MCHFH is the Mid-Columbia affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International. Founded in 2002, we are in a unique situation as we serve two states. We build homes in most of Hood River County in Oregon, and in White Salmon, Bingen, Snowden, Husum and Underwood, Washington. Our office is at the Bethel Congregational Church in White Salmon, Washington.
Church Relations
The purpose of the Church Relations Committee is to build strong relationships between and among the affiliate and the many congregations of the Mid-Columbia area. The Church Relations Committee works in partnership with people of all faiths in order to help reduce poverty housing in the Mid-Columbia area. Your congregation, faith community, or organization can help!
Construction
The purpose of the Construction Committee is to coordinate the construction activities of the affiliate. Members may be expected to be crew leaders and to direct the unskilled volunteers on-site. Training of volunteers is often required on the sites. Members can expect to be asked to put in approximately 10 hours a month for this committee.
Family Selection
The Family Selection Committee is responsible in choosing families qualified for a Habitat house based on need, ability to pay, and willingness to partner. When a building site is available, the Committee holds an Application Orientation for that site, receives applications at the Orientation and reviews the newly received applications. Committee members also take time to make follow-up phone calls to potential applicants in order to gain further information. When a family has passed the first few screening processes, two or three of the Committee members will visit the home to look for: substandard living conditions, overcrowding, unsafe location,etc. if a family is chosen, a member of the Committee will begin the nurturing process and be a contact for the family until the Family Support Committee takes over those responsibilities. The Committee meets once a month.
Family Support
The Family Support Committee is committed to the development and uplifting of families and communities, not only the construction of houses. This committee is the primary liaison between the affiliate and the partner families. As the affiliate learns from the families, the affiliate is able to improve its program to better serve the needs of the families.
A low income often leads to other problems such as a lack of education and job opportunities, inadequate nutrition and health care, lack of transportation, debts, low self-esteem and frustration. The Family Support Committee helps families manage these problems and adjust to home ownership by providing them with a mutual support system, educational opportunities and a forum for discussion.
The ultimate aim of the Committee is Habitat families who can independently and responsibly care for themselves and their homes.
Resource Development
People familiar with Habitat for Humanity know the images of volunteers wielding hammers and cutting boards. But every Habitat home depends on financial, material and human resources. The Development Committee is responsible for developing and coordinating fund-raising events and campaigns, soliciting donations of building materials, enlisting volunteers and publicizing affiliate activities through local news media. If you like working with the public, and aren't afraid to request donations for a remarkable cause, this is the place for you.
Site Selection
Volunteers
Volunteers are one of the most valuable "tools" with which Habitat builds homes. Individuals or groups may help in many ways including wielding hammers or saws, providing refreshments for workers, helping plan and carry out special events, helping with fundraising, and assisting new families as they learn be homeowners. Some tasks take special construction skills, others just need a few people with a little time to make a phone call or help send out a newsletter.
The Volunteer Committee is the communication link between the other committees that have specific needs for help and those who have offered their services. Committee members help recruit new volunteers, maintain records of who can provide what services, and help make the connections to get the work accomplished.
Website
The Web Design Committee is responsible for keeping the Mid-Columbia Habitat for Humanity web site up to date by proposing and implementing changes, generating new digital images from ongoing projects and acting as a sounding board for new site content and design suggestions.
