Easley, Michael. Press Release, 2004-05-17, AmeriCorps Habitat For Humanity To Construct 1,000th House In N.C.: Members Host Annual Build-A-Thon In Greensboro

State of North Carolina Office of the Governor Michael F. Easley Governor Release: IMMEDIATE Contact: Kasey Bensinger Date: 5/17/2004 Phone: (919) 733-5612 AMERICORPS HABITAT FOR HUMANITY TO CONSTRUCT 1 ,000th HOUSE IN N.C. Members host annual Build-A-Thon in Greensboro Raleigh - AmeriCorps members serving with Habitat for Humanity affiliates will be constructing their 1,000th house in North Carolina during their annual Build-A-Thon from May 17-21 on Pine Street in the Stonegate neighborhood in Greensboro. "AmeriCorps members serving with Habitat for Humanity provide invaluable services to our communities," Easley said. "Through the hard work of AmeriCorps members, thousands of deserving North Carolina residents have been placed in affordable homes and have gained the skills they need to remain independent and be productive members of our communities." AmeriCorps members in North Carolina will join members from Virginia, West Virginia and South Carolina and partner with six families to construct six houses in five days. Members will be building from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday through Thursday at the following sites on Pine Street: 903, 904, 914, 916, 917 and 919. On Friday, May 21, members will build in the morning and the 1,000th house celebration ceremony will begin at 12:30 p.m. at 917 Pine Street, which will conclude the Build-A-Thon. Habitat for Humanity is one of 15 AmeriCorps programs funded by the N.C. Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service, housed in the Office of the Governor. AmeriCorps members serving with Habitat for Humanity help build affordable housing through their service as construction crew leaders, volunteer coordinators and family service assistants. Most members serve on the construction site leading and training community volunteers in the building of Habitat homes, enabling the local Habitat affiliate to use community volunteers more effectively and in greater numbers. Habitat homeowners must meet three basic criteria: demonstrated need, ability to meet monthly mortgage payments and a willingness to partner 300 to 500 hours into the construction of their home. Currently, there are about 50 AmeriCorps members serving for Habitat for Humanity affiliates in North Carolina. They are serving in Avery, Buncombe, Cabarrus, Catawba, Chatham, Cumberland, Davidson, Durham, Forsyth, Guilford, Iredell, Mecklenburg, Mitchell, Moore, Orange, Randolph, Surry, Wake and Yancey counties. Through AmeriCorps members’ service with Habitat, nearly 2,500 people have been able to move into affordable housing.