our first meeting is this Tuesday, Sept. 9th 7:00 PM in 155 Dwinelle. We'll be introducing you to the committees, signing up for workdays, and explaining how to become a member.

August 26, 2008

Attention! Berkeley Build Day is coming on October 11th! It's an annual event where you and a group of your friends (5-10 people in all) invade Habitat for Humanity East Bay's Edes site for an exclusively Cal, exclusively awesome building experience! Free Breakfast! Free Lunch! Free Limited Edition Berkeley Build Day 2008 T-shirt! INSTANT active membership in Cal Habitat!

How do you sign up? Send an email with your team's name and who's on it to berkeleybuildday@gmail.com. There's a fundraising requirement of $75 per person, BUT if we recieve your money by Cal Habitat's 2nd general meeting,on September 23rd, the minimum is a scant $50! This single event takes care of your fundraising and work day requirements in one fell swoop! So what are you waiting for? Get your friends, sign up now at berkeleybuildday@gmail.com, get your funds raised, and come build with us!

Want to get more involved? What're you doing Wednesday evenings this semester? Become a part of the Berkeley Build Day Committee. Shoot us an email now to get on our mailing list, or sign up at the General meetings. Committee membership is another great way to get workday credit.

What? BBD Committee Meetings
When? Wednesdays, 7pm
Where? TBD
What? $25 BBD discount
When? Ends September 23rd

May 5, 2008

Download this spreadsheet to view your workday credit. If you're missing credit for a workday or fundraiser, just talk to your coordinator.

April 27th, 2008

On Tuesday we're going to introduce the fall 2008 officer core, sign up for workdays, and eat pizza!

April 19, 2008

Here's your new officer core for the fall semester, and thanks to everyone who ran!

President: Kevin Lam
Vice President: Kristine Hirschhorn
Financial Manager: Jessica Yueh
Secretary: Kevin Kuramura
Webmaster/Historian: Michael Clark
Workday Coordinators: Jay Garg, Steven Nguyen, Ali Rawaf
Fundraising Coordinators: Michelle Hung, Lusha Liang
Special Events Chairs: Caitlyn Cahill, Adam Needelman
Publicity Chairs: Shayla Spilker, Tammy Ung
Newsletter Chairs: Mara Ferreira, Dustin Hang
Advocacy and Community Outreach: Aschlyee Braswell
Education Chairs: Dave Garg, Allyson Milner
Collegiate Challenge Chair: Beth Dukes
Social Chair: Ted Shen

April 13, 2008

There are only two more general meetings left! So come by and sign up for workdays, and if you're an active member you can vote for next semester's officer core.

April 7, 2008

Download the spreadsheet here to check that you've been given credit for going to workdays and fundraisers.

April 2, 2008

This week is Act! Speak! Build! week, where we raise awareness about housing issues. So on Wednesday we'll have a mock house set up on Sproul to be 1/10th the size of an average house in Zambia. Also, on Friday we're collaborating with Cal Corps and Blueprint for a homelessness conference. During the conference, a panel of four professionals will explain homelessness from different viewpoints, such as non-profits and local government. The conference is this Friday from 5-7pm in 213 Wheeler.

Barbecue!

On Monday 4/7, the Cal Cooking Club and Senior Class Council will host a barbecue that will benefit Cal Habitat. It is from 11am-2pm at Lower Sproul. There will be things like cheesburgers, hot dogs, and veggie burgers, so come out and help fund the Cal-sponsored home!

Want to be an Officer?

If you love Cal Habitat and want to have a larger role in what we do, you should apply to be an officer! Check out the officer descriptions to see what you'd like to do, and then fill out an application, and send it to Kristine by 11:59pm Sunday, April 13th.

March 3, 2008

Come and sign up for workdays! At 2040 VLSB 7pm.

Habitat Facts:

One in three American households spend more than 30 percent of income on housing, and one in seven spends more than 50 percent.

There is not a single county in the country where a full-time minimum wage worker can afford even a one-bedroom apartment at what the US department of Housing and Urban Development determines to be the Fair Market Rent. The Fair Market Rent of a one bedroom house in Alameda county is $1,046.

February 28, 2008

The 2008 Earthday Build-A-Thon is coming up April 19th! It's a great way to help out a few struggling families, and to earn instant active membership in Cal Habitat! Unfortunately, there's a pretty steep fundraising requirement to participate, but to alleviate that, your friendly neighborhood Build-A-Thon committee is hosting a fundraiser at Baja Fresh, this Wednesday March 5th from 12noon-8pm! All you need to do to contribute is to bring in one of our awesome flyers and present it when you order a tasty Mexican delicacy! Flyers will be available at the next general meeting, in the next general e-mail, at the habitat table next week, AND right here on this website! The more money Baja makes, the more we make, the cheaper it'll be for Cal to participate in this awesome event! If you have any questions about the fundraiser or Build-A-Thon in general, send 'em to buildathon@gmail.com!

February 6, 2008

Habitat Fact of the Week:

What are RV Care-A-Vanners? RV Care-A-Vanners are a group of 8-20 people who drive around to building sites in, as the name indicates, RV's. Usually these builds last about two weeks, with ten six-hour to seven-hour workdays. A typical day begins with devotions and includes morning, lunch and afternoon breaks. Volunteers bring sturdy work shoes and gloves, and their personal hand tools—tool belt, hammer, square, pencil, measuring tape. The affiliate provides everything else including power tools, ladders, building materials, instruction and supervision. Lasting friendships develop as the group parks together, builds together, eats together and socializes. In addition, the team often has the opportunity to work alongside local volunteers and future homeowners—a truly unforgettable experience.

January 28, 2008

Our FIRST GENERAL MEETING will be Tuesday FEB. 5 at 7PM in 155 DWINELLE. Come find out about Habitat and sign-up for workdays!

And now, here's some quick Habitat facts:

-Habitat for Humanity has been around for 32 years.